ESV
Food Chains Practical
In our activity, we will explore what a marine food web looks like, and how changes to the ecosystem can impact the food web at different trophic levels.
Our materials for this activity are:
Food Web poster (Coloured, OR Black & White)
Coloured markers
Instructions for creating a food web
Using the Food Web Poster, create a marine food web connecting each organism with arrows. Remember, the arrow is pointing in the direction of energy (who is eating who).
Now that we have created a stable food web, let’s see how it responds to changes. Using a different coloured marker, or print off additional Food Web Posters:
The first change we will make to our food web will be adding human interactions, in the form of a fishing vessel. Create a marine food web including the fishing vessel. Indicate changes in abundance for each organism by adding a “ - ” symbol to organisms which decrease in abundance, and a “ + “ symbol for organisms which increase in abundance.
The second change we will make to our food web will be adding pollution, in the form litter. Create a marine food web including litter. Indicate changes in abundance for each organism by adding a “ - ” symbol to organisms which decrease in abundance, and a “ + “ symbol for organisms which increase in abundance.
The third change we will make to our food web will be adding environmental change, in the form of an invasive species. Create a marine food web including an invasive species. Indicate changes in abundance for each organism by adding a “ - ” symbol to organisms which decrease in abundance, and a “ + “ symbol for organisms which increase in abundance.
