FOOD CHAIN / FOOD WEB - REVIEW

VOCABULARY REVIEW ACTIVITY

FOOD CHAIN - ACTIVITY


REVIEW:

When we talk about the relationships among organisms in an ecosystem, the most important is how they relate to each other as predators and prey. The best means of illustrating these relationships is through food chains and food webs.

• Organisms interact with each other, and the most common interaction is within the structure of a food chain in which one organism is the food and energy source for another organism. 
• All food chains start with plants as producers because they can photosynthesize and capture sunlight energy. 
• Animals are consumers and eat either plants or each other. 
• Several food chains can be interwoven to create a food web in which many organisms interact with each other.

CYCLE QUIZZES

Get out a piece of notebook paper.  Then clear your desk of everything but your paper & pencil.
You will take 2 separate quizzes today.

click on the highlighted link for quiz #1 - complete the quiz then write your score & name on notebook paper. hand to me at end of class.  

Then open Quiz Star and proceed to nitrogen & carbon quiz.

WATER CYCLE QUIZ #1

WHATS FOR DINNER???

Every organism needs to obtain energy in order to live.  For example, plants get energy from the sun, some animals eat plants, and some animals eat other animals. A food chain is the sequence of who eats whom in a biological community (an ecosystem) to obtain nutrition.  A food chain starts with the primary energy source, usually the sun or boiling-hot deep sea vents.  The next link in the chain is an organism that make its own food from the primary energy source -- an example is photosynthetic plants that make their own food from sunlight (using a process called photosynthesis) and chemosynthetic bacteria that make their food energy from chemicals in hydrothermal vents. These are called autotrophs or primary producers. Next come organisms that eat the autotrophs; these organisms are called herbivores or primary consumers -- an example is a rabbit that eats grass. The next link in the chain is animals that eat herbivores - these are called secondary consumers -- an example is a snake that eat rabbits. In turn, these animals are eaten by larger predators -- an example is an owl that eats snakes. The tertiary consumers are are eaten by quaternary consumers -- an example is a hawk that eats owls. Each food chain end with a top predator, and animal with no natural enemies (like an alligator, hawk, or polar bear). The arrows in a food chain show the flow of energy, from the sun or hydrothermal vent to a top predator. As the energy flows from organism to organism, energy is lost at each step. A network of many food chains is called a food web. Trophic Levels: The trophic level of an organism is the position it holds in a food chain. Primary producers (organisms that make their own food from sunlight and/or chemical energy from deep sea vents) are the base of every food chain - these organisms are called autotrophs. Primary consumers are animals that eat primary producers; they are also called herbivores (plant-eaters). Secondary consumers eat primary consumers. They are carnivores (meat-eaters) and omnivores (animals that eat both animals and plants). Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers. Quaternary consumers eat tertiary consumers. Food chains "end" with top predators, animals that have little or no natural enemies. When any organism dies, it is eventually eaten by detrivores (like vultures, worms and crabs) and broken down by decomposers (mostly bacteria and fungi), and the exchange of energy continues. Some organisms' position in the food chain can vary as their diet differs. For example, when a bear eats berries, the bear is functioning as a primary consumer. When a bear eats a plant-eating rodent, the bear is functioning as a secondary consumer. When the bear eats salmon, the bear is functioning as a tertiary consumer (this is because salmon is a secondary consumer, since salmon eat herring that eat zooplankton that eat phytoplankton, that make their own energy from sunlight). Think about how people's place in the food chain varies - often within a single meal. Numbers of Organisms: In any food web, energy is lost each time one organism eats another. Because of this, there have to be many more plants than there are plant-eaters. There are more autotrophs than heterotrophs, and more plant-eaters than meat-eaters. Although there is intense competition between animals, there is also an interdependence. When one species goes extinct, it can affect an entire chain of other species and have unpredictable consequences. Equilibrium As the number of carnivores in a community increases, they eat more and more of the herbivores, decreasing the herbivore population. It then becomes harder and harder for the carnivores to find herbivores to eat, and the population of carnivores decreases. In this way, the carnivores and herbivores stay in a relatively stable equilibrium, each limiting the other's population. A similar equilibrium exists between plants and plant-eaters.  Food Webs A food web is a diagram to show how animals and plants are linked by how they get their food. FOOD WEBS FOOD CHAINS DECOMPOSERS All plants and animals need food which provides the energy they need to live. Green plants make their own food. They use the energy from the sun to make their own food. Some of this food is used, and some is stored in the roots, stems, and leaves. Plants are called producers (they make/produce their own food by photosynthesis.) Animals cannot make their own food. Animals get their energy and biomass by consuming (eating) other organisms. All animals are consumers ( they consume/eat) All living things need food to give them the energy to grow and move. A food chain shows how each living thing gets its food. It shows who is eating who. The arrow means "is eaten by" . Grass ----> Grasshopper ----> Toad ----> Snake ----> Hawk Grass is eaten by Grasshopper is eaten by Toad is eaten by Snake is eaten by Hawk A food chain always starts with a green plant ...  (All plants are PRODUCERS.) ...... which is eaten by an animal.  ( All the animals in a food chain are CONSUMERS) A food chain ends with a predator.  (The predator is at the top of the food chain) The Sun is very important for all living things, without the sun the plants would not grow, without plants there would be no animals What is the difference between a food web and a food chain? A food web consists of many food chains. A food chain only follows just one path as animals find food.  eg: A hawk eats a snake, which has eaten a frog, which has eaten a grasshopper, which has eaten grass. A food web shows the many different paths plants and animals are connected.  eg: A hawk might also eat a mouse, a squirrel, a frog or some other animal. The snake may eat a beetle, a caterpillar, or some other animal. And so on for all the other animals in the food chain. A food web is several food chains connected together. ACTIVITIES: FOOD WEB

WATER, CARBON, NITROGEN CYCLES - REVIEW

WATER CYCLE OVERVIEW

WATER CYCLE - REVIEW

CYCLES REVIEW

FOOD WEB & FOOD CHAIN VOCABULARY TERMS & DEFINITIONS

FOOD WEB & FOOD CHAIN VOCABULARY 

TERMS & DEFINITIONS

Add the following terms & definitions to 3x5 cards
DRAW - graphics to help you remember the terms
Due:  Thursday, January 16 (I will check in Mrs. Kilgore's class)
Quiz:  Vocabulary terms & definitions, January 22, Wednesday

AUTOTROPH
An autotroph (or producer) is an organism that makes its own food from light energy or chemical energy without eating. Most green plants, many protists (one-celled organisms like slime molds) and most bacteria are autotrophs. Autotrophs are the base of the food chain.

CARNIVORE
Carnivores are animals that eat meat. Carnivorous animals often have sharp teeth and powerful jaws.

CONSUMER
A consumer is a living thing that eats other living things to survive. It cannot make its own food (unlike most plants, which are producers). Primary consumers eat producers, secondary consumers eat primary consumers, and so on. There are always many more primary consumers than secondary consumers, etc. (this is because energy is lost between each trophic level).

DECOMPOSER
A decomposer is an organism that breaks down organic matter. Some bacteria and fungi decomposers. What they leave behind is used by primary producers.

DETRIVORE
A detrivore is an organism that feeds on detritus, dead and decomposing organisms. What they leave behind is used by decomposers. Vultures and crabs are detrivores.

ECOSYSTEM
An ecosystem is an interacting group of living organisms in an area.

FOOD CHAIN
A food chain is the sequence of who eats whom in a biological community (an ecosystem) to obtain nutrition. A food chain starts with plants or other autotrophs (organisms that make their own food from light and/or chemical energy) that are eaten by herbivores (plant-eaters). The herbivores are eaten by carnivores (meat-eaters). These are eaten by other carnivores. When any organism dies, it is eaten by dettrivores and then broken down by tiny microbes (detrivores) and the exchange of energy continues.

FOOD WEB
A network of many food chains in an ecosystem is called a food web. 
Primary producers are the base of food web (they produce their own energy). 
Primary consumers eat primary producers. 
Secondary consumers eat primary consumers. 
Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers. 
Quatenary consumers eat tertiary consumers.

HERBIVORE
Herbivores are animals that eat plants. Herbivores are also called primary consumers. Most animals are herbivores.



HETEROTROPH
A heterotroph (or consumer) is a living thing that eats other living things to survive. It cannot make its own food (unlike plants, which are autotrophs). Animals are heterotrophs.

OMNIVORE
Omnivores are animals that eat both animals and plants. Some omnivores include:  people, many monkeys and marmosets, lion tamarins, chimpanzees, and most bears.


PREDATOR
A predator is an animal that hunts and kills other animals for food.


PRODUCER
A producer (or autotroph) is an organism that makes its own food from light energy (using photosynthesis), or chemical energy (using chemosynthesis). Most green plants, many protists (one-celled organisms like slime molds) and most bacteria are producers. Producers are the base of the food chain.

TOP PREDATOR
A top predator is an animal at the top of the food chain, like the jaguar or bald eagle. Top predators have little or no natural enemies.

TROPHIC LEVEL - The trophic level of an organism is the position it holds in a food chain.

Trophic level 1 is plants and other autotrophs (also called primary producers) - organisms at this level are also called primary producers.

Trophic level 2 is herbivores (organisms that eat autotrophs) - organisms at this level are also called primary consumers.

Trophic level 3 is predators that eat herbivores - organisms at this level are also called secondary consumers.

Trophic level 4 is predators that eat secondary consumers - organisms at this level are also called tertiary consumers.

Trophic level 5 is predators that eat tertiary consumers - organisms at this level are also called quaternary consumers.

Decomposers (such as bacteria) start the cycle again.

PARTS OF THE FOOD CHAIN

The Food Chain

Every living thing needs energy in order to live. Everytime animals do something (run, jump) they use energy to do so.

Animals get energy from the food they eat, and all living things get energy from food. Plants use sunlight, water and nutrients to get energy (in a process called photosynthesis). Energy is necessary for living beings to grow.

A food chain shows how each living thing gets food, and how nutrients and energy are passed from creature to creature. Food chains begin with plant-life, and end with animal-life. Some animals eat plants, some animals eat other animals.

A simple food chain could start with grass, which is eaten by rabbits. Then the rabbits are eaten by foxes. 

Bigger Food Chains

Here's another food chain, with a few more animals. It starts with acorns, which are eaten by mice. The mice are eaten by snakes, and then finally the snakes are eaten by hawks. At each link in the chain, energy is being transferred from one animal to another.

There can be even more links to any food chain. Here another animal is added. It goes

Grass to grasshopper to mouse to snake to hawk.

There is actually even more to this chain. After a hawk dies, fungi (like mushrooms) and otherdecomposers break down the dead hawk, and turn the remains of the hawk into nutrients, which are released into the soil. The nutrients (plus sun and water) then cause the grass to grow.
It's a full circle of life and energy!!

So food chains make a full circle, and energy is passed from plant to animal to animal to decomposer and back to plant! There can be many links in food chains but not TOO many. If there are too many links, then the animal at the end would not get enough energy.

ACTIVITY

FOOD CHAIN #1

FOOD CHAIN #2

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

The spirit of the horse is recognized to be the Chinese people's ethos – making unremitting efforts to improve themselves. It is energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able. Ancient people liked to designate an able person as 'Qianli Ma', a horse that covers a thousand li a day (one li equals 500 meters).

CARBON CYCLE

SCOOBY DOO & THE GANG are wondering what is the carbon cycle?

 

The Carbon Cycle

All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air, and even rocks. Because the Earth is a dynamic place, carbon does not stay still. It is on the move!
In the atmosphere, carbon is attached to some oxygen in a gas called carbon dioxide.
Plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to make their own food and grow. The carbon becomes part of the plant. Plants that die and are buried may turn into fossil fuels made of carbon like coal and oil over millions of years. When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quickly enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and traps heat in the atmosphere. Without it and other greenhouse gases, Earth would be a frozen world. But humans have burned so much fuel that there is about 30% more carbon dioxide in the air today than there was about 150 years ago, and Earth is becoming a warmer place. In fact, ice cores show us that there is now more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there has been in the last 420,000 years.



CARBON CYCLE - VIDEO

CARBON CYCLE ACTIVITY #2

CARBON CYCLE - ACTIVITY

NITROGEN CYCLE

WHAT IS THE NITROGEN CYCLE?

AIR -  What is it? 

• Air consist of about 78% of nitrogen, 
• 21% out of oxygen, 
• less than 0,1% out of carbon dioxide, 
• with an avarage of 1% of water vapour. 

The Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle describes how nitrogen moves between plants, animals, bacteria, the atmosphere (the air), and soil in the ground. Nitrogen is an important element to all life on Earth. 

Different Nitrogen States 

For Nitrogen to be used by different life forms on Earth, it must change into different states. Nitrogen in the atmosphere, or air, is N₂. Other important states of nitrogen include Nitrates (N0₃), Nitrites (NO₂), and Ammonium (NH₄). 

Nitrogen Cycle 

This picture shows the flow of the nitrogen cycle. The most important part of the cycle is bacteria. Bacteria help the nitrogen change between states so it can be used. When nitrogen is absorbed by the soil, different bacteria help it to change states so it can be absorbed by plants. Animals then get their nitrogen from the plants. 

Diagram of the nitrogen cycle

Processes in the Nitrogen Cycle

• Fixation - Fixation is the first step in the process of making nitrogen usable by plants. Here bacteria change nitrogen into ammonium.
• Nitrification - this is the process by which ammonium gets changed into nitrates by bacteria. Nitrates are what the plants can then absorb.
• Assimilation - This is how plants get nitrogen. They absorb nitrates from the soil into their roots. Then the nitrogen gets used in amino acids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll.
• Ammonification - This is part of the decaying process. When a plant or animal dies, decomposers like fungi and bacteria turn the nitrogen back in ammonium so it can reenter the nitrogen cycle.
• Denitrification - Extra nitrogen in the soil gets put back out into the air. There are special bacteria that perform this task as well.

Why is nitrogen important to life? 

Plants and animals could not live without nitrogen. It is an important part of many cells and processes such as amino acids, proteins, and even our DNA. It is also needed to make chlorophyll in plants, which plants use in photosynthesis to make their food and energy. 

How have humans altered the nitrogen cycle? 

Unfortunately, human activity has altered the cycle. We do this by adding nitrogen into the soil with fertilizer as well as other activities that put more nitrous oxide gas into the atmosphere. This adds in more nitrogen than is needed by normal cycle and upsets the cycle's balance. 

Fun Facts

• Around 78% of the atmosphere is nitrogen. However, this is mostly not usable by animals and plants.
• Nitrogen is used in fertilizer to help plants grow faster.
• Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas. Too much of it can also cause acid rain.
• Nitrogen has no color, odor, or taste.
• It is used in many explosives.
• About 3% of your body weight is nitrogen.

http://www.ducksters.com/science/ecosystems/nitrogen_cycle.php

NITROGEN CYCLE #1

NITROGEN CYCLE #2

WATER CYCLE

Scooby & the Gang are in the library doing research on the WATER CYCLE.  
Let's see what they have learned.

First off, study the diagram of the WATER CYCLE/HYDROLOGIC CYCLE.  Read the facts below.  Add all blue Vocabulary Terms on 3 x 5 cards.  Click on the highlighted links below.



The Water Cycle (also known as the hydrologic cycle) is the journey water takes as it circulates from the land to the sky and back again.

The Sun's heat provides energy to evaporate water from the Earth's surface (oceans, lakes, etc.). 
Plants also lose water to the air (this is called transpiration). The water vapor eventually condenses, forming tiny droplets in clouds. When the clouds meet cool air over land, precipitation (rain, sleet, or snow) is triggered, and water returns to the land (or sea). 
Some of the precipitation soaks into the ground. Some of the underground water is trapped between rock or clay layers; this is called groundwater. But most of the water flows downhill as runoff (above ground or underground), eventually returning to the seas as slightly salty water. 

WATER CYCLE VIDEO
 
REVIEW:
 The Water Cycle
Water on Earth is always changing. Its repeating changes make a cycle. As water goes through its cycle, it can be a solid (ice), a liquid (water), or a gas (water vapor). Ice can change to become water or water vapor. Water can change to become ice or water vapor. Water vapor can change to become ice or water.

How do these changes happen? Adding or subtracting heat makes the cycle work. If heat is added to ice, it melts. If heat is added to water, it evaporates. Evaporation turns liquid water into a gas called water vapor.
If heat is taken away from water vapor, it condenses. Condensation turns water vapor into a liquid. If heat is taken away from liquid water, it freezes to become ice.
The water cycle is called the hydrologic cycle. In the hydrologic cycle, water from oceans, lakes, swamps, rivers, plants, and even you, can turn into water vapor. Water vapor condenses into millions of tiny droplets that form clouds. Clouds lose their water as rain or snow, which is called precipitation. Precipitation is either absorbed into the ground or runs off into rivers. Water that was absorbed into the ground is taken up by plants. Plants lose water from their surfaces as vapor back into the atmosphere. Water that runs off into rivers flows into ponds, lakes, or oceans where it evaporates back into the atmosphere.
The cycle continues. 

Did You Know?

• A fixed amount of water recirculates around the Earth.
• Water moves in certain directions from place-to-place (reservoir-to-reservoir) by only certain processes and pathways.
• Some processes of transfer are rapid while others are much slower.
• A conceptual "reservoir" of water is not quite the same thing as a reservoir in which water is stored.
• When land-based glacial ice melts and runs off into the sea, sea level rises.
• When land-based glacial ice forms, sea level drops.
• When floating icebergs melt into the sea, sea level doesn't change.
• Glacial ice is made up of freshwater that had previously fallen as snow.
• Evaporation of seawater requires an input of energy; condensation of clouds releases energy.

VOCABULARY TERMS

Accumulation - the process in which water pools in large bodies (like oceans, seas and lakes).

Condensation - the process in which water vapor (a gas) in the air turns into liquid water. Condensing water forms clouds in the sky. Water drops that form on the outside of a glass of icy water are condensed water. 

Evaporation - the process in which liquid water becomes water vapor (a gas). Water vaporizes from the surfaces of oceans and lakes, from the surface of the land, and from melts in snow fields.

Precipitation - the process in which water (in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail) falls from clouds in the sky.

Subsurface Runoff - rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in underground streams, drains, or sewers.

Surface Runoff - rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in surface streams, rivers, or canals.

Transpiration - the process in which some water within plants evaporates into the atmosphere. Water is first absorbed by the plant's roots, then later exits by evaporating through pores in the plant.

WATER CYCLE - STUDY JAMS

WATER CYCLE - ACTIVITY  #1

WATER CYCLE - ACTIVITY #2 

WATER CYCLE - ACTIVITY #3

WATER CYCLE - QUIZ