Name:
Period:
Energy Flow Project – Issued: Oct. 2/3 due Oct. 20/21
*Parts 1-2 are due Oct. 15 for a quiz grade
Objective:
Student will:
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Identify the components of an ecosystem
Understand the role of producers, consumers, and decomposers
Determine the food webs in specific ecosystems.
Diagram the flow of energy in an energy pyramid
Understand the flow of energy through living systems
Project Information and Tips:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Go to the Internet to solve the food webs for the four ecosystems.
View the completed food webs on the Internet at the end of each activity.
You may type or neatly write your answers for each part.
You can create the project electronically, but the finished product needs to be PRINTED
AND COLORED in order to turn it in.
5. Next to each part of the project, a time management date is included to help you stay on track
with this assignment. Parts 1 and 2 are due Oct. 15 for a quiz grade.
Part 1- Internet Research (complete this step by Oct. 7 – guideline date)
Internet website: http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/kids_web.htm (Find other research links
on my teacher website – Unit 2.)
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper using complete sentences. Title
the page “Part 1 Questions”.
1. Most of the energy in the Antarctic ecosystem is present at the lower levels of the
pyramid. How do so few types of organisms support the many carnivores in the
Antarctic ecosystem?
2. The number and population size of the top level carnivores is much smaller than the
2nd level consumers in the Antarctic ecosystem because only 10% of the energy
transfers from the 2nd level consumers to the 3rd level consumers. Why does only 10%
of the energy transfer to the 3rd level consumers?
3. The African Grasslands food web included scavengers in its food web. How are these
organisms unique from the other organisms in the food web?
1
Name:
Period:
4. The African Grasslands food web does not show arrows going to the vulture. Where
in an energy pyramid does a scavenger’s energy come from?
5. The African Grasslands food web also includes decomposers. What happens to the
energy that transfers to decomposers if they do not have a predator?
Part 2 – Construction of Food Chains and Food Web (complete this step before Oct. 15 – it
is DUE Oct. 15)
Choose ONE of the ecosystems and complete the following tasks.
On paper or a document, make at least 4 food chains, use pictures or illustrations with captions.
Remember to draw arrows showing the flow of energy going from “being eaten” to “eater”.
Label each part of your food chain; producer, 1st level consumer, 2nd level consumer, 3rd level
consumer, scavenger, decomposer.
NOW------ Use the food chains to create a food WEB using 10-16 organisms. Make additional
arrows showing how energy is passed throughout the food web.
Make your product colorful, accurate and neat!
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper using complete sentences. Title
the page “Part 2 Questions”.
1. In your food web, are there more predators or prey? Explain why.
2. If a disease drastically reduced the population number of one species of the 2nd level
consumers, predict what may happen to the other organisms in your food web.
3. Which organisms might increase in population? Why?
4. Which organisms might decrease in population? Why?
2
Name:
Period:
Part 3 - Energy Pyramid (complete by Oct. 18 – guideline date)
Choose the SAME ecosystem and construct an Energy Pyramid.
1. Find the pyramid attached to this packet. Label and color each level of the first pyramid
side of the pyramid with the following terms as you move up the pyramid:
Producer level - color green
Primary consumer/1st level - color yellow
Secondary consumer/2nd level – color blue
Tertiary consumer/3rd level – color red
2. Label each level of the second pyramid side with the following terms as you move up the
pyramid: plants, herbivores, carnivores, top carnivores.
3. Label each level of the third pyramid side with the following terms as your move up the
pyramid: autotroph, 1st order heterotroph, 2nd order heterotroph, 3rd order
heterotroph.
4. Label the fourth side of the pyramid starting at the largest section as you move up: 100%
of energy, 10% of energy, 1% of energy, 0.1% of energy.
5. Fold your pyramid on the lines radiating from the center and glue it together using the
extra flaps.
6. Turn in the completed pyramid along with the other parts of your project.
Your entire project is due on October 20 if you have Science on an A day,
October 21 if you have Science on a B day.
Guideline dates are to help you stay on track with your project, DUE dates are when steps of the
project are due.
Please see me as soon as possible if you run into difficulties.
3
Name:
Period:
Grading Rubric for Food Chain/Energy Flow Project
Categories
Completion of
research
4
Completion of
all 4 ecosystems
3
Completion of 3
ecosystems
2
Completion of 2
ecosystems
1
Completion of 1
ecosystem
Food chains
All 4 accurately
completed
3 accurately
completed
2 accurately
completed
1 accurately
completed
Food Web
10-15 organisms
included
7-9 organisms
included
5-6 organisms
included
Less than 5
organisms
included
Energy
pyramid
All 4 sides
accurately
completed
3 sides
accurately
completed
2 sides
accurately
completed
1 side accurately
completed
Illustrations
Very neat
Neat
Somewhat neat
Lacking
neatness
Color
Very good use
of color
Some use of
color
Little use of
color
No color
Total Points:
_______________
Percentage:
_______________
Teacher Comments:
4