Coughing Up Clues Review

Key Points to Remember Animals need food to survive. Animals need food to survive. Animals need food to move physically from place to place – flying, crawling, running, swimming or simply walking. Animals need food to move physically from place to place – flying, crawling, running, swimming or simply walking. Animals also need food for internal processes such as beating of heart, breathing etc… Animals also need food for internal processes such as beating of heart, breathing etc… Energy from food also keeps endothermic (warm blooded animals) to keep warm. Energy from food also keeps endothermic (warm blooded animals) to keep warm. Energy is ALWAYS involved when things change or happen. Energy is ALWAYS involved when things change or happen.

Food Chain Food chain is a single line of transmission. Food chain is a single line of transmission. Notice how the arrows for from left to right – it goes in the direction of the energy flow Notice how the arrows for from left to right – it goes in the direction of the energy flow Example to the right Example to the right Acorns provide food for mouse Acorns provide food for mouse Mouse provides food for snake Mouse provides food for snake Snake provides food for hawk Snake provides food for hawk

Food Web The feeding relationships in ecosystems are very complex and are best represented by webs rather than chains. The feeding relationships in ecosystems are very complex and are best represented by webs rather than chains.

Type of information that can be inferred from animal bones Leg bones – often used to determine the approximate size of an animal because the legs support the weight of the animal and therefore the larger the animal, the longer and thicker the bones. Leg bones – often used to determine the approximate size of an animal because the legs support the weight of the animal and therefore the larger the animal, the longer and thicker the bones. Animals with small bodies can have big heads Animals with small bodies can have big heads Animals with large bodies can have small heads Animals with large bodies can have small heads Skulls do not often provide an accurate size estimate Skulls do not often provide an accurate size estimate The jawbone can provide important clues to an animals diet however. The jawbone can provide important clues to an animals diet however.

Analysis Questions #1 Owls eat small vertebrates such as mice and voles Owls eat small vertebrates such as mice and voles Since pellets are ejected within hours after eating, one can conclude that a single owl eats several of these small vertebrates every day. Since pellets are ejected within hours after eating, one can conclude that a single owl eats several of these small vertebrates every day.

Analysis Question #2-4 See diagram on document camera See diagram on document camera

Question #5 a. Shortly after the owl population increases and starts heavily consuming its prey, the population of its prey (i.e. voles) begins to decline. Shortly after the owl population increases and starts heavily consuming its prey, the population of its prey (i.e. voles) begins to decline. Later however, as the owl population begins to outstrip the food supply, its population declines allowing the population of the prey to recover partially. Eventually, an equilibrium between the owl and its prey is reached. Later however, as the owl population begins to outstrip the food supply, its population declines allowing the population of the prey to recover partially. Eventually, an equilibrium between the owl and its prey is reached.

Question #5 b. Shortly after the owl population increases, providing extra food for its predators, those predators are likely to increase in population also. Shortly after the owl population increases, providing extra food for its predators, those predators are likely to increase in population also. When the owl population later declines, the population of predators is likely to decline as well. Eventually, an equilibrium between the owl population and the predator population is reached. When the owl population later declines, the population of predators is likely to decline as well. Eventually, an equilibrium between the owl population and the predator population is reached.