Roles and Dynamics in Aquatic Ecosystems

This video tutorial guides students through an activity on aquatic ecosystems, focusing on energy flow, food webs, and the impact of environmental changes. It provides instructions for creating a food web model and emphasizes the importance of understanding both natural and human-induced changes in ecosystems.

What is the primary focus of the aquatic ecosystems activity?

• Building a physical model of an ecosystem

• Developing a model of energy flow and competition

• Studying terrestrial ecosystems

• Analyzing human population growth

Which of the following is NOT a benefit provided by aquatic ecosystems?

• Provision of resources

• Control of oxygen levels

• Source of food

• Increase in global warming

In a food web, what role do producers play?

• They convert sunlight into energy

• They consume other organisms

• They are top predators

• They decompose organic matter

Why are top predators less abundant in ecosystems?

• They require fewer resources

• They are at the bottom of the food chain

• They need a large number of lower-level consumers

• They are not affected by environmental changes

What is the role of decomposers in a food web?

• They produce energy from sunlight

• They consume top predators

• They recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem

• They compete with producers for resources

Which of the following ecosystems is likely to have the most trophic levels?

• Desert

• Grassland

• Tundra

• Aquatic

What is the significance of arrows in a food web diagram?

• They indicate the size of organisms

• They show the direction of energy flow

• They highlight the most important species

• They represent the speed of energy transfer

When creating a food web model, what is the first step?

• Researching human impacts

• Identifying top predators

• Selecting an aquatic ecosystem

• Drawing the food web

Which of the following is an example of a natural change affecting ecosystems?

• Hurricane

• Pollution

• Deforestation

• Urbanization

What is a human-induced change that can impact aquatic ecosystems?

• Tidal activity

• Seasonal variations

• Natural disasters

• Pollution