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Date
Name
PYRAMID?
WHATIS A FOOD
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Background
on a distant
Biologistsin the year 2014 observea food chain which is part of an ecosystemis what they
ptanet.They find that it has many characteristicsof tood chains on earth. Here
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discover:
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of photosynthesis,
On a particular area of land, a sm-al],plant-like organism capable
The snive,in turn' is
calleda vortek, servesas a sourceof food for-an animal cu["d a snive'
food chain
preyed upon by a kluke. There are 100 vorteks, 50 snives, and 25 klukes. The
may fe diagrammedas shownin Fig' 7-2'
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FIGURE
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Buttdtnga FoodChaln
interactions occurring
By completing the activity described below, you will better understand
in food chains.
tr
- " on a blank sheet of paper, list the members of this food chain by:
the food chain near the
a- placing them i" i.a.r, with the members at the bottom of
bottom ofthe Page; and
b. spacing them 5 cm aPart.
it to represent
Z. For each, beginning with the bottom one, draw a horizontal block around
guidelines:
the number. of .u.f, member inside the block following these
bottom of the block above
the
it
touches
so
that
tall,
u" nrijnt, Each block should be 5 cm
it.
b. width: Make the width to scale accordingto the numbers of each organism in the food
chain-1O organismsin 1 cm. (The block around the vorfeks, for example, wiil be 10
cm wide.)
c" centering:Center each block on the page'
(continued)
WHAIIS A F00DPYRAMID?
3. Draw lines to connectthe edgesof the blocks.What shapeis formed?
level as to
4. Each block represents a trophic level. Label the organisms in each trophic
which is a:
a. producer
b. primary consumer
c. secondaryconsumer
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Explain in the spaces abovewhy you chosethese labels for each one'
cause certain food'
5. This food chain is similar to many on earth. What factors do you think
chains to have this shaPe?
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a shape
6. T\rrn your drawing upside down. Describe a food chain on earth which might have
similar to this one.
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How would the numbers of each member of the food chain-vorteks, snives, and klukespredators
change over the course of time in each situation below? Assume there are no other
or food sourcesunless otherwise indicated'
a. the biologists visiting the planet consume all of the vorteks for food;
b. a deadly diseasewipes out all of the klukes;
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(continued)
WHAI IS A F00DPYRAIvIID?
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c. animals called skunkolas travel to the area being studied from another region of the
planet. The skunkolas prey upon the vorteks; the klukes, however, dislike the taste of
the skunkolas and refuse to eat them.
d. the biologists remove all the snives for study;
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e. more vorteks are planted;
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f. a tertiarv consumer called a ioon is introduced"
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8. It has been stated that it is more energy efficient to eat "lower on the food chain." Look
again at the shape of the food chain you drew and explain why this statement is true.
Date
Name
PYRAMID
FOOD
EVATUATION
QUESTIONS
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the following
your teacher will provide you with information about actual ecosystems.For each, complete
steps:
1. Draw the shape of the food pyramid,
and describe the reasons for this
shape.Reasons:
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producers and primary, secondary, and terbiary consumers?
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in the horizontai column of removing
,n- o"" below, indicating the effect on each member
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each member in the vertical column'
ORGANISM1
CRGANISM2
ORGANISM3
ORGfu\ISM4
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effect on:
ORGANISM1
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ORGANISM4
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