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Causal Patterns in Ecosystems Section 6: Understanding Balance and Flux in Ecosystems Ecosystems > Section 6 |
Section 6: Understanding Balance and Flux in Ecosystems
This section addresses students' tendency to over-emphasize balance in ecosystems to the exclusion of flux. It helps students to realize that balance and flux are natural states in an ecosystem and that each state plays a role in ecosystem dynamics.
Section 6 Table of Contents
- Understanding Goals
- Background Information
- Lesson Plan: Balance and Flux Reveal How Organisms Are Connected in Ecosystems
- Reinforcement Activities
- Resources for Section 6
- Parachuting Cats Into Borneo Story (PDF: 52 KB / 1 page / 8½" X 11")
- Lemmings of Norway Story (PDF: 282 KB / 1 page / 8½" X 11")
- Lynx-Hare Cycles Sheet (PDF: 451 KB / 1 page / 8½" X 11")
- Population Shuffle Game
- Teacher Preparation
- Directions (PDF: 455 KB / 2 pages / 8½" X 11")
- Game Pieces (PDF: 208 KB / 1 page / 8½" X 11")
- Species Population Cards (PDF: 343 KB / 1 page / 8½" X 11")
- Playing Cards (PDF: 295 KB / 12 pages / 8½" X 11")
- Danger Cards (PDF: 272 KB / 4 pages / 8½" X 11")
- Game Board
- Endnotes for Section 6
©2002, President and Fellows of Harvard College, Understandings of Consequence Project