Food Chains and Food Webs
Producers, Consumers and Decomposers
Organisms
Graphs
Ms. Stearns Trivia
100
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain shows just one prey and one predator for each organism.
A food web shows multiple relationships between many different organisms and all of the overlap that occurs, creating a web.
100
Name a producer in this food web
Grass
100
Name 3 things in this ecosystem that are biotic
Answers may vary (anything alive)
100
What does the X-Axis show?
The year
100
What state is Ms. Stearns originally from?
Massachusetts
200
Name all primary consumers in this food web
Grasshoppers, Mouse, Rabbit
200
What are the three types of decomposers?
Fungus, bacteria, insects
200
Name 2 things in this ecosystem that are abiotic
Water, air, soil/sand, rocks
200
What does the Y-Axis show?
The population size
200
What grade did Ms. Stearns teach last year? (Hint: It was still Middle School, but not at Rose Hill)
7th
300
Name all of the secondary consumers
Rat, Frog, Dragonfly, thrush
300
What is the difference between a producer and a consumer?
A producer can make its own energy using sunlight. A consumer must eat another organism for energy.
300
A relationship that benefits both organisms is called...
Mutually beneficial relationship
300
About how many Red Squirrels were there in Year 10?
60
300
What month is Ms. Stearns birthday?
January
400
In this ecosystem, Mountain Lions were hunted to extinction (all Mountain Lions are now gone). Describe the impact this would have on at least two other organisms in the food web.
Deer and Rabbit populations would increase.
Hawk population would increase.
Tree, Shrub and Grass populations would decrease.
400
What does a decomposer do? How does it benefit an ecosystem?
Be sure to answer both questions!
A decomposer breaks down dead and decaying matter. It recycles the matter back into the soil as nutrients.
400
An organism that eats both plants and animals is called an...
Omnivore
400
Based on the graph, do you think Grey Squirrels or native or invasive? You need at least 2 pieces of evidence
Invasive.
Grey Squirrels were not present in the ecosystem before year 7.
The Grey Squirrel population increased rapidly which shows that they probably do not have a natural predator in this ecosystem.
400
Does Ms. Stearns prefer dogs or cats?
Dogs! (But cats are a close second!)
500
Based on this graph why do you think the hare population decreased 1924?
The lynx is eating the hare. The lynx population got so large that there was a big decline in the hare population.
500
What are the 3 products of decomposition?
Nutrients, carbon dioxide, water
500
Name this plant (This will not be on the test!)
Oregon Grape
500
Using the graph, explain the relationship between Red Squirrels, Grey Squirrels and Coyotes. Be sure to explain HOW all 3 populations changed over time and WHY you think the populations changed.
Grey Squirrels (likely an invasive species) were introduced around year 7. Invasive species don't have natural predators and can typically have rapid population growth.
Grey Squirrels most likely caused competition with Red squirrels for resources causing a decline in the Red Squirrel population.
Coyote population also decreased after the introduction of Grey Squirrels. Coyotes probably eat Red Squirrels and the decrease in their population meant less food for the coyotes causing their population to decrease.
500
What subject did Ms. Stearns study in college?
Environmental Science