Energy in Ecosystems:
Terminology:
Ecosystem: All the living things and non-living things in a given area that interact with one another.
It may be small (like a rotting log) or large (like the Pacific Ocean).
Biotic: Describes any living (eg: organisms such as plants, animals, bacteria, fungi).
Abiotic: Describes anything non-living (eg: soil, temperature, water, rainfall, wind.)
Ecology: The study of the way an organism interacts with other organisms and with the Abiotic
parts of an ecosystem.
Exercise your knowledge:
For each term create an Acrostic Poem. To create an Acrostic Poem, write the word out
vertically and then create a short sentence relating to the term for each letter. An example
for the letter E in Ecology:
E cology is the study of organisms and how they interact.
C
O
Continue to work down the word and for each letter create a short sentence about that
term.
Ecosystem Examples:
1)
Grass is the
Producer. It is
eaten by the
Grass Hopper.
This is an example of a Food Chain:
The Grass
Hopper is the
First Order
Consumer. It is
eaten by frogs.
The Frog is the
Second Order
Consumer. It is
eaten by
Snakes.
The Snake is
the Third
Order
Consumer. It is
eaten by
Eagles.
These are the Consumers!
The Eagle is
the Fourth
Order
Consumer.
2) This is another example of a Food Chain:
In this example
the sun is the
Producer. It
allows the
grass to create
food for itself.
Grass is the
First Order
Consumer.
Rabbits will eat
the grass.
The Rabbit is
the Second
Order
Consumer. The
rabbits will get
eaten by the
Coyote.
These are the Consumers!
3) This is an example of a Food Web:
Snake
Shrew
Cougar
Mouse
Deer
Rabbit
Insects
Grasses
The Coyote is
the Third
Order
Consumer. It
uses energy
gained from
eating the
rabbit.
4) This is another example of a Food Web:
Bear
Wolf
Deer
Red Fox
Skunk
Birds
Bees
Toad
Mice
Rabbit
Insects
Blossoms
Nuts
Oak Bark
Leaves
Blossoms
Activities:
1) Using Example 1 explain what would happen to the Food Chain if Grass Hoppers no
longer existed.
2) Using Example 2 explain what would happen to the Food Chain if the Coyote Species
no longer existed.
3) Using Example 3 explain what would happen to the Food Web if the Mice and Rabbit
species no longer existed.
4) Using Example 4 explain what would happen to the Food Web if Toad, Skunk and
Red Fox Species no longer existed.
5) Create your own Food Chain using your favourite animals.
6) Create your own Food Chain using animals and plants that live in Australia.
7) Using the following list of Animals and Plants, fill in the blanks on the Food Chain
and Food Web.
Insects
Dingo
1)
Grass
2)
Possum
.