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Lesson 1: What is Ecology?
Lesson 2: Forest Fires
Background Information
An interesting field of biology is ecology. Ecology is the study
of the interrelationships between organisms and their environment.
Ecology is fun to study because it surrounds us. Who hasn't enjoyed
watching a bird getting a worm or bees buzzing in flowers? In this
unit, you will take a closer look at the ecology that surrounds
you. You will then focus on a hot issue in ecology today: forest
fires. Fire is an important factor in the ecology of the forest,
yet we have suppressed it for the last century in the interest of
human safety. However, by doing so, we have not only impacted the
ecology of the forest, but we have created conditions which are
now more dangerous than ever, as evidenced by recent large fires.
Through this unit, you will learn more about how the influence of
fires affects the ecology of a region, and you will learn one way
that humans are trying to learn to manage an ecosystem in harmony
with nature.
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