What is an ecosystem? Provide an example.

An ecosystem is made up of all the nonliving and living things who live together in a common environment. Some examples of ecosystems are ponds, forests, deserts and the ocean.

How would you describe a pond ecosystem?

A pond ecosystem has a variety of water plants. Algae and other microscopic organisms thrive in pond ecosystems. There are usually a variety of insects in pond ecosystems, as well as frogs and snakes. Rocks and sand are some abiotic factors commonly found in pond ecosystems.

How do plants obtain energy?

Plants make their own energy through a process called photosynthesis.

After living things die, what happens to their remains?

Sometimes their remains are eaten by other animals. Other times their remains decompose and end up going back into the soil eventually.

How do we use food for energy?

When we eat food, our body goes through chemical processes in order to make energy to fuel bodily functions such as digestion and respiration.

Why is it important for people to learn about ecosystems?

People are consumers. We are part of ecosystems in that we eat other living things. We should be aware of our food source to make sure it is healthy. We also should be aware of ecosystems to make sure we continue to have diverse life on Earth.

When we consume food, what happens to the molecules?

When we eat food, our body breaks the molecules down through chemical processes. In cellular respiration, our bodies use sugar and oxygen to create energy for our bodies to use in different ways. The molecules are broken down into building blocks and put back together in different ways.

Why are there typically a larger number of producers than tertiary consumers in an ecosystem?

Only about 10% of energy is passed on to the next organism in a food chain, so there needs to be more of the living things lower in the energy pyramid to support the living things higher in the pyramid.

When living things die, why are there only bones remaining after some time?

Decomposers break down dead material. They break the dead matter into molecules like carbon dioxide and water, that go back into the soil.

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

A food web is the overlapping of several food chains. Living things don’t eat the exact thing all the time, so this causes food chains to overlap.

What is an apex consumer and what are some examples?

An apex consumer is the consumer at the top of a food chain. Some examples are hawks or bears.

What do marine biologists study that relates to food chains?

Marine biologists study food chains within our oceans. This is important because humans eat fish and we need to be aware of hazards such as mercury in the fish that we eat.

Food Webs: Cycling of Matter & Flow of Energy

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What you will learn from this videoWhat you will learn

Food is broken down and rearranged to form new molecules.
Food webs show us how matter cycles and energy flows in an ecosystems.
Food webs rely on the processes of photosynthesis and respiration.

Discussion Questions
- Before Video
  What is an ecosystem? Provide an example. ANSWER
  - An ecosystem is made up of all the nonliving and living things who live together in a common environment. Some examples of ecosystems are ponds, forests, deserts and the ocean.
  How would you describe a pond ecosystem?ANSWER
  - A pond ecosystem has a variety of water plants. Algae and other microscopic organisms thrive in pond ecosystems. There are usually a variety of insects in pond ecosystems, as well as frogs and snakes. Rocks and sand are some abiotic factors commonly found in pond ecosystems.
  How do plants obtain energy?ANSWER
  - Plants make their own energy through a process called photosynthesis.
  After living things die, what happens to their remains?ANSWER
  - Sometimes their remains are eaten by other animals. Other times their remains decompose and end up going back into the soil eventually.
  How do we use food for energy?ANSWER
  - When we eat food, our body goes through chemical processes in order to make energy to fuel bodily functions such as digestion and respiration.
  Why is it important for people to learn about ecosystems?ANSWER
  - People are consumers. We are part of ecosystems in that we eat other living things. We should be aware of our food source to make sure it is healthy. We also should be aware of ecosystems to make sure we continue to have diverse life on Earth.
- After Video
  When we consume food, what happens to the molecules?ANSWER
  - When we eat food, our body breaks the molecules down through chemical processes. In cellular respiration, our bodies use sugar and oxygen to create energy for our bodies to use in different ways. The molecules are broken down into building blocks and put back together in different ways.
  Why are there typically a larger number of producers than tertiary consumers in an ecosystem?ANSWER
  - Only about 10% of energy is passed on to the next organism in a food chain, so there needs to be more of the living things lower in the energy pyramid to support the living things higher in the pyramid.
  When living things die, why are there only bones remaining after some time?ANSWER
  - Decomposers break down dead material. They break the dead matter into molecules like carbon dioxide and water, that go back into the soil.
  What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?ANSWER
  - A food web is the overlapping of several food chains. Living things don’t eat the exact thing all the time, so this causes food chains to overlap.
  What is an apex consumer and what are some examples?ANSWER
  - An apex consumer is the consumer at the top of a food chain. Some examples are hawks or bears.
  What do marine biologists study that relates to food chains?ANSWER
  - Marine biologists study food chains within our oceans. This is important because humans eat fish and we need to be aware of hazards such as mercury in the fish that we eat.
Vocabulary
- Ecosystem DEFINE
- Producer DEFINE
- Consumer DEFINE
- Decomposer DEFINE
- Food Chain DEFINE
- Food Web DEFINE
- Photosynthesis DEFINE
- Cellular respiration DEFINE
Reading Material
Lesson Plan
Teacher Guide
Assessment
Online Quiz Game Paper Quiz Exit Ticket