Aquatic Science
Fall Semester | ||||||
Unit Title | Water properties and Weather | Watersheds & Water Quality | Energy Transfer | Freshwater Systems & Human Impacts | Flow of Freshwater to the Ocean | Oceanography & Climate |
Time (est.) | ~4 weeks | ~4 weeks | ~2 weeks | ~3 weeks | ~2 weeks | ~2 weeks |
Understandings | describe how the shape and polarity of the water molecule make it a "universal solvent" in aquatic systems
identify how aquatic ecosystems are affected by water's properties of adhesion, cohesion, surface tension, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity
explain how the density of water is critical for organisms in cold environments.
identify key features and characteristics of atmospheric, geological, hydrological, and biological systems as they relate to aquatic environments;
describe the interrelatedness of atmospheric, geological, hydrological, and biological systems in aquatic ecosystems, including positive and negative feedback loops
evaluate environmental data using technology such as maps, visualizations, satellite data, Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), weather balloons, and buoys to model the interactions that affect aquatic ecosystems.
examine the interrelationships between aquatic systems and climate and weather, including El Niño and La Niña, currents, and hurricanes; | identify sources of water in a watershed, including rainfall, groundwater, and surface water
identify factors that contribute to how water flows through a watershed
analyze water quantity and quality in a local watershed or aquifer
describe human uses of freshwater and how human freshwater use competes with that of other organisms
describe the impact such as costs and benefits of various laws and policies such as The Endangered Species Act, right of capture laws, or Clean Water Act on aquatic systems
| identify how energy flows and matter cycles through both freshwater systems, including food webs, chains, and pyramids
identify variables that affect the solubility of carbon dioxide and oxygen in water
evaluate data over a period of time from an established aquatic environment documenting seasonal changes and the behavior of organisms
collect and analyze pH, salinity, temperature, mineral content, nitrogen compounds, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity data periodically, starting with baseline measurements
identify the role of carbon, nitrogen, water, and nutrient cycles in a freshwater aquatic environment
| Identify key features and characteristics of atmospheric, geological, hydrological, and biological systems as they relate to freshwater aquatic environments
Identify the interdependence of organisms in an aquatic environment such as in a pond, a river, a lake, or an aquifer and the biosphere
Use data from short-term or long-term studies to analyze interrelationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers in aquatic ecosystems
Identify the role of carbon, nitrogen, water, and nutrient cycles in an aquatic environment, including upwellings and turnovers
Explain how fluid dynamics causes upwelling and lake turnover
Describe how erosion and deposition in river systems lead to formation of geologic features
Differentiate among freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems
Identify the major properties and components of different freshwater life zones
Analyze the cumulative impact of human population growth on an aquatic ecosystem (focus on freshwater)
Predict effects of chemical, organic, physical, and thermal changes due to humans on the living and nonliving components of an aquatic ecosystem
Investigate the role of humans in unbalanced systems involving phenomena such as invasive species, fish farming, and cultural eutrophication
Analyze and discuss how human activities such as fishing, transportation, dams, and recreation influence aquatic environments (focus on freshwater)
Analyze the purpose and effectiveness of human efforts to restore aquatic ecosystems affected by human activities | identify key features and characteristics of atmospheric, geological, hydrological, and biological systems as they relate to aquatic environments (Brackish)
Identify biological, chemical, geological, and physical components of an aquatic life zone as they relate to the organisms in it
Explain how tidal cycles influence intertidal ecology
Differentiate among freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems
Identify the major properties and components of different marine and life zones
| identify key features and characteristics of atmospheric, geological, hydrological, and biological systems as they relate to aquatic environments (Marine)
Describe the interrelatedness of geological and biological systems in aquatic ecosystems, including positive and negative feedback loops
Identify the role of carbon, nitrogen, water, and nutrient cycles in an aquatic environment, including upwellings
Examine the interrelationships between aquatic systems and climate and weather, including El Niño and La Niña, currents
Examine basic principles of fluid dynamics, including hydrostatic pressure, density as a result of salinity, and buoyancy
Identify interrelationships between ocean currents, climates, and geologic features such as continental margins, active and passive margins, abyssal plains, island atolls, peninsulas, barrier islands, and hydrothermal vents
Explain how fluid dynamics causes upwelling
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TEKS | AQS 5A, 5B, 5C, 6A, 6B, 6C, 9B | AQS 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 14E | AQS 7A, 7C, 8A, 8B, 9A | AQS 6A, 7E, 8C, 9A, 11C, 11D, 12A, 12B, 14A, 14C, 14D, 14F | 6A, 7B, 9C, 12A, 12B | 6A, 6B, 9A, 9B, 11A, 11B, 11C |
Skills TEKS | AQS .1-4B | |||||
Spring Semester | |||
Unit Title | Interdependence of Organisms | Aquatic Adaptations | Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems |
Time | ~3.5 weeks | ~10 weeks | ~4 weeks |
Understandings | Identify how energy flows and matter cycles through both freshwater and marine aquatic systems, including food webs, chains, and pyramids
Identify variables that affect the solubility of carbon dioxide and oxygen in marine water
Evaluate factors affecting marine aquatic population cycles such as lunar cycles, temperature variations, hours of daylight, and predator-prey relationships
Identify the interdependence of organisms in an aquatic environment such as in an ocean, and the biosphere
| Compare different traits in aquatic organisms using tools such as dichotomous keys
Describe how adaptations allow an organism to exist within an aquatic environment
Compare adaptations of freshwater and marine organisms | Analyze the cumulative impact of human population growth on an aquatic ecosystem
Predict effects of chemical, organic, physical, and thermal changes due to humans on the living and nonliving components of an aquatic ecosystem
Investigate the role of humans in unbalanced systems involving phenomena such as invasive species, fish farming, cultural eutrophication, or red tides
Analyze and discuss how human activities such as fishing, transportation, dams, and recreation influence aquatic environments
Describe the impact, such as costs and benefits, of various laws and policies such as The Endangered Species Act, right of capture laws, or Clean Water Act on aquatic systems
Analyze the purpose and effectiveness of human efforts to restore aquatic ecosystems affected by human activities |
TEKS | 7A, 7C, 7D, 7E | 13A, 13B, 13C | 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 14E, 14F |
Skills TEKS | AQS .1-4B | ||