Grade 8 – Unit E: Fresh Water and Salt Water Ecosystems

1.Describe the distribution and characteristics of water in local and global environments, and identify the significance of water supply and quality to the needs of humans and other living things.

• Describe, in general terms, the distribution of water in Alberta, Canada and the world; and interpret information about water characteristics (e.g., identify glaciers, snow, polar icecaps, ground water and oceans as components of Earth’s water; interpret graphical information on the availability of potable water).

• Recognize that fresh water and salt water contain varying amounts of dissolved materials, particulates and biological components; and interpret information on these component materials.

2.Investigate and interpret linkages among landforms, water and climate.

• Describe the processes of erosion and deposition resulting from wave action and water flow.

3.Analyze factors affecting productivity and species distribution in freshwater environments.

• Investigate life forms found in fresh water and salt water, and identify and interpret examples of adaptations to these environments.

• Analyze relationships between water quality and living things, and infer the quality of water based on the diversity of life supported by it.

4.Analyze human impacts on aquatic systems; and identify the roles of science and technology in addressing related questions, problems and issues.

• Analyze human water uses, and identify the nature and scope of impacts resulting from different uses.

• Identify current practices and technologies that affect water quality, evaluate environmental costs and benefits, and identify and evaluate alternatives.

• Illustrate the role of scientific research in monitoring environments and supporting development of appropriate environmental technologies. 

Provide examples of problems that cannot be solved using scientific and technological knowledge alone.

Engage in current affairs, issues and concerns of a local nature.

Grade 10: Science 10, Unit: Unit D: Engergy Glow in Global Systems

1.Describe how the relationships among input solar energy, output terrestrial energy and energy flow within the biosphere affect the lives of humans and other species

• explain how climate affects the lives of people and other species, and explain the need to investigate climate change (e.g., describe the responses of human and other species to extreme climatic conditions; describe housing designs, animal habitats, clothing and fur in conditions of extreme heat, cold, dryness or humidity, wind)

3.Relate climate to the characteristics of the world's major biomes, and compare biomes in different regions of the world

• identify the potential effects of climate change on environmentally sensitive biomes (e.g., impact of a reduction in the Arctic ice pack on local species and on Aboriginal societies that rely on traditional lifestyles)

Grade 11: Biology 20, Unit: B – Ecosystems & Population Change

General Outcomes:

1. Explain that the biosphere is composed of ecosystems, each with distinctive biotic and abiotic characteristics

Specific Outcomes:

20-B1.1k define species, population, community and ecosystem and explain the interrelationships among them

20-B1.2k explain how terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems support a diversity of organisms through a variety of habitats and niches; e.g.,terrestrial: canopy, sub-canopy, forest floor soil Auatic:litorl,limnetic, profundal and benthic zones

20-B1.3k identify biotic and abiotic characteristics and explain their influence in an aquatic and a terrestrial ecosystem in the local region; e.g., stream, lake, prairie, boreal forest, vacant lot, sports field

20-B1.4k explain how limiting factors influence organism distribution and range; e.g.,abiotic factors: soil, relative humidity, moisture, ambient temperature, sunlight, nutrients, oxygen

20-B1.1sts explain how science and technology have both intended and unintended consequences for humans and the environment

20-B1.2s conduct investigations into relationships between and among observable variables and use a broad range of tools and techniques to gather and record data and information

Grade 12 Biology 30: Unit D: Population and Community Dynamics:

General Outcome:

1. describe a community as a composite of populations in which individuals contribute to a gene pool that can change over time

30-D1.2k describe the factors that cause the diversity in the gene pool to change; i.e., natural

selection, migration

30-D1.1sts explain that science and technology have both intended and unintended consequences for humans and the environment

General Outcome:

2. explain the interaction of individuals in a population with one another and with members of other populations

30-D2.1k describe the basis of species interactions and symbiotic relationships and describe the influence of these interactions on population changes; i.e.,

predator-prey and producer-consumer relationships

symbiotic relationships: commensalism, mutualism and parasitism

interspecific and infraspecific competition