1. Producers and Consumers
Activity 6
Producers and Consumers

2. As you read the Introduction…
What is plankton?
Explain the following statement:
Phytoplankton are producers.
Zooplankton are consumers

3. Get Started
What role do phytoplankton and zooplankton play in the sustainability of the ecosystem shown here?
Note: This image is taken from Transparency 6.1, “Marine Food Web.”

4. Look at the figure on p. 88 in your book above Part C
Look at the figure on p. 88 in your book above Part C. (or a diagram provided)
Which organisms in the figure do you think are phytoplankton? Zooplankton?
What evidence do you have to support your answer?
Allow students to discuss this in pairs, but do not provide the answers. They will learn more about this during the Activity.

5. How do plankton populations affect the sustainability of a fishery?
Challenge
How do plankton populations affect the sustainability of a fishery?

6. Observing Plankton You will observe 8 slides of plankton.
Some plankton will be unicellular….others will multicellular
Draw what you see

7. Using the Microscope
Refer to p. 87 in your text to see important guidelines in reference to using the microscope
Always start observing a slide on 10X (low power) magnification.
Before switching to HIGH power (40X)…be sure your specimen is in the CENTER of your field of view & in focus!
Review your expectations for handling and using a microscope. If needed, review basic microscope technique and guidelines for drawing microscopic images. See Teacher Resources II: Diverse Learners for more information.

8. Identifying Plankton Use a DICHOTOMOUS KEY to identify your plankton
A dichotomous key is a 2 part key that helps us identify living things

9. Can you identify these birds?

10. Analysis Questions
Identify 2 similarities between phytoplankton & zooplankton
Identify 2 differences between phytoplankton & zoo plankton
What is the role of phytoplankton in an aquatic ecosystem?

11. Analysis 4
How might changes in the amount of plankton in the ocean affect the ocean’s ability to provide a sustainable source of food for the world’s human population? Explain.
Analysis Question 4 is an opportunity to make sure students understand that these microscopic organisms play a large role in the sustainability of fisheries. Human actions that affect plankton are likely to have far-reaching effects on aquatic ecosystems since plankton are producers that capture light energy and serve as a food source for many organisms higher in the food web.
A sample student response can be found in your Teacher’s Edition for this activity.

12. How do plankton populations affect the sustainability of a fishery?
Revisit the Challenge
How do plankton populations affect the sustainability of a fishery?
This class discussion should take about minutes. Make sure students understand that plankton are key to the fishery in the activity because they are the basis of the ecosystem. Students will explore the roles of producers and consumers in more detail in the next activity.

13. biodiversity consumers fishery organism phytoplankton plankton
Key Vocabulary
biodiversity
consumers
fishery
organism
phytoplankton
plankton
producers
zooplankton
See Teacher Resources III: Literacy for more information on key vocabulary and the most effective strategies to enhance student vocabulary learning.
Note that bold words are formally defined in this activity. Words in regular font are used in the activity, but not formally defined. The definition of a key vocabulary word should not be discussed as a class prior to the formal definition being introduced.