Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

MS-LS2-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

DCI-LS2.A: Organisms, and populations of organisms, are dependent on their environmental interactions both with other living things and with nonliving factors. In any ecosystem, organisms and populations with similar requirements for food, water, oxygen, or other resources may compete with each other for limited resources, access to which consequently constrains their growth and reproduction. Growth of organisms and population increases are limited by access to resources.

Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience

DCI-LS2.C: Ecosystems are dynamic in nature; their characteristics can vary over time. Disruptions to any physical or biological component of an ecosystem can lead to shifts in all its populations.

Practice 1: Asking questions and defining problems

1A: Ask questions that arise from careful observation of phenomena, models, or unexpected results.

1B: Ask question to identify and/or clarify evidence and/or the premise(s) of an argument.

1C: Ask questions to determine relationships between independent and dependent variables and relationships in models.

Practice 2: Developing and using models

2A: Evaluate limitations of a model for a proposed object or tool.

2C: Use and/or develop a model of simple systems with uncertain and less predictable factors.

2E: Develop and/or use a model to predict and/or describe phenomena.

2G: Develop and/or use a model to generate data to test ideas about phenomena in natural or designed systems, including those representing inputs and outputs, and those at unobservable scales.

Practice 3: Planning and carrying out investigations

3A: Plan an investigation individually and collaboratively, and in the design: identify independent and dependent variables and controls, what tools are needed to do the gathering, how measurements will be recorded, and how many data are needed to support a claim.

3B: Conduct an investigation and/or evaluate and/or revise the experimental design to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence that meet the goals of the investigation.

3D: Collect data to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer scientific questions or test design solutions under a range of conditions.

Practice 4: Analyzing and interpreting data

4A: Construct, analyze, and/or interpret graphical displays of data and/or large data sets to identify linear and nonlinear relationships.

4B: Use graphical displays (e.g., maps, charts, graphs, and/or tables) of large data sets to identify temporal and spatial relationships.

4D: Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for phenomena.

Practice 5: Using mathematics and computational thinking

5B: Use mathematical representations to describe and/or support scientific conclusions and design solutions.

5D: Apply mathematical concepts and/or processes  (e.g., ratio, rate, percent, basic operations, simple algebra) to scientific and engineering questions and problems.

Practice 6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions

6A: Construct an explanation that includes qualitative or quantitative relationships between variables that predict(s) and/or describe(s) phenomena.

6B: Construct an explanation using models or representations.

6D: Apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence to construct, revise and/or use an explanation for real-world phenomena, examples, or events.

Practice 7: Engaging in argument from evidence

7C: Construct, use, and/or present an oral and written argument supported by empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support or refute an explanation or a model for a phenomenon or a solution to a problem.

Practice 8: Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

8E: Communicate scientific and/or technical information (e.g. about a proposed object, tool, process, system) in writing and/or through oral presentations.

1. Patterns:

1B: Patterns in rates of change and other numerical relationships can provide information about natural and human designed systems.

1D: Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.

3. Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

3A: Time, space, and energy phenomena can be observed at various scales using models to study systems that are too large or too small.

4. Systems and Systems models

4A: Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems.

4B: Models can be used to represent systems and their interactions—such as inputs, processes and outputs—and energy, matter, and information flows within systems.

4C: Models are limited in that they only represent certain aspects of the system under study.

5. Energy and Matter:

5B: Within a natural or designed system, the transfer of energy drives the motion and/or cycling of matter.

7. Stability and Change:

7A: Explanations of stability and change in natural or designed systems can be constructed by examining the changes over time and forces at different scales, including the atomic scale.

7C: Stability might be disturbed either by sudden events or gradual changes that accumulate over time.

7D: Systems in dynamic equilibrium are stable due to a balance of feedback mechanisms.