NS 1021A:
Introduction to Biology: Organisms and the Environment
Food Webs
In order to survive, an organism must have a source of energy. Many
organisms, including ourselves, obtain energy through eating. A food web
illustrates the idea that all life is connected in a way that ensures energy flow
through the environment.
Vocabulary:
- Trophic level
- Producer
- Consumer
- Herbivore
- Omnivore
- Carnivore
- Top carnivore
- Decomposer/detritivore
Materials:
- Newsprint or butcher paper
-
Markers
Procedure
- With your group, choose an ecosystem to illustrate.
- Make a list of the common organisms in that ecosystem. Include in
your list organisms from each trophic level, as well as detritivores or
decomposers.
- Classify each organism as a producer or consumer, and identify its
trophic level.
- On large paper, draw your ecosystem. Include the source of energy
for the producers.
- Label the trophic level for each organism on your drawing.
- Label each organism as a producer or consumer. Label each consumer
as an herbivore, carnivore, top carnivore, or omnivore.
- Draw lines connecting each consumer with what it eats. Use one color to
connect the first and second trophic levels, another color connecting the
third and second, etc. If any organisms from the third or fourth trophic
level also eat at the first level, show that with a different color.
Assignment Rubric:
|
All
Trophic Levels Shown, Labeled |
/4 |
|
Connections Between Levels |
/5 |
|
Detritivores/Decomposers |
/2 |
|
Source of Energy for Producers |
/1 |
|
Vocabulary:
producer
consumer
herbivore
carnivore
top carnivore
omnivore
detritivore/decomposer |
/1
/1
/1
/1
/1
/1
/1 |
|
Group effort |
/1 |
|
Total |
/20 |