The highest function of ecology is the understanding of consequences."
~Frank Herbert
Purpose & Engagement
Winter is the season of the longest night, the shortest day, the least light, as well as the presence of snow, cold, and wind chill. It is the slowest growing season for plant life. Food supplies dwindle and it is a hard time for animals. In northern latitudes winter is the longest and most difficult season of the year. Temperature, snow depth, snow density, as well as the duration of winter determine the severity of winter and play a role in how many animals survive. Many animals will die during winter. Winterkill refers to the combined effects of bad weather, malnutrition, starvation, disease, and predation. Winter is a time for economy: food is scarce and energy must be conserved. It is truly a time of survival of the fittest. We will strive to understand and form explanations for the way organisms thrive, survive, or perish in these harsh conditions.
ProductAs an individual you are tasked with the creation and upkeep of your own personal and digital Winter Ecology Notebook. This notebook is to include a title page, table of contents, and an entry for each class period during this unit. You are encouraged to personalize your notebook, add drawings, photographs, and representations of you! The notebook will be turned in as a final product for this project and we will likely have some form of a class exhibition/digital gallery walk of everyone’s notebooks. Please see the Winter Ecology Notebook project sheet for more details.
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