lesson 4

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ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET

Michael Bregar| [email protected] 1

QUESTION 1: What is the primary energy source for the majority of Ecosystems on

Earth?

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QUESTION 2: Complete the diagram by using the word bank provided.

INSTRUCTIONS:

ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS

PART A: THE SUN’S ENERGY

Water 0.023% 46% Heats 2% Wind 30% 22%

The primary energy source for the majority ecosystems on our planet is the Sun.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 3: What is the albedo effect?

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QUESTION 4: Refer to the albedo values in the diagram below to answer the questions

provided.

A group of scientists are having a research outpost built in Antarctica, where

temperatures can reach as low as -89˚C. Based on the provided albedo values, which

material would you recommend for use in this research outpost. Explain your answer.

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The albedo effect is the tendency of objects to reflect light instead of absorbing it. It is

actually the percentage of light that is reflected. For example, objects with albedo close to

1 reflect more light while objects with an albedo closer to 0 absorb light.

A research outpost in Antartica has to deal with very cold temperatures, so it is very important to select building material which would keep the building warmer. As such you

would select building material which would absorb more light instead of reflecting it, since

absorbed light turns into heat. Materials with low albedo levels, close to 0 are the best

materials to select. Based the diagram the 3 best materials to use would be Asphalt,

Corrugated roof, and concrete.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


A new indoor ice rink is being built for a new NHL team in Las Vegas, Nevada. Which

building materials would you recommend be used in the building to facilitate the

appropriate temperatures required in the rink.

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QUESTION 5: What is climate and how does the Sun control Earth’s climate?

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QUESTION 6: Refer to the food chain provided below to complete the table.

ORGANISM

PRODUCER

or

CONSUMER (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary)

AUTOTROPH

or

HETEROTROPH

TROPHIC LEVEL

GRASS Producer Autotroph 1

CATERPILLAR Primary Consumer Heterotroph 2

SPIDER Secondary Consumer Heterotroph 3

BLUE JAY Tertiary Consumer Heterotroph 4

QUESTION 7: Define the term food chain.

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Food Chain: Grass Caterpillar Spider Blue Jay

PART B: UNDERSTANDING FOOD WEBS

Climate is the temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation conditions of a region. The

sun controls Earth’s climate since it is the Sun’s energy which regulates temperature, wind

conditions, and the amount of precipitation.

A food chain is a linear representation of the feeding relationship illustrate the flow of

energy and organic matter.

When building an ice rink in Las Vegas which has a warm climate, we must ensure that the

building remains as cool as possible. As such you would select building material which

would reflect light instead of absorbing it, since absorbed light turns into heat. Materials

with high albedo levels, close to 1 are the best materials to select. Based the diagram the

3 best materials to use would be white paint.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 8: Refer to the food web provided below to answer the questions below.

Complete the table by indicate if the specific species is: 1) producer or consumer

(primary, secondary, or tertiary), 2) consumer type (carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore),

and 3) appropriate trophic level.

ORGANISM

PRODUCER

or


CONSUMER TYPE (Carnivore, Herbivore,

Omnivore) TROPHIC LEVEL

CRICKET Primary Consumer Herbivore 2

SNAKE Secondary Consumer Carnivore 3

HAWK Tertiary Consumer Carnivore 4

GRASS Producer --- 1

Farmer John has a fear of snakes. He leaves out poisoned bait which kills all of the

snakes. Explain how all the organisms in the ecosystem above would be affected.

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The crickets are keeping Farmer John up at night. He uses a new pesticide to kill all

the crickets. How would the rest of the food web be affected?

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If there are no snakes, this eliminates the food source for hawks so the local hawk

population would disappear. With the elimination of snakes the population of lizards and

mice would increase since they both consume crickets

If there are no crickets within this ecosystem there would be no food for snakes and lizards

resulting in their disappearance. Since there would be no snakes, there would be a lack of food for the hawk it would also disappear. In the end only organisms left in this ecosystem

would be the grass and mice.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 9: In your own words, explain the differences between food chains and

food webs in describing the feeding interactions found in an ecosystem.

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QUESTION 10: Refer to the food web below to answer the questions.

Why might a decline in the population of baleen whales lead to an increase in the

population of seals, penguins, and krill-eating fish?

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A decline in the baleen whale population would result in an increase in the krill population

since the baleen whale is the krill’s predator. With an increase in the population of krill,

there would be more food for the krill-eating fish would result in a population increase.

Since both seals and penguins eat the krill-eating fish, their population increase would mean an increase in food for both seals and penguins and a resulting population increase.

Food chains are simple linear representations of the flow of energy and organic matter in

an ecosystem. They are direct linear feeding relationships which do not show all the feeding

relationships within an ecosystem. In contrast, food webs show all the feeding relationships

within an ecosystem and are complex combing all the food chains together.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


What might happen to the other species if the population of baleen whales increased

but the population of krill stayed the same? Explain your answer.

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QUESTION 11: Use the following food chains to construct a food web. Remember to

include arrows in your food web and organisms can only be listed once.

A SAVANNAH FOOD WEB AN INSECT’S FOOD WEB

GREEN PLANT GOAT LION

GREEN PLANT MOOSE SNAKE KITE

GREEN PLANT RABBIT WILD CAT LION

PLANTS EARWIG GROUND BEETLE WOLF SPIDER

PLANTS MILLIPEDE GROUND BEETLE WOLF SPIDER

PLANTS WOODLOUSE BEETLE LARVA WOLF SPIDER

PLANTS SNAIL BEETLE LARVA WOLF SPIDER

Which of the following food webs shows a greater degree of biodiversity?

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Biodiversity is the variety of species found within an ecosystem. Of the two food webs,

both have the same level of biodiversity. Both food webs contain 8 species, therefore they

do not differ in terms of biodiversity.

If the baleen whale population increase they would consume more krill, resulting in a

decrease in the population of krill. With a decrease in the krill population, the plankton population would increase since there is less krill to consume plankton. The decrease in

krill would result in a decrease in the krill-eating fish population since their food source

as decreased. A decrease in krill-eating fish would result in a decrease of the penguin,

toothed whale, and seal populations who consume krill-eating fish. The squid

population would decrease since their food source of penguins also decreased.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 12: Refer to the food chains below. Construct a food web based on these

food chains and use this food web to complete the questions below

What are the producers in this aquatic food web?

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Which organism is the apex predator in this aquatic food web?

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FOOD CHAINS

MARSH PLANTS INSECTS RAT SNAKE HAWK

MARSH PLANTS INSECTS RAT HAWK

MARSH PLANTS INSECTS FROG SNAKE HAWK

AQUATIC PLANTS SMALL FISH LARGE FISH CRANE HAWK

AQUATIC PLANTS SNAIL LARGE FISH DUCK HAWK

AQUATIC PLANTS SNAIL SPARROW HAWK

The producers in this aquatic food web are the marsh plants and the aquatic plants.

The apex predator in this aquatic food web is the hawk.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


Complete the table below by identifying at least 1 organism at each of the following

trophic levels.

TROPHIC LEVEL

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

ORGANISM Marsh Plants Snail Large Fish Crane Hawk

Are there any organisms which can be classified as belong to more than 1 trophic level?

Explain how you arrived at your answer.

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A pesticide is used to eliminate all insects in this aquatic ecosystem. Redraw this

aquatic food web based on what you would expect once all insects have been eliminated.

Yes, an organism which feeds at more than 1 trophic level is the Hawk which feeds at the 4th and 5th trophic level. When the hawk consumes a rat, the hawk is feeding at the 4th

trophic level. When the hawk feeds on the snake, crane, duck, or sparrow the hawk is

feeding at the 5th trophic level.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 13: What is thermodynamics?

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QUESTION 14: Understanding the 1st law of thermodynamics.

Define the 1st Law of Thermodynamics: _______________________________

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How does the 1st Law of Thermodynamics apply to ecosystems?

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QUESTION 15: Understanding the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

Define the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: ______________________________

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How does the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics apply to ecosystems?

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QUESTION 16: What happens to the amount of energy in an ecosystem as it passes

through the various trophic levels? Provide a reason for this.

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PART C: UNDERSTANDING ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS

Thermodynamics is the study of energy and how the energy changes.

The 1st Law of Thermodynamics applies to ecosystems in the process of photosynthesis, in

which plants take light energy and change it into chemical energy which they use for food to survive.

As energy passes through the trophic level, the amount of energy decreases since it is

being lost as heat and to the energy needed for life functions. The reason for this is the

2nd law of thermodynamics which states any time one type of energy is changed into

another type of energy some energy is lost in the form of heat.

The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics limits the number of trophic levels which can exist within

an ecosystem. As energy moves through the trophic levels, the level being passed along

decreases and this limits the number of trophic levels which can exist within the

ecosystem.

The 1st Law of Thermodynamics states that energy is never created or destroyed, instead it

only changes form.

The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics states that every time energy changes form, some of that

energy is lost and transformed into heat.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 17: What does the term biomass mean?

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QUESTION 18: Identify the 3 types of ecological pyramids in the table below.

Complete the table based on what you know about these 3 ecological pyramids.

PYRAMID TYPE DEFINITION

ALWAYS

PYRAMID SHAPED

(YES or NO)

PYRAMIDS OF ENERGY

An energy pyramids is a model of the energy

flow in an ecosystem. Each level represents a

trophic level.

YES

Pyramids of Numbers

A pyramid of number is a model of the number

of individual organisms in a population of a food

chain.

NO

Pyramids of Biomass

A pyramid of biomass is a model which shows

the amount of biomass at a given trophic level.

YES

QUESTION 19: A pyramid of numbers is shown below,

along with the corresponding food chain. Explain based

on the shown food chain, why pyramids of numbers are

not always pyramid shaped.

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Biomass is the biological material from living or recently living organisms. It is the mass of

the organic matter found in living things, essentially an organisms mass once removed from

the water within the organism.

Pyramids of numbers are not always pyramid shaped,

since in some food webs a single large producer with a large

biomass can support many smaller consumers who use the

producer for food. For example, in the diagram shown the

oak tree has a large biomass which can easily support a large population of caterpillars who are much smaller in

size and have less biomass.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


Every organism needs to obtain energy in order to live. For example, plants get energy from

the sun, some animals eat plants, and some animals eat other animals. A food chain is the

linear sequence of who eats whom in a biological community (an ecosystem) to obtain

nutrition. A food chain starts with the primary energy source, usually the sun or boiling-

hot deep sea vents.

The next link in the chain is an organism that make its own food from the primary energy

source; an example is photosynthetic plants that make their own food from sunlight. These

organisms make their food in a process called photosynthesis, in which sunlight is used to

turn carbon dioxide and water into a sugar called glucose which is used for food. In other

cases, chemosynthetic bacteria that live near deep-ocean hydrothermal vents use the

released chemicals and convert them into food in a process called chemosynthesis. Any

organism which can create its own food via photosynthesis or chemosynthesis are called

autotrophs or primary producers.

FOOD CHAINS

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


Next come the organisms which eat the autotrophs; these organisms are classified

as heterotrophs since they lack the ability to make their own food. They are consumers, in

fact they are primary consumers since they are the first organisms to consumer (eat) other

living things in a food chain. Most primary consumers happen to be herbivores, which are

organisms that consume plant material; for example a rabbit will consume plant material

making it both an herbivore and primary consumer.

The next link in a food chain are those organisms which consume the primary

consumers, they are called secondary consumers. For example, a snake which consumes the

rabbit (primary consumer) would be a secondary consumer. As the food chain continues,

secondary consumers are themselves eaten by larger predators; for example, the snake

(secondary consumer) would be eaten by an owl. These 3rd consumers which eat (consume)

the secondary consumers are called tertiary consumers.

The tertiary consumers are eaten by quaternary consumers, the 4th consumer in a

food chain. For example, the rabbit (primary consumer) was eaten by the snake (secondary

consumer) who was eaten by the owl (third consumer) who would finally be eaten by a hawk

(the quaternary consumer). Food chains typically end with a top predator, which are

organisms with no natural enemies or predators within their food chain. In this case we call

the top predator in a food chain, the apex predator of its ecosystem.

Trophic levels are defined as the position an organism occupies within its food chain. These

positions can change from food chain to food chain and within a food web some organisms

can hold feed at multiple trophic levels. The various trophic levels are described below.

TROPHIC

LEVEL ROLE DESCRIPTION

1st Producers

Producers (organisms that make their own food from sunlight or

chemical energy from deep-sea vents) are the base of every food chain.

These organisms are called autotrophs.

2nd Primary

Consumers

Primary consumers are organisms that eat primary producers. Many

primary consumers are herbivores (plant-eaters).

3rd Secondary

Consumers

Secondary consumers are primary consumers. They are carnivores

(meat-eaters) and omnivores (animals that eat both animals & plants).

4th Tertiary

Consumers These are organism which consume secondary consumers.

5th Quaternary

Consumers These are organisms which consume tertiary consumers.

WHAT ARE TROPHIC LEVELS?

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


The final consumer in a food chain, which is considered the “end” of the food chain is

referred to as an apex predator which is an organism at the top of the food chain with no

natural predators.

When an organism dies, it is eventually eaten by scavengers and detritivores which

are organisms which consume dead flesh, referred to as detritus. Common detritivores

include vultures, worms, and crabs. The left over organic material is broken down and

recycled in a process called biodegradation which is carried out by decomposers.

Decomposers break down organic compounds left over from deceased organisms, continuing

the exchange of energy.

Some organism may have their trophic levels and positions within a food chain vary

as their diet differs. For example, when a bear eats a plant-eating rodent, the bear is

functioning as a secondary consumer. When the bear eats salmon, the bear is functioning as

a tertiary consumer (this is because salmon is a secondary consumer, since salmon eat

herring that eat zooplankton that eat phytoplankton, that make their own energy from

sunlight). Think about how people's place in the food chain varies - often within a single meal.

QUESTION 1: In your own words, explain the difference between a producer and a

consumer.

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QUESTION 2: What are chemosynthetic bacteria and how is it possible that they are

producers in the absence of light?

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 3: What are chemosynthetic bacteria and how is it possible that they are

producers in the absence of light?

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QUESTION 4: Use the word bank provided below to complete the paragraphs below.

In every biological community, there is a sequence of who eats who known as a

____________________. Every food chain must start with a primary energy source such

as the sun. The sun provides energy to plants who can make their own food, meaning they

are classified as ____________________ or ____________________ which literally

means “self-feeder”. Some of these organisms produce their food from sunlight in a process

called photosynthesis, however others use chemicals to make their food in a process called

____________________. In a food chain you have feeding levels which are also known

as ____________________. Every food chain begins with a primary producer which gets

eaten by a ____________________. Eventually all organisms die and are food for

____________________ which are animals which eat dead flesh, such as vultures and

____________________ which are living things such as mushrooms, fungi, and bacteria

which totally break down living tissue.

FOOD CHAIN DETRITIVORES TROPHIC LEVELS

PRODUCERS AUTOTROPHS PRIMARY CONSUMER

CHEMOSYNTHESIS DECOMPOSER

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 1: What do arrows in a food chain represent?

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___________________________________________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS:

UNDERSTANDING FOOD CHAINS

PART A: A LOOK AT FOOD CHAINS

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 2: Carefully review figure 1. Use the information provided in figure 1 to

complete the statements below.

a) A food chain starts with a(n) _________________________ source.

b) Organisms that make their own food are called _________________________ or

_________________________.

c) Organisms that eat plants are called _________________________ or

_________________________.

d) An animal with no natural enemies is a _________________________.

QUESTION 3: Use arrow to complete 4 different food chains below. Remember that

all food chains start with the Sun.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 4: Complete the table below by matching the terms to the appropriate

statement.

STATEMENT TERM

a) _________________ An organism that eats plants. Food Chain

b) _________________ The sequence of who eats whom in a biological

community. Diet

c) _________________ An organism that gets its energy by eating

other organisms. Autotroph

d) _________________ An organism that makes its food from light or

chemical energy without eating. Primary consumer

e) _________________ A meat-eater that eats secondary consumers. Secondary consumer

f) _________________ An organism that eats meat. Tertiary consumer

g) _________________ A “__________” is eaten by predators. Quaternary consumer

h) _________________ Is what an animal eats. Decomposer

i) _________________ A meat-eater that eats tertiary consumers. Heterotroph

j) _________________ Another word for “living thing”. Prey

k) _________________ The network of all the inter-related food

chains in a biological community. Carnivore

l) _________________ Animals need “__________” to survive. Ecosystem

m) _________________ These organisms break down organic matter. Omnivore

n) _________________ A meat-eater that eats primary consumers. Herbivore

o) _________________ An interacting group of organisms. Detritivore

p) _________________ An organism which eats decaying organic

matter. Food Web

q) _________________ An organism which consumes both plant and

animal material. Organism

r) _________________ A meat-eater that eats autotrophs or

producers. Nutrients

PART B: VOCABULARY

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 5: In complete sentences, explain the differences between a detritivore

and decomposer with regard to their diet?

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___________________________________________________________________

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QUESTION 6: What are the roles of scavengers, detritivores, and decomposers in

the process of biodegradation?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 7: Are decomposers heterotrophs or autotrophs? Justify your answer in

detail based on what you know about autotrophs and heterotrophs.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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QUESTION 8: Place the following words in order, as you would find in a food chain.

Quaternary

Consumer Producer

Secondary

Consumer

Tertiary

Consumer

Primary Energy

Source

Primary

Consumer

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___________________________________________________________________

PART C: CHECK YOUR UNDSERSTANDING

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


The levels of all food chains and food webs are organized into feeding levels called trophic

levels. As you can see in Figure 1 below, the amount of energy available at a given trophic

levels decreases as you move up a food chain or food web.

QUESTION 1: What are trophic levels?

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___________________________________________________________________


ENERGY L

OSS

TROPHIC

LEVEL

1st Level

2nd Level

3rd Level

4th Level

5th Level

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


The 1st trophic level is made of producers (autotrophs) which are organisms which

can make their own food. In most ecosystems producers (autotrophs) are green plants. All

remaining trophic levels above the 1st trophic level are consumers or heterotrophs.

Consumers (heterotrophs) are organisms which must eat other living things to obtain the

energy required for their survival.

The 2nd trophic level consists of primary consumers, these are organisms which eat

producers. Primary consumers are typically animals which would eat producers, such as

plants. Examples of primary consumers are cows, elk, and deer. So as a typical rule, primary

consumers tend to be herbivores because they eat plant material. As a rule, organisms at

higher trophic levels eat organisms at lower trophic levels. So, this would mean organisms

at the 3rd trophic level which consists of secondary consumers, would eat organisms from

the 2nd trophic level (the primary consumers).

QUESTION 2: In complete sentences, explain the difference between autotrophs and

heterotrophs. Where do these organisms obtain the energy required for life functions?

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QUESTION 3: What sort of organisms exist at the 2nd trophic level? What does their

diet consist of?

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QUESTION 4: In your own words, explain the difference between a primary

consumer, secondary consumer, and tertiary consumer.

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___________________________________________________________________

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 1: What do arrows in a food chain represent?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS:

UNDERSTANDING FOOD CHAINS

PART A: A LOOK AT FOOD CHAINS

Arrows represent the flow of energy within an ecosystem.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 2: Carefully review figure 1. Use the information provided in figure 1 to

complete the statements below.

a) A food chain starts with a(n) _________________________ source.

b) Organisms that make their own food are called _________________________ or

_________________________.

c) Organisms that eat plants are called _________________________ or

_________________________.

d) An animal with no natural enemies is a _________________________.

QUESTION 3: Use arrow to complete 4 different food chains below. Remember that

all food chains start with the Sun.

producers

Primary energy source

autotrophs

Primary consumers

herbivores

Top predator

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 4: Complete the table below by matching the terms to the appropriate

statement.

STATEMENT TERM

a) HERBVIORE An organism that eats plants. Food Chain

b) FOOD CHAIN The sequence of who eats whom in a biological

community. Diet

c) HETEROTROPH An organism that gets its energy by eating

other organisms. Autotroph

d) AUTOTROPH An organism that makes its food from light or

chemical energy without eating. Primary consumer

e) TERTIARY

CONSUMER A meat-eater that eats secondary consumers. Secondary consumer

f) CARNIVORE An organism that eats meat. Tertiary consumer

g) PREY A “__________” is eaten by predators. Quaternary consumer

h) DIET Is what an animal eats. Decomposer

i) QUATERNARY

CONSUMER A meat-eater that eats tertiary consumers. Heterotroph

j) ORGANISM Another word for “living thing”. Prey

k) FOOD WEB The network of all the inter-related food

chains in a biological community. Carnivore

l) NUTRIENTS Animals need “__________” to survive. Ecosystem

m) DECOMPOSER These organisms break down organic matter. Omnivore

n) SECONDARY

CONSUMER A meat-eater that eats primary consumers. Herbivore

o) ECOSYSTEM An interacting group of organisms. Detritivore

p) DETRITIVORE An organism which eats decaying organic

matter. Food Web

q) OMNIVORE An organism which consumes both plant and

animal material. Organism

r) PRIMARY

CONSUMER

A meat-eater that eats autotrophs or

producers. Nutrients

A

PART B: VOCABULARY

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 5: In complete sentences, explain the differences between a detritivore

and decomposer with regard to their diet?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 6: What are the roles of scavengers, detritivores, and decomposers in the

process of biodegradation?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 7: Are decomposers heterotrophs or autotrophs? Justify your answer in

detail based on what you know about autotrophs and heterotrophs.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 8: Place the following words in order, as you would find in a food chain.

Quaternary

Consumer Producer

Secondary

Consumer

Tertiary

Consumer

Primary Energy

Source

Primary

Consumer

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

PART C: CHECK YOUR UNDSERSTANDING

Both detritivores and decomposers consume detritus (decaying flesh). Although the both

consume the organic material of deceased organism, they differ in that detritivores have the

ability to move from food source to food source. In contrast, decomposers lack the ability

to move from food source to food source and actually break down decaying organic matter.

Biodegradation is the process in which the organic (living) material within an organism

which has just died is broken down. The process starts with scavengers and detritivores

which consume the flesh of the deceased organism. The process continues with

decomposers which actually break down the remaining organic matter of the carcase.

Autotrophs are organisms which have the ability to feed themselves by making their own

food from non-living substances. In contrast, heterotrophs are organisms which must

consume the flesh of other living organisms to obtain the energy needed for life. Since

decomposers are using the organic matter remaining of organism which where once alive,

they are in fact heterotrophs since they must consumer organic matter for the energy needed for life.

Primary Energy Source Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer

Tertiary Consumer Quaternary Consumer

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 1: What is the primary energy source for the majority of Ecosystems on

Earth?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 2: Complete the diagram by using the word bank provided.

INSTRUCTIONS:

ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS

PART A: THE SUN’S ENERGY

Water 0.023% 46% Heats 2% Wind 30% 22%

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 3: What is the albedo effect?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 4: Refer to the albedo values in the diagram below to answer the questions

provided.

A group of scientists are having a research outpost built in Antarctica, where

temperatures can reach as low as -89˚C. Based on the provided albedo values, which

material would you recommend for use in this research outpost. Explain your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


A new indoor ice rink is being built for a new NHL team in Las Vegas, Nevada. Which

building materials would you recommend be used in the building to facilitate the

appropriate temperatures required in the rink.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 5: What is climate and how does the Sun control Earth’s climate?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 6: Refer to the food chain provided below to complete the table.

ORGANISM

PRODUCER

or


AUTOTROPH

or

HETEROTROPH

TROPHIC LEVEL

GRASS

CATERPILLAR

SPIDER

BLUE JAY

QUESTION 7: Define the term food chain.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Food Chain: Grass Caterpillar Spider Blue Jay

PART B: UNDERSTANDING FOOD WEBS

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 8: Refer to the food web provided below to answer the questions below.

Complete the table by indicate if the specific species is: 1) producer or consumer

(primary, secondary, or tertiary), 2) consumer type (carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore),

and 3) appropriate trophic level.

ORGANISM

PRODUCER

or


CONSUMER TYPE (Carnivore, Herbivore,

Omnivore) TROPHIC LEVEL

CRICKET

SNAKE

HAWK

GRASS

Farmer John has a fear of snakes. He leaves out poisoned bait which kills all of the

snakes. Explain how all the organisms in the ecosystem above would be affected.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

The crickets are keeping Farmer John up at night. He uses a new pesticide to kill all

the crickets. How would the rest of the food web be affected?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 9: In your own words, explain the differences between food chains and

food webs in describing the feeding interactions found in an ecosystem.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 10: Refer to the food web below to answer the questions.

Why might a decline in the population of baleen whales lead to an increase in the

population of seals, penguins, and krill-eating fish?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


What might happen to the other species if the population of baleen whales increased

but the population of krill stayed the same? Explain your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 11: Use the following food chains to construct a food web. Remember to

include arrows in your food web and organisms can only be listed once.

A SAVANNAH FOOD WEB AN INSECT’S FOOD WEB

GREEN PLANT GOAT LION

GREEN PLANT MOOSE SNAKE KITE

GREEN PLANT RABBIT WILD CAT LION

PLANTS EARWIG GROUND BEETLE WOLF SPIDER

PLANTS MILLIPEDE GROUND BEETLE WOLF SPIDER

PLANTS WOODLOUSE BEETLE LARVA WOLF SPIDER

PLANTS SNAIL BEETLE LARVA WOLF SPIDER

Which of the following food webs shows a greater degree of biodiversity?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 12: Refer to the food chains below. Construct a food web based on these

food chains and use this food web to complete the questions below

What are the producers in this aquatic food web?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Which organism is the apex predator in this aquatic food web?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

FOOD CHAINS

MARSH PLANTS INSECTS RAT SNAKE HAWK

MARSH PLANTS INSECTS RAT HAWK

MARSH PLANTS INSECTS FROG SNAKE HAWK

AQUATIC PLANTS SMALL FISH LARGE FISH CRANE HAWK

AQUATIC PLANTS SNAIL LARGE FISH DUCK HAWK

AQUATIC PLANTS SNAIL SPARROW HAWK

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


Complete the table below by identifying at least 1 organism at each of the following

trophic levels.

TROPHIC LEVEL

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

ORGANISM

Are there any organisms which can be classified as belong to more than 1 trophic level?

Explain how you arrived at your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

A pesticide is used to eliminate all insects in this aquatic ecosystem. Redraw this

aquatic food web based on what you would expect once all insects have been eliminated.

PART C: UNDERSTANDING ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 13: What is thermodynamics?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 14: Understanding the 1st law of thermodynamics.

Define the 1st Law of Thermodynamics: _______________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

How does the 1st Law of Thermodynamics apply to ecosystems?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 15: Understanding the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

Define the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: ______________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

How does the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics apply to ecosystems?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 16: What happens to the amount of energy in an ecosystem as it passes

through the various trophic levels? Provide a reason for this.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


QUESTION 17: What does the term biomass mean?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 18: Identify the 3 types of ecological pyramids in the table below.

Complete the table based on what you know about these 3 ecological pyramids.

PYRAMID TYPE DEFINITION

ALWAYS

PYRAMID SHAPED

(YES or NO)

PYRAMIDS OF ENERGY

NO

QUESTION 19: A pyramid of numbers is shown below,

along with the corresponding food chain. Explain based

on the shown food chain, why pyramids of numbers are

not always pyramid shaped.

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


The levels of all food chains and food webs are organized into feeding levels called trophic

levels. As you can see in Figure 1 below, the amount of energy available at a given trophic

levels decreases as you move up a food chain or food web.

QUESTION 1: What are trophic levels?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________


ENERGY L

OSS

TROPHIC

LEVEL

1st Level

2nd Level

3rd Level

4th Level

5th Level

The trophic level is the position an organism holds within a food chain or food with regard

to when it obtains energy.

ECOLOGY NAME: ________________________

WORKSHEET


The 1st trophic level is made of producers (autotrophs) which are organisms which

can make their own food. In most ecosystems producers (autotrophs) are green plants. All

remaining trophic levels above the 1st trophic level are consumers or heterotrophs.

Consumers (heterotrophs) are organisms which must eat other living things to obtain the

energy required for their survival.

The 2nd trophic level consists of primary consumers, these are organisms which eat

producers. Primary consumers are typically animals which would eat producers, such as

plants. Examples of primary consumers are cows, elk, and deer. So as a typical rule, primary

consumers tend to be herbivores because they eat plant material. As a rule, organisms at

higher trophic levels eat organisms at lower trophic levels. So, this would mean organisms

at the 3rd trophic level which consists of secondary consumers, would eat organisms from

the 2nd trophic level (the primary consumers).

QUESTION 2: In complete sentences, explain the difference between autotrophs and

heterotrophs. Where do these organisms obtain the energy required for life functions?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 3: What sort of organisms exist at the 2nd trophic level? What does their

diet consist of?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION 4: In your own words, explain the difference between a primary

consumer, secondary consumer, and tertiary consumer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Autotrophs are organisms which have the ability to make their own food from non-living

substances. They take sunlight and convert it into chemical energy (food). Meanwhile,

heterotrophs are organisms which must consume other living things for energy to survive.

Organisms which exist at the 2nd trophic level are primary consumers. Primary

consumers are the 1st consumers in a food chain or food web which would mean they

would eat producers such as plants.

Primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers are all heterotrophs since they must consumer other living things for food. They differ with regard to their positions in the food

web within an ecosystem. Primary consumers are the 1st consumers within an ecosystem

feeding at the 2nd trophic level and are herbivores. Secondary consumers (3rd trophic

level) and tertiary consumers (4th trophic levels) are carnivores or omnivores.

lesson 4

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