S T U D E N T J O U R N A L Name: Date: How does energy flow in a food chain and a food web? Part I: The Chain vs. The Web Draw one example food chain using your food web. Use arrows to show energy flow. Recreate your food web by drawing it in the space below. Include the name of each organism, and use arrows to show energy flow. 1
Part II: Producers, Consumers, Decomposers, Oh My! Identify the role each organism in your food web plays and define the terms. Producers (Autotrophs) Consumers (Heterotrophs) Decomposers Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores 1. Define what a producer (autotroph) is. 2. Define what a consumer (heterotroph) is. A. Define what a herbivore is. B. Define what a carnivore is. C. Define what an omnivore is. 3. Define what a decomposer is. 2
Part III: Energy Pyramid List each organism in your food web into the correct trophic level. KEY H = Heterotroph A = Autotroph H Tertiary Consumers (Carnivores) LEAST amount of ENERGY H Secondary Consumers (Carnivores or Omnivores) H Primary Consumers (Herbivores) E N E R G Y F L O W A Primary Producers MOST amount of ENERGY What provides the energy for all the life forms on Earth? 3
Can you describe the predator/prey relationships and parasite/host relationships within a food web? Part IV: So Many Relationships! Complete the table below by identifying three predator-prey relationships within your food web. Predator Prey 1. 2. 3. Complete the table below by identifying one of each type of relationship within your food web. Commensalism One organism benefits and the other organism is NOT harmed. Name two organisms that share this type of relationship: Mutualism BOTH organisms benefit. Name two organisms that share this type of relationship: Parasitism One organism (parasite) benefits and the other organism (host) is harmed. Name two organisms that share this type of relationship: How does one organism benefit from the relationship? How do both organisms benefit from the relationship? How does the parasite benefit and the host harmed? 4
Part V: Food Web Gallery Walk Observe each group s food web (including your own) to complete each table. FRESHWATER FOOD WEB 2. Which organism(s) has the most amount of energy? 1. If plants are not receiving sufficient sunlight to photosynthesize their own food, what would happen to the food web if all the water plants, duckweed, algae, and cattails/weeds died out? 3. If the frog population increases, what will happen to the food web as a result? TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST FOOD WEB 1. What would happen in the food web if the owls started to decrease in numbers? 2. Identify a decomposer in the food web. 3. Which organisms are at the top of the food chain? 5
Part V: Food Web Gallery Walk Observe each group s food web (including your own) to complete each table. DESERT FOOD WEB 2. Identify the autotrophs within the food web. 1. Describe one predator-prey relationship you see in the desert food web. 3. What would result if the mountain lion population started to increase? RAINFOREST FOOD WEB 2. Which organisms have the most amount of energy in the food web? 1. Which organisms are herbivores? 3. Describe what would happen within the food web if all of the insects died. 6
Part V: Food Web Gallery Walk Observe each group s food web (including your own) to complete each table. SAVANNA FOOD WEB 2. Where does the energy that powers the food web come from? 1. Describe what would occur in the food web if the zebra population started to decrease. 3. Identify a parasite-host relationship within the food web. MARINE FOOD WEB 2. Describe a mutualistic relationship found within the food web. 1. Describe a commensalistic relationship found within the food web. 3. Describe a parasite-host relationship within the food web. 4. Identify one carnivore in the food web. 7
Reflections and Conclusions 1. Compare and contrast food chains and food webs in the Venn diagram: Food Chains Food Webs 2. Describe each organism within a food web. Producers: Consumer: Three types of consumers: Decomposer: 3. Describe what a predator is and what a prey is and how they are related. 4. Describe what a parasite is and what a host is and how they are related. 5. In what ways are the predator-prey and parasite-host relationships similar? 8