Unit: Natural Resources
Lesson 3: Concepts in Natural Resource Management
Objectives:

Explain the differences between nonexhaustible, renewable, and exhaustible
natural resources

Discuss the concept of balance in natural ecosystems

Describe the role of food chains in maintaining balance ecosystems

Discuss the role of ecology in human efforts at natural resources management
Getting Started: The Nature of
Resources
Directions:
Select a card and form 3 groups based on the following criteria
•
Nonexhaustible Resource
•
Renewable Resource
•
Exhaustible Resource
•
Go you have 2 minutes to form your groups.
•
Check your answers with Mr. Myers
Getting Started: The Nature of
Resources
Nonexhaustible
Renewable
Exhaustible
Water
Forests
Oil
Air
Fish
Coal
Sunlight
Wildlife
Natural Gas
Lead
Cobalt
Soil
Zinc
Iron
Copper
Aluminum
Getting Started: The Nature of
Resources
With your group come up with a definition for your “Nature of Resource”
Type of resource
Definition
Renewable Resource
A resource that reproduces
themselves or that can be reproduce
by human efforts
Exhaustible Resource
A resource that cannot be replaced
or reproduced
Nonexhaustible Resource
A resource that can last forever
regardless of human activities
The Science of Ecosystems

An ecosystem is a given set of organisms, organic residues, physical and chemical
components, and conditions that interact and transfer energy and matter in form and
location.

A complete ecosystem must have 3 components

1.
Producers
2.
Transformers
3.
Decomposers
There are four fundamental biotic processes that go on in an ecosystem.
1.
Synthesis – refers to any change in the composition, shape, size or structure of the plants and
animals in an ecosystem
2.
Photosynthesis – plants use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide in sugar
3.
Respiration – occurs in plants and animals; involves breaking down of foods into their
components along with the release of energy
4.
Decomposition – the process by which organic matter is reduced to organic compounds
Food Web Activity Review
1.
Where do all living things get energy from?
2.
What is a producer?
3.
What do the arrows represent?
4.
What is a first order consumer? Give an example.
5.
What is a second order consumer? Give an example.
6.
What is a top order consumer? Give an example.
7.
If an organism does not get posted what will happen to it?
8.
What is a food web?
Carrying Capacity

Carrying capacity – refers to the ability of an ecosystem to provide food and
shelter for a given population level.

They are affected by the food chain of the species in question.

An example: A quail eats insects and plant seeds, so they must have an adequate
supply of food to thrive and reproduce.
Conservation and Preservation

Conservation is the use of a natural resource in such a way as to minimize
waste and maintain the resource in as good a condition as is practical.

Preservation is the attempt to prevent the use of some natural resources or
the modification of an environment simply for the sake of keeping it intact.