Food Chain
True or False
A food chain is a complex diagram showing the interconnected relationships between many different living organisms.
False
That is a food web
True of False
A food web is essentially a bunch of interconnected food chains.
True
A rabbit is hunted for food by a fox. Describe the RABBITS relationship to the FOX.
A creature has sharp fangs and long razor claws. What kind of feeder is this animal most likely?
Carnivore.
Mosquitos, Ticks, fleas...
These are examples of what kind of animals?
Harmful (parasites)
The arrow in a food chain represents what?
The flow of energy.
Analyze the food web on the board.
Name all the animals that could be considered Apex Predator.
Fox, Hawk, Owl
The ultimate source of energy for all living things.
Hint** ancient Aztecs worshipped this as a God.
They are lighter. Allowing them to be fly and be swift.
Companions, protectors.
Plankton --> sardine (small fish) --> ________ --> Shark
Name a creature that could fill in the blank in the food chain. Be specific if possible!!!!
Big Fish!!
Tuna, salmon, barracuda, Bass, Grouper, Mahi Mahi
Why might an ecologist prefer to use a food web over a food chain to study an ecosystem?
Although a food chain is easier to read its too simple to truly understand an ecosystem.
A food web shows the interconnectedness of species and is a much more realistic model of an ecosystem.
DOUBLE JEPORADY!!!!!!!!!
The Hawk and the Eagle may not eat one another. But eat the same food and live in the same places. What kind of relationship do these creatures have?
They are competitors!!!!
You notice a bird has a thick and tough beak. It is not necessarily very sharp, but is very strong. What is this birds beak most likely used for?
Cracking open seeds or nuts.
Cows can be helpful in many different ways. Name 3 ways cows are helpful to humans.
Clothes (leather), Milk, Beef (possibly transport, they can carry heavy loads or pull wagons)
Grass --> Grasshopper --> Rat --> Snake --> Hawk
In the food chain above, which animal is considered a secondary consumer.
Analyze the food web on the board. Identify the tertiary consumer.
Hawk
Analyze the food web on the board. Describe what might happen if the grasshopper is removed from the ecosystem.
Grass population will increase.
Bird and Frog population will decrease.
Owl and Snake population may decrease.
Hawk population may decrease.
Name a creature that would be considered a caveat to the its class of vertebrate.
Ex: Guppies give birth to live young.
Shark (what species), Echidna (spiny ant eater), Bat, Duck-Billed Platypus...
Name a way animals can be used for medicine.
Cod liver, chicken egg vaccine...
What happens to the energy as it travels through trophic levels.
It decreases. Only about 10% of the energy travels from one trophic level to the next.
Analyze the food web on the board. Identify one creature for each trophic level.
2nd = Rabbit, Mouse, Frog, Bird
3rd = Fox, Owl, Snake
4th = Hawk
Although a wolf does not eat grass or shrubs, they still depend on grass for their survival. Why might this be?
The wolfs food source most likely eats grass.
What is the name of the scientist who studied birds on the Galapagos Islands and discovered that different beaks had different functions?
I said his name in class!!!!!
Charles Darwin
"Survival of the Fittest"
Name an animal that is both helpful and harmful and describe how it is both.
Spider, Scorpion...