Ecosystems Guided Viewing Worksheet
1: What is primary productivity? What do we measure it in? (units)
The synthesis of organic compounds from the atmosphere or aquatic CO2. We measure it in Grams of Carbon per Meter Squared per Year (g C/m^2/ yr)
2: What are producers? Who are the main producers in the ocean? How is this measured in an aquatic environment?
Producers are organisms that produce food and energy sources for other animals. The main producers in the ocean are phytoplankton and small bacteria/organisms. This is measured by the transparency of the ocean water compared to clear water.
3: What is a trophic level? List and define the trophic levels. (Give examples). In which direction does the arrow go in a food web? Explain.
The level an organism on a foodchain. The trophic levels in te ocean are Primary Producers such as phytoplankton, Herbivores such as the blue whale, Predators such as fish, and Carnivoes/Apex Predators such as sharks. The arrow goes upwards because in order for all the trophic levels to live, the producers have to live to produce food for everything else.
4: What is a food web? How is it different than food chains?
A food chain is a linear chain that does not change and a food web is a web that shows the connections of the organisms to their eating habits/prey.
5: Explain the limiting factors for growth in ecosystems. Explain logistic growth.
The limiting factors for growth in an ecosystems are density, food, competition, and geological changes. Logistic growth is the growth of a species until it reaches a limit.
6: What is the carrying capacity (K) of an ecosystem?
The carrying capacity (K) of an ecosystem is the maximum limit of species that an ecosystem can support.
7: What factors affect the carrying capacity of a population? Explain how wolves and elk populations are linked and how they will reach equilibrium.
The factors affecting carrying capacity of a population are food availability, water, space, and environmental conditions. Wolves and elk populations are linked because wolves are the predators of elks, to the elk is the provider of the wolf. They will reach equilibrium by population levels staying at producing levels so that the wolves can feed on the elk and the elk can feed on the producers.
8: Summarize the story of the Whitebark Pine and how humans can impact an entire ecosystem by choices we make (directly or indirectly).
The synthesis of organic compounds from the atmosphere or aquatic CO2. We measure it in Grams of Carbon per Meter Squared per Year (g C/m^2/ yr)
2: What are producers? Who are the main producers in the ocean? How is this measured in an aquatic environment?
Producers are organisms that produce food and energy sources for other animals. The main producers in the ocean are phytoplankton and small bacteria/organisms. This is measured by the transparency of the ocean water compared to clear water.
3: What is a trophic level? List and define the trophic levels. (Give examples). In which direction does the arrow go in a food web? Explain.
The level an organism on a foodchain. The trophic levels in te ocean are Primary Producers such as phytoplankton, Herbivores such as the blue whale, Predators such as fish, and Carnivoes/Apex Predators such as sharks. The arrow goes upwards because in order for all the trophic levels to live, the producers have to live to produce food for everything else.
4: What is a food web? How is it different than food chains?
A food chain is a linear chain that does not change and a food web is a web that shows the connections of the organisms to their eating habits/prey.
5: Explain the limiting factors for growth in ecosystems. Explain logistic growth.
The limiting factors for growth in an ecosystems are density, food, competition, and geological changes. Logistic growth is the growth of a species until it reaches a limit.
6: What is the carrying capacity (K) of an ecosystem?
The carrying capacity (K) of an ecosystem is the maximum limit of species that an ecosystem can support.
7: What factors affect the carrying capacity of a population? Explain how wolves and elk populations are linked and how they will reach equilibrium.
The factors affecting carrying capacity of a population are food availability, water, space, and environmental conditions. Wolves and elk populations are linked because wolves are the predators of elks, to the elk is the provider of the wolf. They will reach equilibrium by population levels staying at producing levels so that the wolves can feed on the elk and the elk can feed on the producers.
8: Summarize the story of the Whitebark Pine and how humans can impact an entire ecosystem by choices we make (directly or indirectly).