Category: IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS)

Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.

Inheritance & Variation of Traits, Inheritance 1: Behavior and Reproduction (MS), Inheritance 2: Genes and Growth (MS), Inheritance 2: Role of DNA (HS), Inheritance 4: Population Genetics (HS), Inheritance 5: DNA Technology (MS), Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), Life Science, Natural Selection & Evolution, NSE 1: Evolution Evidence (HS), NSE 2: Evolution Factors (HS), NSE 4: Adaption (HS), NSE 4: Fitness (MS), NSE 5: Natural Selection (MS), NSE 5: Population Flux (HS), S&F 1: Cells (MS), S&F 1: DNA to Proteins (HS), S&F 2: Cell Function (MS), Structure and Function

Amoebae, Giant Viruses, and Virophages

GwynneL.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00527 SUMMARY: In 2003, scientists discovered that giant viruses infected amoebas. These giant viruses are so big that they were mistaken for bacteria for the longest time. It wasn’t until scientists realized they contained no ribosomal DNA that these organisms were reclassified as viruses. From there, even more giant viruses were discovered. Some of the… Continue reading Amoebae, Giant Viruses, and Virophages

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HSus 1: Forecasting Disasters (MS), HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 2: Managing Resources (HS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), S&F 1: DNA to Proteins (HS), S&F 4: Stimuli Response (MS), S&P 1: Atoms & Molecules (MS), S&P 4: Molecule Traits (HS), Structure & Properties of Matter, Structure and Function

Rotifers Paralyzing Schistosomes

GwynneL.

A rotifer-derived paralytic compound prevents transmission of schistosomiasis to a mammalian host SUMMARY: Researchers discovered that a new molecule produced by the rotifer, Rotaria rotatoria, paralyzes cercariae. Cercariae are the free-living/infectious stage of the flatworm Schistosoma, the cause of schistosomiasis. R. rotatoria live on the shell of freshwater snails and secrete a compound scientists have… Continue reading Rotifers Paralyzing Schistosomes

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), IR 5: Survival (HS), Life Science, M&E 2: Anabolism/Catabolism (HS), M&E 2: Metabolism (MS), M&E 3: Cellular Respiration (HS), M&E 3: Food Webs (MS), M&E 4: Aerobic/Anaerobic Resp. (HS), M&E 4: Biogeochemical Cycles (MS), M&E 5: Matter/Energy Cycles (HS), M&E 6: Biogeochemical Cycles (HS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, S&F 1: Cells (MS), S&F 1: DNA to Proteins (HS), S&F 4: Stimuli Response (MS), Structure and Function

Different Enzymes to Digest Different Plant Substrates

GwynneL.

The fungal cultivar of leaf-cutter ants produces specific enzymes in response to different plant substrates SUMMARY: Leaf-cutter ants and a fungus called Leucoagaricus gongylophorus have a symbiotic relationship. The ants harvest plant material for the fungus to “eat” and then the ants feed off of the gongylidia. These swollen parts of the hyphae are no… Continue reading Different Enzymes to Digest Different Plant Substrates

Earth Science, HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 2: Affecting Biodiversity (HS), Life Science

Using ciliates as indicators

GwynneL.

Protozoa ciliates community structure in urban streams and their environmental use as indicators SUMMARY: Three urban stream samples were collected during both dry and rainy seasons in Brazil. Ciliates were classified and identified in each stream. The relationships between the ciliates, abiotic factors, and biotic factors are discussed in the last section of the paper.… Continue reading Using ciliates as indicators

HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 2: Affecting Biodiversity (HS), IR 2: Preserving Biodiversity (MS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), Life Science

Conservation of biodiversity to improve human well-being

GwynneL.

Conservation of biodiversity as a strategy for improving human health and well-being SUMMARY: This article looks at whether or not increasing biodiversity in an ecosystem can decrease the prevalence of diseases. While the idea seems simple (more hosts for the disease, less incidences of the disease spreading to people), the issue is much more complicated.… Continue reading Conservation of biodiversity to improve human well-being

Inheritance & Variation of Traits, Inheritance 1: Behavior and Reproduction (MS), Inheritance 1: Mitosis (HS), Inheritance 4: Population Genetics (HS), Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 2: Affecting Biodiversity (HS), Life Science, M&E 3: Food Webs (MS), M&E 5: Changing Ecosystems (MS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Natural Selection & Evolution, NSE 1: Evolution Evidence (HS), NSE 2: Evolution Factors (HS), NSE 3: Trait Selection (HS), NSE 4: Adaption (HS), NSE 4: Fitness (MS), NSE 5: Natural Selection (MS), NSE 5: Population Flux (HS)

De novo origins of multicellularity in response to predation

GwynneL.

De novo origins of multicellularity in response to predation SUMMARY: Chlamydomonas are common, single-celled green algae that are flagellated and can move around. They’re a strange cross between plants and protists. In this study, scientists subjected chlamydomonas to predation by paramecia (common freshwater ciliates) and observed that after about 750 generations, the chlamydomonas took on… Continue reading De novo origins of multicellularity in response to predation