Food Webs & Chains 1

Which statement is supported by Mel’s model?

• A. Organisms get gasses and water from the environment.

• B. Matter comes from the Sun for all organisms in the environment.

• C. Organisms release heat energy back into the environment.

• D. Matter moves among organisms and the environment.

A group of students were arguing about the flow of energy between organisms in a food chain. They noticed that an organism most important for energy flow is missing from the model above. Which organism best completes the model and why?

• snake, because it can eat mice for energy

• eagle, because it captures energy from owls

• grass, because it captures energy from the sunlight

• fox, because can be eaten by owls for more energy

Where does the lettuce get its energy from? Where does the energy for this food chain begin?

• It begins as wind energy.

• It begins as kinetic energy.

• It begins as solar energy.

• It begins as synthetic energy.

You have learned that algae are tiny plant-like organisms that are food for many pond animals. This scientist and his students are exploring the relationship between fish and algae in this pond ecosystem near their school. Which of the following is an example of a scientific question that the students might answer?

• Are the fish happy to live in this pond?

• Do the fish use algae as a food source in this pond?

• Can algae grow at the north or south ends of this pond?

• How do fish feel about algae in this pond compared to other ponds?

Complete the table below to show how trees, insects, and trout are connected by energy. Species: Trout How the species get energy: _______

• Trout get energy from eating the aquatic insects.

• Trout get energy from photosynthesis.

• Trout get energy from absorbing sunlight.

• Trout get energy from eating plants.

Complete the table below to show how trees, insects, and trout are connected by energy. Species: Aquatic Insects How the species get energy: _______

• Aquatic insects get energy from eating the algae covered Alder tree leaves.

• Aquatic insects get energy from sunlight.

• Aquatic insects get energy from water.

• Aquatic insects get energy from soil nutrients.

Complete the table below to show how trees, insects, and trout are connected by energy. Species: Alder Tree How the species get energy: _______

• Alder trees get energy directly from the sun.

• Alder trees get energy from insects.

• Alder trees get energy from trout.

• Alder trees get energy from the soil.

Where did T. Rex get the energy that it used to run when it was alive?

• T. Rex got its energy from Triceratops. That energy is not connected to the sun.

• T. Rex got its energy from green plants, which got their energy from the sun.

• T. Rex got its energy from eating Triceratops. Triceratops ate green plants and green plants got their energy from the sun.

• T. Rex got its energy directly from the sun.

Explain to Diego why carnivores would go extinct without the Sun. You can use evidence from the energy model above.

• Carnivores rely on herbivores, which depend on plants that need sunlight to grow.

• Carnivores can survive without the Sun as they do not need plants.

• The Sun provides direct energy to carnivores.

• Carnivores can photosynthesize in the absence of the Sun.

Where did the energy come from that is stored in beans and coal?

• from the Earth's gravity

• from the Sun's light

• from the heat in the Earth's core

• from the air's carbon dioxide