Category: IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS)

Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

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

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

Chemical Reactions, CR 2: Energy in Reactions (HS), E 1: Energy Flow (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, Energy, ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), ES 5: Life on Earth (HS), Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), Life Science, M&E 3: Food Webs (MS), M&E 4: Biogeochemical Cycles (MS), M&E 5: Matter/Energy Cycles (HS), M&E 6: Biogeochemical Cycles (HS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Physical Science, W&C 2: Biomes (MS), W&C 2: Future Climate (HS), Weather and Climate

Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest

GwynneL.

Moss-cyanobacteria associations as biogenic sources of nitrogen in boreal forest ecosystems SUMMARY: Moss, cyanobacteria, and the trees of the boreal forest share a complicated relationship. This article first focuses on the nitrogen cycle, addressing the various sources of nitrogen and the factors (both abiotic and biotic) that affect nitrogen fixation. Turns out, temperature, water availability,… Continue reading Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest

Earth Science, HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), HSus 3: Arguing Sustainability (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 2: Affecting Biodiversity (HS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), IR 4: Reducing Human Impact (HS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), Life Science, M&E 1: Photosynthesis (HS)

Protozoa in Wastewater Treatment Processes

GwynneL.

Protozoa in wastewater treatment processes: A minireview SUMMARY: This is a short review of the role protozoa play in wastewater treatment plants. Most of the protozoa are ciliates and they graze on bacteria, excrete nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon waste, and are used as indicators of water quality. Toxins such as heavy metals, salts, and other… Continue reading Protozoa in Wastewater Treatment Processes

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), Life Science

Protists Around European Waters

GwynneL.

Patterns of Rare and Abundant Marine Microbial Eukaryotes SUMMARY: This study looked at the ratio of different sub-communities of protists around different bodies of waters around Europe. What they found was that the ratio was very similar no matter where the sample was taken from. Researchers sequenced ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of the organisms; rRNA lets… Continue reading Protists Around European Waters

Earth Science, HSus 2: Managing Resources (HS), HSus 4: Evaluating Solutions (HS), Human Sustainability, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Carrying Capacity (HS), IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), IR 6: Human Impact Solutions (HS), Life Science

Rotifers Eating Bacteria to Clean Water

GwynneL.

Foam-forming bacteria in activated sludge effectively reduced by rotifers in laboratory- and real-scale wastewater treatment plant experiments SUMMARY: This article looks at using rotifers as a way to control a specific type of filamentous bacteria in wastewater treatment plants. Overgrowth of this bacteria leads to foam and inefficient break down of waste by other microorganisms.… Continue reading Rotifers Eating Bacteria to Clean Water