Ecosystems and Dynamic Equilibrium
Virginia SOL ENV.4
Investigate and understand ecosystems in dynamic equilibrium affected by biotic and abiotic interactions.
What students need to be able to do
- Compare biotic and abiotic factors in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
- Describe the ecological role an organism plays in supporting ecosystem sustainability.
- Make, support, and evaluate claims about ecological roles of different species in maintaining or disrupting ecosystem equilibrium.
- Predict the effect of introducing an invasive species on ecosystem equilibrium.
- Develop and use models to predict effects of energy and matter transfer in ecosystems.
- Make, support, and evaluate claims about conservation of energy and matter in ecosystems.
- Make, support, and evaluate claims about how environmental pressures lead to shifts in ecosystem equilibrium.
- Explain how ecosystems change over time through succession and how this affects ecosystem dynamics.
- Predict the effect of natural processes and human activities on Virginia's biodiversity and ecosystem equilibrium.