Chapter 2. ECOLOGY

Learning Objectives

Pre-Lab—Overview
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General Purpose

Conceptual

  • Be able to determine changes in the University Lake system based on various biotic and abiotic data.
  • Be able to relate the data collected in the population growth experiment to the biology of the lake system.

Procedural

  • Be able to properly graph and analyze data.
  • Be able to properly communicate results to a scientific audience in both written and oral form.

General Purpose

Populations within an ecosystem grow and their growth is impacted by the ecosystem’s biotic and abiotic factors (either singly or in combinations). You have examined the impact a single factor can have on the growth of a population in a controlled setting. You have also measured biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem. The challenge now is to combine those aspects to address how information from a controlled experiment may be used to help understand what may be happening in an ecosystem where complex interactions are occurring.

Please view the following video to see some of the aspects about the integration of biotic and abiotic factors on an ecosystem.

This type of analysis is one of the many factors that have to be considered to understand the University Lake system. This ecosystem has an important place in the LSU community and in Baton Rouge. Many individuals are concerned with preserving the health of this ecosystem for years to come. For another view of this same topic, read the article “Can the LSU lakes be saved?” about the LSU Lake system written by Maggie Heyn Richardson for the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report (Feb. 21, 2012).

http://www.businessreport.com/article/can-the-lsu-lakes-be-saved-a-21-1-million-plan-to-revive-the-dying-recreational-gem-of-baton-rouge-raises-questions-about-who-is-responsible-for-footing-the-bill

Pre-Lab Quiz

Proceed to the Pre-Lab Quiz