1a1 Patterns Nature

Patterns of Nature Repetitive and Predictable Occurrences.

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Patterns of Nature Objectives

  • Describe what a pattern is.
  • Provide examples of patterns in nature.
  • List the patterns used to determine whether something is alive.
1a1 Patterns Nature

As you work through the four pages of this guide, you will be learning concepts, skills, and connections that will be assessed on Canvas. 

The two types of assessments in this course are journal pages and quizzes.  Most guides have two journal pieces and one quiz.  

Journal Pages

Journal pages are introduced in each guide

Assignments can be completed with commonly available items

Journal Pages are assembled into a final Biology Journal

Quizzes

Four questions on each quiz

Questions match four outcomes in each guide

Open notes and individual effort

Journaling has a long history in science.

This is a photo of notes the naturalist Charles Darwin made about barnacles, marine organisms with jointed feeding structures.  There are images, text, and icons, in this case lines pointing to structures.
1a1 Patterns Nature
Journaling can be an alternative form of collecting that minimizes impact on organisms and environments.
Contemporary journaling about nature often incorporates found and recycled materials.  Some artists produce “junk journals” from a variety of available resources. 
 
You are welcome to use recycled materials in this course’s journal assignments.
Everyone typically develops their own style of journaling.  Here are a few personal journals that show variations in journaling. 
 
You can see a few examples of journaling you are doing in this course.

Start your first journal page here

Journal Page #1: Notes

In this section and the next three sections (webpages) of this Biodiversity Guide, you will be taking notes on the concepts that are covered.  At the end of the guide, you will upload these notes to Canvas as one of this guide’s two journal assignments. 

You can take notes digitally on a device or on a piece of paper that you digitally photograph and upload: your choice.  You may have more than one page; take thorough notes because you can use these on the quiz.

We have provided PDF templates of the journal pages on Canvas if you have access to a printer.  You do not need to use these; many people like to make their own pages, but also like to see what ours look like.

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Include in your notes:

  • concepts from all four sections (web pages) in this guide.

  • a combination of text, images, and icons.  Your notes may be mostly text, but some type of image and use of icons needs to be included.

1a1 Patterns Nature
1a1 Patterns Nature
1a1 Patterns Nature
1a1 Patterns Nature

Start your notes here

Patterns of Nature

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Patterns are repetitive occurrences in nature that can be used to identify and classify.  For example, if we see a small animal with six legs, it is likely an insect.

Humans are continually searching for patterns  and using identified patterns to make sense of the natural world.

Watch the following video that describes how important pattern recognition is in studying nature. 

Dendritic patterns include rivers, branches, roots, blood vessels, and mineral growth.

Dendrites growing in quartz are called “garden agate” or “merlinite.”

Classification is organizing things based on pattern.  Recognition of a pattern and organizing based on that can cause a release of neurotransmitters in the brain that results in a positive feeling.  Watch this video to get the basic idea of classification; organizing by pattern.

Patterns are used to determine whether something is a living organism.  This may sound like an easy task, but the majority of species are microscopic and it can be difficult to discern patterns.

Eight different patterns are used to determine whether something is an organism.

These are the eight “characteristics of life.” 

Multiple cells, or parts within a single cell, are arranges in a consistent and functional manner from one organism to the next.

Organization

Multiple cells, or parts within a single cell, are arranges in a consistent and functional manner from one organism to the next.
For example: go towards light, or away from heat, or changes color in different temperatures.

Responds to the Environment

For example: go towards light, or away from heat, or changes color in different temperatures.
Keeps a relatively balanced internal environment. This can include temperature, pH, and water concentration.

Maintains Homeostasis

Keeps a relatively balanced internal environment. This can include temperature, pH, and water concentration.
Builds and breaks down molecules for energy and to build new structures. Can include breathing and in some cases, photosynthesis.

Has a Metabolism

Builds and breaks down molecules for energy and to build new structures. Can include breathing and in some cases, photosynthesis.
Asexually produces offspring with cloned cells and/or sexually reproduces with another organism of the same species.

Reproduces

Asexually produces offspring with cloned cells and/or sexually reproduces with another organism of the same species.
This can include growing in size and number of cells. Also, changing shape, or undergoing a life cycle.

Grows and Changes

This can include growing in size and number of cells. Also, changing shape, or undergoing a life cycle.
Traits are passed on from one generation to the next, usually encoded within DNA molecules.

Heredity

Traits are passed on from one generation to the next, usually encoded within DNA molecules.
Mutations in genetic material are passed on, resulting in changes in species over time.

Evolution over Generations

Mutations in genetic material are passed on, resulting in changes in species over time.
The next section provides an overview of how organisms are classified.
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Check your knowledge.  Can you:

  • describe what a pattern is?
  • provide examples of patterns in nature?
  • list the patterns used to determine whether something is alive?
1a1 Patterns Nature

Go back to the Biodiversity Guide Page

1a1 Patterns Nature

Go forward to the Classification Page

Biodiversity Guide Contents

Complete all four of these sections before taking the quiz and submitting your two journal pages.
Patterns of Nature - YOU ARE HERE

Patterns of Nature - YOU ARE HERE

Classification

Classification

Flowers

Flowers

Fruits & Seeds

Fruits & Seeds

1a1 Patterns Nature

Back to Module Index

Links to Modules & Guides
1a1 Patterns Nature

This Guide’s Home Page

1A: Biodiversity
1a1 Patterns Nature

This Guide’s Assignments

1A: Biodiversity Products
1a1 Patterns Nature

Direct Link to Canvas

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