WHO EATS WHO IN ANTARCTICA?
Wildlife photos used are from:
http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/index.shtml
OVERVIEW: Students discover what kinds of animals live in Antarctica
and construct a basic Antarctic food web.
Ohio Science Content Benchmarks addressed:
K-2: Recognize the importance of respect for all living things.
3-5: Life Sciences B. Analyze plant and animal structures and
functions needed for survival and describe the flow of energy
through a system that all organisms use to survive.
6-8: Life Sciences A. Multicellular organisms have a variety of body
plans and internal structures.
Life Sciences C. Explain how energy entering the ecosystems as
sunlight supports the life of organisms through photosynthesis
and the transfer of energy through the interactions of organisms
and the environment.
Materials needed:
- Pictures of various Antarctic wildlife
(included)
- Posterboard for each student
Procedures:
1. Give students the included page of Antarctic wildlife
pictures. Instruct students to cut pictures apart, being careful
to keep the animal’s name with its picture.
2. Ask students to separate animals into groups of similar
animals. Then, ask students to describe how each group of
animals is similar to, and different from, the other animals in
its group, and the animals in other groups.
3. In groups, students should use classroom, library, or internet
resources to discover what each of their animals eats, looking
especially for other animals that they have pictures of.
4. Ask each student to place the krill at the bottom of the
posterboard, then above it place all the animals that eat krill.
5. Have students draw an arrow from krill to all animals that eat
it. Explain that this arrow means that energy is going from
the krill to the animals that eat it.
6. Depending on their level, students can turn their posterboard
into an entire food web, drawing arrows to indicate all
feeding relationships.
7. Ask students to find which animal has the most arrows—it
will be the krill—introduce concept of a KEYSTONE
SPECIES: an organism that most of the others depend on in
some way.
8.
Explain that rising temperatures on earth (global warming)
are beginning to lower the number of krill around Antarctica.
Have students explore effects this will have on the other
species.
(Antarctic animal photos on following page…)
King Penguin
Adelie Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Emperor Penguins
Gentoo Penguin
Macaroni Penguin
Chinstrap Penguin
Southern Elephant Seal
Leopard Seal
Orca Whale
Crabeater Seal
Ross Seal
Humpback Whale
Fur Seal
Weddell Seal
Arctic Tern
Skua
Albatross
Typical Antarctic Fish
Giant Petrels
Antarctic Krill
Marine Algae