Competition: Its What’s for Dinner.
The influence of abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem
Part I. Ranking sources in an ecosystem.
Directions1. Look at the pictures of the two ecosystems, desert and rainforest, on the screen.
2. In table 1 below, rank the importance of the following resources in the two ecosystems from
most important to least important:
Water
Warmth
Shelter
Light
Food
3. Under table 1, answer the question.
4. Compare your answer with a person at your table.
Table 1. Ranking the importance of resources
Desert
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Rainforest
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why did you rank the resources in this order?
Part II. Dependence and competition in an ecosystem.
Directions1. Using your assigned utensil (hands, spoon, fork, or forceps) collect as much food as possible
in the time allowed. FOOD MUST BE PLACED IN YOUR CUP TO COUNT TOWARDS YOUR
TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS!
Point values for food are as follows:
Macaroni- 2
Black beans- 10
Red beans- 1
Rice- 3
2. After the collection of food, record and calculate the number of points you have in table 2.
Remember that you can only count the food in your cup towards your total.
3. Share your totals with your group, and record their totals in table 2.
4. Answer the questions under the table.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 three times. Each time will represent a change in the ecosystem.
Note: Failure to use only your utensil or not follow a direction symbolizes getting eaten by a
predator. You will be out!
1
Competition: Its What’s for Dinner.
The influence of abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem
Table 2. Situation 1: Initial Collection of Food
Trait (utensil
used to
collect food)
Macaroni- 2 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Red Beans- 1 point
Total
Tally
Number
of Points
Black Beans- 10 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Rice- 3 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Total
Point
Value
Hands
Spoon
Fork
Forceps
1. Who collected the most points?
2. What characteristics or skills did they have that allowed them to collect the most points?
3. Who had the least points and why did they have the least number of points?
Table 3. Situation 2: There is a freeze, all macaroni dies.
Trait (utensil
used to
collect food)
Macaroni- 0 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Red Beans- 1 point
Total
Tally
Number
of Points
Black Beans- 10 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Rice- 3 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Total
Point
Value
Hands
Spoon
Fork
Forceps
1. Who collected the most points?
2. What characteristics or skills did they have that allowed them to collect the most points?
3. Who had the least points and why did they have the least number of points?
4. How did the “freezing” affect who collected the most points?
5. How did the “freezing” affect the food supply?
2
Competition: Its What’s for Dinner.
The influence of abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem
Table 4. Situation 3: Winter and have to hunt at night. Hands people cannot see at night.
Trait (utensil
used to
collect food)
Macaroni- 2 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Red Beans- 1 point
Total
Tally
Number
of Points
Black Beans- 10 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Rice- 3 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Total
Point
Value
Hands with
eyes closed
Spoon
Fork
Forceps
1. Who collected the most points?
2. What characteristics or skills did they have that allowed them to collect the most points?
3. Who had the least points and why did they have the least number of points?
4. How did the “change in season” affect who collected the most points?
5. How did the “change in season” affect the food supply?
Table 5. Situation 4: There is a drought, and only rice and black beans survive as a food source.
Trait (utensil
used to
collect food)
Macaroni- 0 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Red Beans- 0 point
Total
Tally
Number
of Points
Black Beans- 10 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Rice- 3 points
Total
Tally
Number of
Points
Total
Point
Value
Hands
Spoon
Fork
Forceps
1. How did the “drought” affect who collected the most points?
2. How did the “drought” affect the food supply?
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Competition: Its What’s for Dinner.
The influence of abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem
Part III. Defining Abiotic and Biotic Factors
Directions1. Define the terms “abiotic” and “biotic” in the space below.
2. List in table 6 the “abiotic” and “biotic” factors that influenced the ecosystem.
Abiotic-
BioticTable 6. Factors that influenced our ecosystem.
Abiotic Factors
Biotic Factors
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
Part IV. Analysis and Conclusion
Construct a bar graph showing the number of points each person was able to collect for each situation.
Then answer the questions below.
Amount of Points Collected
100
90
Number of Points
80
70
60
Hands (blue)
50
Fork (red)
40
Spoon (green)
30
Forceps (purple)
20
10
0
Initial food
collection
Freeze
Winter (less light)
Drought
4
Competition: Its What’s for Dinner.
The influence of abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem
1. Which situation allowed for the most collection of points? Make a prediction about why this
situation allowed you to collect the most points?
2. Which situation caused the least about of points to be collected? Make a prediction about why
this situation caused the least amount of points to be collected.
3. How do the abiotic factors, sunlight and temperature, effect an ecosystem?
4. How do the abiotic factors, soil composition and water, effect an ecosystem?
5. What biotic factors would affect a marine ecosystem? Why?
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