Scribd
Upload
61 views3 pages

Animal Cracker Lab Biodiversity (1)

The document describes the unique wildlife and ecological niches of the mythical island of Gowambu, detailing various animals and their food sources. It includes a lab activity where students categorize organisms as consumers or producers and analyze the implications of biodiversity and ecological relationships. Additionally, it poses questions regarding the effects of species extinction, pollution, invasive species, and climate change on the ecosystem.

Uploaded by

ebseibe1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
61 views3 pages

Animal Cracker Lab Biodiversity (1)

The document describes the unique wildlife and ecological niches of the mythical island of Gowambu, detailing various animals and their food sources. It includes a lab activity where students categorize organisms as consumers or producers and analyze the implications of biodiversity and ecological relationships. Additionally, it poses questions regarding the effects of species extinction, pollution, invasive species, and climate change on the ecosystem.

Uploaded by

ebseibe1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Name:____________________________________________________________ Period:______

Food Web Lab Part 3 (Animal Crackers)


On the mythical island of Gowambu, a rare collection of natural wildlife exists. The following passage
describes these amazing organisms and the ecological niches they fill.

Native vegetation grows throughout the island and sustains a wide variety of animals. Deep within the
boreal forest elephants and rhinos forage on the low branches of maple trees. While, red clover grows only
along the coast and is a staple food source for donkeys, camels, and hippos. Tall switch grass is abundant
throughout the great plains and regularly consumed by buffalos, horses, and cows. However, goats must
wander vast distances across the highlands to find the rare, orange jewelweed.

Cats have evolved a camouflage coloration which allows them to blend in with tall switch grass when
stalking buffalos and cows. However, tigers must rely upon their speed to hunt down camels and donkeys
along the coast. The rock outcrops of the highlands provide excellent cover for lions where they wait to
devour unsuspecting goats. When goats are scarce, lions have also been known to even wander down to the
coast and attack camels and donkeys. Bears live in the boreal forest and actively hunt elephants and rhinos,
but their favorite foods are more commonly found on the great plains: cats, cows, and switch grass.

PART 1: Based on the passage above, complete the first two columns in the following table. If an organism is a
consumer, please note if it is primary, secondary, or tertiary.

Consumer (1°, 2°, 3°) Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore Number of Species


Organism Or Or from
Producer Autotroph Random Sampling
Bear
Buffalo
Camel
Cat
Clover
Cow
Donkey
Elephant
Goat
Hippo
Horse
Jewelweed
Lion
Maple Tree
Rhino
Switch Grass
Tiger

PART 3: Ask your teacher for a random sampling of animals from Gowambu. Correctly identify each species
and fill in the third column on the table above.
PART 4: Analysis Questions:

1. What is biodiversity?

2. Does this sample populations show ecological biodiversity? Why or why not?

3. From your random sampling, how many of the following do you have?
1° consumers _________________
2° consumers _________________
3° consumers _________________

4. How might the extinction of Orange Jewelweed, cause a decline in the Tiger population?

5. If there is a decline in the Tiger population, how would that impact the genetic biodiversity of the
Tiger?

6. A non-biodegradable waste container buried in the great plains has ruptured causing a continuous leak
of pesticide. The tall switch grass still survives, but small amounts of pollutants have been found in
their leaves. How will this affect the Buffalo, Cat, and Bear?

7. While visiting Gowambu, you decide to bring the red clover back to your house in Oswego. Within five
years, red clover has spread throughout all of Kendall County and has completely replaced the native
species of purple clover.

A. Why has the clover spread rapidly?

B. What local environmental consequences might result from the spread of this invasive species?

8. Global climate change may cause sea levels to rise, how will this affect the Tiger population?

9. In your own words describe how biodiversity is important for a sustainable animal population.

10. In your own words describe how biodiversity is important for a sustainable animal community.

You might also like