Food Web Activity
Integrated Science 1
Name:
Per:
Procedures:
1. Activity 1: Use the information presented in Data Table 1 to complete Data Table 2, outlining the trophic
levels of the organisms in the ecosystem: producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer and top
consumer.
2. Activity 2: Think of 3 additional organisms to add to Data Table 1 and fill in the blanks.
3. On a separate piece of paper, create a food web representing the feeding relationships and energy
transfer in the ecosystem modeled in class. Use the following guidelines:




Include and label the sun as the main energy source in the ecosystem.
Include the names and a small drawing of all of the organisms in the ecosystem.
Organize the organisms in such a way that it reflects their trophic level, and label them on the food web:
producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer and top consumer.
Draw arrows to show the direction of energy transfer between the organisms. Make sure the arrows are in the
proper direction.
Data Table 1:
Phytoplankton-Diatoms
Eats: Nothing
Eaten by: Opossum
shrimp
Copepod
Anchovy
Canvasback duck
Anchovy
Eats: Algae, Diatoms,
Copepod
Opossum Shrimp
Eaten by: Striped
Bass
Chinook Salmon,
Dungeness
Crab,Heron, Sea Lion
Heron
Eats: Crab, Anchovy
Striped Bass, Salmon
Eaten by: Nothing
Data Table 2:
Component of
Food Web
Diatoms
Algae
Opossum Shrimp
Phytoplankton-Algae
Eats: Nothing
Eaten by: Opossum
shrimp
Copepod
Anchovy
Canvasback duck
Dungeness Crab
Eats :Opossum
Shrimp
Copepod, Anchovy
Eaten by: Heron, Sea
Lion
Opossum Shrimp
Eats: Algae
Diatoms
Eaten by:
Canvasback duck
Anchovy
Dungeness crab
Copepod
Eats: Algae
Diatoms
Eaten by:
Anchovy
Canvasback duck
Dungeness crab
______________
Eats:
Canvasback Duck
Eats: Algae, Diatoms,
Copepods, Opossum
Shrimp
Eaten by: Sea Lion,
Shark
Striped Bass
Eats: Anchovy
Crab
Eaten by: Heron
Sea Lion, Shark
______________
Eats:
Sea Lion
Eats: Anchovy,
Dungeness Crab,
Striped Bass,
Canvasback Duck
Chinook Salmon
Eaten by: Shark
Chinook Salmon
Eats: Anchovy, Crab
Eaten by: Heron,Sea
Lion,Shark
Shark
Eats: Sea
Lion,Salmon
Duck, Bass
Eaten by: Nothing
______________
Eats:
Trophic Level
Copepod
Anchovy
Dungeness Crab
Canvasback Duck
Component of
Food Web
Eaten by:
Eaten by:
Eaten by:
Trophic Level
Striped Bass
Heron
Sea Lion
Chinook Salmon
Shark
Summary Questions: Answer the following questions using the textbook for help with vocabulary.
1.) In your own words, what is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
Does one more accurately represent an ecosystem? Why?
Write out an example of a food chain found in today’s activity.
2.) What is an autotroph? Name 2 autotrophs found in your food web.
3.) What is a heterotroph? Name 2 heterotrophs found in your food web.
4.) Which trophic level contains the most energy? Which trophic level contains the least energy?
Explain this large difference in energy between trophic levels.
5.) Why is there a loss of energy at each trophic level?
6.) Why might it be advantageous for a large animal, such as a whale, to feed on plankton or tiny
marine primary producers?
7.) What might happen to the example food web if diatoms disappeared?
8.) What might happen to the example food web if the heron disappeared?