Energy and Food Webs

Unit 4 sc200

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Energy and Food Webs

Part 1:

• Provide an example of a food chain in the area where you live.
• Humans are parts of food chains and food webs, too. Where on a food web would you typically find humans (near the bottom with the producers, at the top with carnivores, or somewhere in between)? Explain.
• What are some advantages of being part of a food web rather than a food chain?

Part 2:

Here is a food web for Lake Michigan:

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/pubs/brochures/foodweb/LMfoodweb.pdf

To see this PDF, you will need to download the free Adobe Reader.

• In the Lake Michigan food web, is it possible to identify the most important producer? Why or why not?
• What would happen if there was a change in the population size for any one of the producers (either an increase or a decrease)? How could these changes impact other producers and organisms on other trophic levels?
• Provide at least two types of impacts that humans could have on this food web.
• Read the description of the sea lamprey on page 2 of the food web. This species is described as non-native.
  • Propose a mechanism for how this fish was introduced to Lake Michigan.
  • What challenges could occur within a food web when a new predator like this is introduced into an ecosystem?
  • What natural population controls are missing for this species within this food web?
  • Do you think steps should be taken to eradicate this species from the food web? Explain why or why not? If so, what steps can be implemented?

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