June 10, 2013-
6th Grade homework:
Copy the notes in black to your science notebook, along with your answers to the questions below:
Competition - interaction between organisms or species using the same limited resources, such as food and living space.  Ex: zebra mussels compete for food (plankton) with fish and clams and other organisms in the water.
Carrying capacity :  how many organisms of a species an ecosystem CAN support.  Carrying capacity depends on the resources available (both biotic and abiotic factors), and may change over time.  Ex: Every day, a robin needs to eat 50-60 worms and must be able to drink or bathe in surface water, plus have access to a tree where she can put her nest at least 25 feet up, and this must all be contained within 1/4 square mile of territory, which usually provides enough worms for 6 robins. Worms and water are available only when the air temperature is over 40 degrees F.
Q.1. Which of these factors is biotic? __________________________
Q.2. Which of these factors are abiotic?  __________________________

Q.3. If the field where the robin hunts worms is 80%  covered with a parking lot, would this
a) affect the carrying capacity of the robin's territory? _____
b) Is this factor biotic or abiotic?__________________
Q.4. What if other worm-eating birds (owls, thrushes, warblers) or other robins move in to this robin's territory?   Is this factor biotic or abiotic?__________________

Schedule for remaining major events this school year: 
6th grade Ecology Assessment:  Wed., June 12 (Field day postponed to Thurs., 6/13).
6th Grade Science Final:            Fri., June 14    
6th Grade Project Presentations: T-W June 18-19

8th Grade Science Final:            Fri., June 14
Soundwaters Field Trip:             Mon. June 17  (this curriculum-related assignment will be graded;
                                                                   permission slips & consent forms due Wed., June 12)
8th Grade Promotion Ceremony         June 21