Name: __________________________________________
Due Date: ____________________________________
Ecosystems and Energy Flow Project
Objective: Demonstrate your knowledge about the flow of energy in two ecosystems through the construction of
various food chains, food webs, and ecological pyramids. Describe how elements, such as nitrogen and carbon,
are cycled through these ecosystems.
Project Task/Procedure Part I — Food Chains, Food Webs, and Energy Pyramids:
1. Select one ecosystem. You may use the list of ecosystems provided by your teacher. You may have to do
some research on the ecosystem to complete this project.
Your Ecosystem: ____________________________
2. Create a list below of 20 or more organisms that inhabit this ecosystem. Your lists should include organisms
from a variety of kingdoms. You should also have a variety of producers and consumers.
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3. Using the organisms from your lists above, construct at least three food chains for each ecosystem in the
space provided below. For each food chain, label ALL the following: producers, primary consumers,
secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, decomposers, detritivores, herbivores, carnivores,
omnivores, and trophic level.
Food Chain #1:
Food Chain #2:
Food Chain #3:
4. In the space below, put at least 12 of your organisms together in a food web. Add arrows showing the
direction of energy flow.
5. Using organisms in the food web for your ecosystem, describe examples of the following:
a. A symbiotic relationship:
b. A predator-prey relationship:
c. Competition:
d. Limiting factors that may affect the survival of the organisms:
e. Density dependent and independent factors that may affect the survival of the organisms:
6. Answer the following analysis questions regarding the food web for your ecosystem write in complete
sentences and give descriptive answers:
a. If a great number of producers within the ecosystem died, how would this affect the numbers of the
other organisms within the ecosystem?
b. If all but a few tertiary consumers within the ecosystem died, how would this affect the numbers of the
other organisms within the ecosystem?
c. If many new plants and trees are introduced into the ecosystem, how will this affect the numbers of the
other organisms within the ecosystem?
d. If half of the primary consumers have a disease and die, how will this affect the numbers of the other
organisms within the ecosystem?
7. In the space below, construct an ecological pyramid for your ecosystem. Include at least nine organisms in
the energy pyramid. Label each level of the pyramid with the correct trophic level. Label each level of the
pyramid with the correct type of producer or consumer. Assume the lowest level of the pyramid has 100,000
units of energy. Label the units of energy that will be transferred up to the remaining levels of the pyramid.
Project Task/Procedure Part II – Matter Cycles
Chemical elements, such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, are cycled between organisms and their
environments. Autotrophs acquire these elements in their inorganic forms and combine them into organic forms,
which may be consumed by heterotrophs. When organisms die, these elements are returned to their inorganic
forms, and to the environment, by decomposers.
1. Using the food chains from Part I, construct a Matter Cycle (in words and drawing) for one element in each
ecosystem in the space provided below. You may choose Carbon, Water or Nitrogen
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE:
Cycling of Carbon in the Deciduous Forest
CO2 in atmosphere is used by an oak tree in photosynthesis to produce glucose.
A squirrel eats an acorn from the oak tree.
A fox eats the squirrel.
A cougar eats the fox.
The oak tree, squirrel, fox, and cougar all undergo cellular respiration, releasing CO2 back into the
atmosphere.
When the squirrel, fox, and cougar die, soil microbes decompose the organisms, releasing carbon into
the soil.
Matter Cycle:
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