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Alien Food Pyramid
Background:
Biologists in the year 2050 observe a food chain which is part of an
ecosystem on a distant planet.
earth.
They find that it has many characteristics of food chains on
Here is what they discover:
On a particular area of land, a small, plant-like organism capable of photosynthesis,
called a vortek, serves as a source of food for an animal called a snive.
in turn, is preyed upon by the kluke.
klukes.
Problem:
The snive,
There are 100 vorteks, 50 snives, and 25
The food chain may be diagrammed as shown below:
Explain how the numbers of each member of the food chain- vorteks, snives and
klukes- change over the course of time in each situation listed below.
Assume there are
no other predators or food sources unless otherwise indicated.
1) The biologists visiting the planet consume all of the vorteks for food:
2) A deadly disease wipes out all the klukes:
3) Animals called skunkolas travel to the area from another region of the planet.
The
skunkolas prey on the vorteks; the klukes however, dislike the taste of the skunkolas
and refuse to eat them:
4) The biologists remove all the snives for study:
5) More vorteks are planted:
6) A tertiary consumer called a joon is introduced:
Draw the shape of a food pyramid; label the members of each ecosystem as producers,
primary, secondary and tertiary consumers within the pyramid.
Also draw a food chain
for each scenario.
1) Ecosystem 1:
A forest- In one small area of land were found: 75 plants, which were
consumed by 20 rabbits which were preyed upon by 4 foxes.
2) Ecosystem 2:
The Chesapeake Bay Estuary- In one small area of the estuary were
found: 200 marine planes, which were consumed by 100 crustacea, which were
preyed upon by 60 sea nettles, which were consumed by 15 striped bass.
3) Ecosystem 3- An Island on the Galapagos- In one small area of the island were
found: 50 cacti, which were consumed by 5 iguanas, which were preyed upon by 25
ticks (5periguana), which were consumed by 5 finches.
The table below is that of a hypothetical food chain.
Complete the table by indicating
the effect on each member in the horizontal column of removing each member in the
vertical column.
The first one has been done for you.
Effect on:
Organism 1
Organism 1
Organism 2
Organism 3
Organism 4
Organism 2
Would die due
to starvation
Organism 3
Organism 4