2. FOOD CHAINS AND FOOD WEBS IN AN AQAUTIC ECOSYSTEM

3. What is the single-most important component that a food chain must have in order to work? Solar Radiation – AKA The Sun: It is the main source of energy.

4. What is Energy? Energy is the ability to do work Work is pushing or pulling anything from one place to another. (walking, writing, breathing, playing sports, running, etc.) All living things need energy in order to do all types of work.

5. Lets review what a food chain is and its components: Any ideas? A food chain is when animals eat, to get energy, in order to survive. In eating plants or animals, energy is passed along from organism to organism.

6. What then is a food web? A food web is a set of interconnected food chains that pass energy and nutrients within an ecosystem. Animals like to eat different kinds of food just like we do. Could you imagine eating only candy and pop your entire life? I’m sure it would just kill you! Try to find all the food chains in this food web?

7. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT FOOD CHAINS AND WEBS IN A FRESH WATER ECOSYSTEM In the following pictures, you will have the opportunity to collect information on many elements of a food web. You should take notes of the name of the creature, make a quick sketch, and decide what it eats and what eats it. When you are done, organize your notes into a food web picture and be prepared to use your web to help you answer questions at the end.

8. Food Chain Level: Producer Size: Small

9. Food Chain Level: Herbivore Size: Small

10. Food Chain Level: Bottom Predator/ Carnivore Size: Small

11. Food Chain Level: Bottom Predator/ Carnivore Size: Small

12. Food Chain Level: Middle Predator Size: Medium

13. Food Chain Level: Top Predator Size: Medium

14. Food Chain Level: Producer Size: Medium

15. Food Chain Level: Herbivore Size: Small

16. Food Chain Level: Bottom Predator Size: Small

17. Food Chain Level: Low Predator Size: Small

18. Food Chain Level: Middle Predator Size: Medium

19. Food Chain Level: Top Predator Size: Medium

20. Food Chain Level: Producer Size: Large

21. Food Chain Level: Herbivore Size: Small

22. Food Chain Level: Bottom Predator Size: Small

23. Food Chain Level: Low Predator Size: Medium

24. Food Chain Level: Middle Predator Size: Medium

25. Food Chain Level: Top Predator Size: Large

26. Assemble your notes and observations into a drawing of an ecosystem. (include biotic as well as abiotic factors) Use your notes to answer the following questions.

33. FOOD CHAINS AND WEBS IN FRESH WATER Many people think that algae is a yucky sort of thing to have in a pond. As a result, many people with a pond or creek, add the compound copper sulfate to the water to kill algae. Using your food web diagram, predict how copper sulfate poisoning of algae would affect other creatures in the pond. Write this in a 3-5 paragraph essay and be sure to include your food web diagram in the essay.