Ecosystem and Cycles Study Guide
Key terms:
Photosynthesis
Predator
Biotic
Herbivore
Equilibrium
Decomposer
Prey
Food chain
Carnivore
Limiting factor
Producers
Energy flow
Food Web
Omnivore
Consumer
Cycling of Matter
Energy Pyramid
Habitat
Evidence Outcome: Compare and Contrast the flow of energy with the cycling of
matter.
Listen to “The Pond’ and answer the following questions:
1. Describe two ways the fish population can change the abiotic (non-living) factors in an
ecosystem.
2. What are two sources of food for the decomposers in the pond?
3. What is one way the use of this food for the decomposers benefits other organisms in the
ecosystem?
4. What does it mean to say: ”Energy flows, while matter cycles in ecosystems?
Evidence Outcome: Design a food web diagram to show the flow of energy through
an ecosystem.
1. Explain and illustrate the flow of energy in the desert by drawing a food web. You must
include a minimum of 10 organisms in your food web. Use arrows to show the direction of
energy flow in the web.
Plants and animals of the desert include: sagebrush, secco lily, saguaro cactus, prickly pine
cactus, juniper tree, pinion pine tree, barrel cactus, woodpecker, snake, mouse, lizard,
cricket, moth, butterfly, fox, coyote, bobcat, spiders, eagles, vultures, jack rabbit, cactus
wren, scorpion, flies, desert tortoise, kangaroo rat
Evidence Outcome: Model equilibrium or balance in an ecosystem and be
able to predict what will happen with introduction or removal of a species.
1. If a portion of a food chain is removed what happens to the organisms on either side of the
food chain?
2. Why are there fewer top predators in an ecosystem than any other organism?
Evidence Outcome: Justify why there are more producers than consumers in
an ecosystem. Show the flow of energy through an ecosystem
Watch the Energy Flow video and answer the following questions.
1. Draw and label the energy pyramid.
2. What happens to the energy as movement is made up the energy pyramid? Discuss in terms
of the 10% rule.
3. Why are there more producers than consumers in an ecosystem (discuss in regards to
biomass or number of organisms at each level)?
Evidence Outcome: Communicate and justify how environmental conditions
affect the survival of individual organisms.
1. What are limiting factors (in your warm-ups)?
2. Describe how four limiting factors could prevent a plant or animal population from
increasing.