Science 10 at The Link First Assignment
Science 10: First Assignment
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In order to receive credit for this course, you must provide evidence that you have met all the
Prescribed Learning Outcomes for Science 10 set by the BC Ministry of Education. This course
will provide you with the information and tools necessary to achieve success, but the ultimate
responsibility rests with you.
Virtual Lab: Model Ecosystems
In this exercise, you will examine energy pyramids of characteristic plant and animal species in
the following model ecosystems:
 Deciduous Forest
 Antarctic Ocean Shore
 Hot Desert
 Freshwater Lake
 Grassland
1.
Open the Virtual Lab entitled “Model Ecosystems” by following this link:
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs_2K8/labs/BL_21/index.html
You should see the following view:
2.
The “Question” area” on left side of the page contains background information and
instructions. On the bottom of the page are the following icons for your use: “Calculator”
(working calculator function) , “Audio” (turns sound on/off) and “Print” (prints the screen).
Don’t worry about using the “Journal” or “Data Table”, as these have been reproduced for
you further in this lab instruction sheet.
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3.
Read the background information found under the “Question” area first, and then continue
on to reading the procedure information posted there as well.
4.
You will also need to open and/or print the “Post-Lab Quiz and Lab Report”, which can be
found at the end of this document. At this point, you are ready to begin the lab exercise.
5.
Click on the “Field Guide” on the lower portion of the activity area and read through the
information presented. When you are ready, please begin by selecting the first ecosystem
(Deciduous Forest) from the pull down menu in the laboratory area.
 Click and drag the various organisms to their correct trophic levels on the pyramid (note:
you must place them in just the right area of the pyramid or else they will bounce back or
replace another organism…this may not mean that they do not belong there, just try again
in a different area of the pyramid).
 Remember to follow the directions given to you in the “Question” area as well as in the
“Post-Lab Quiz and Lab Report” areas, and refer back to the notes in the “Field Guide”
area if necessary.
 You can check your pyramid by clicking the “Check” button. A “Boing” sound means
something is out of place. A “Ding” sound means everything is correct.
 Take a screen print of your correctly completed pyramid of the Deciduous Forest, and
save it in a Word document.
 Clicking on the “Pyramid of Energy” will reveal how much energy is available at each
trophic level. Clicking on the “Pyramid of Numbers” will show the number of organisms
at each trophic level within this type of ecosystem. Fill in all of the information from
each of these pyramids on Table I below.
 You must take one last step in the investigation of this ecosystem. It is important to
determine the amount of energy that is transferred from one trophic level to the next.
This is called the “energy conversion efficiency” (E.C.E.), and this ratio is determined by
taking the energy value from a higher trophic level and dividing it by the energy value of
the level below it. Please do these calculations as directed and input the data in your
“Data Table” and Table I below.
 When you are completely finished analyzing the ecosystem, you can then click the
“Reset” button and select another type of ecosystem from the pull down menu. Follow
the directions above to investigate this ecosystem and the three that remain.
 Don’t forget to capture a screen print of each of the correctly completed pyramids
for each of the ecosystems and attach them all to this document! (10 marks)
6. When you are finished, please answer all of the “Journal Questions” and the “PostLab Quiz” found after Table I below.
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Table I: (20 marks)
Ecosystem
Type
Deciduous
Forest
Producers
First Order
Second Order
Third Order
Heterotrophs
Heterotrophs
Heterotrophs
Organisms present: Organisms present: Organisms present: Organisms present:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Hot Desert
Organisms present: Organisms present: Organisms present: Organisms present:
Grassland
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Organisms present:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Organisms present:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Organisms present:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Organisms present:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Organisms present:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Organisms present:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Organisms present:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Organisms present:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Antarctic
Ocean Shore
Freshwater
Lake
Organisms present: Organisms present: Organisms present: Organisms present:
Energy:
Energy:
Numbers:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
E.C.E.*:
*E.C.E.= energy conversion efficiency ratio
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Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Energy:
Numbers:
E.C.E.*:
Journal Questions:
1. Suggest one reason why the information represented in the pyramid of numbers of
animals of one of the ecosystems you studied may not truly represent that ecosystem.
(1 mark)
2. According to your data, what is the ratio of third-order consumers to producers? Explain
your answer. (2 marks)
3. Compare and contrast two of the ecosystems you studied. How is the energy conversion
efficiency similar or different? (2 marks)
4. Does the population size increase or decrease at higher trophic levels in the pyramid of
numbers of an ecosystem consisting of a tree, insects (that are herbivores) and birds
feeding on the insects? Explain your answer. (2 marks)
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5. What might happen to an ecological pyramid of numbers in a forest ecosystem if most of
the deer were killed due to hunting by people and disease? (1 mark)
6. What do you think might happen to an ecosystem if the decomposers disappeared?
(1 mark)
7. Could there be a food chain without herbivores and carnivores? Explain. (2 marks)
Post-laboratory Questions: (10 marks)
Multiple Choice: Circle (or type an X beside) the letter of the best answer.
1.
The ultimate source of energy for most ecosystems is:
a. Carbon
b. Oxygen
c. Sunlight
d. Water
2.
Organisms that directly use energy from the sun to make their own food are called:
a. Autotrophs
b. Hetertrophs
c. Carnivores
d. Decomposers
3.
Which of the following illustrates the correct ordering of trophic levels?
a. Decomposerscarnivoresautotrophsherbivores
b. Herbivoresautotrophscarnivoresdecomposers
c. Autotrophsherbivorescarnivoresdecomposers
d. None of the above
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4.
Within an ecosystem:
a. Energy flows in one direction only and nutrients are recycled
b. Energy is recycled and nutrients flow in one direction only
c. Energy and nutrients flow in one direction only
d. Energy and nutrients are both recycled
5.
The efficiency of energy transfer from a lower trophic level to the next highest level is
roughly:
a. 1%
b. 5%
c. 10%
d. 50%
e. 80%
6.
In aquatic ecosystems, biomass is least at which trophic level?
a. Autotrophs
b. Herbivores
c. Carnivores
7.
You are in an area where there are squid, seals and penguins. You are most likely in
which ecosystem?
a. Deciduous forest
b. Hot Desert
c. Antarctic Ocean Shore
d. Grassland
8.
You find yourself in an area where there are snakes, hawks and coyotes. Based upon
these animal populations, you are most likely in which ecosystem?
a. Deciduous forest
b. Hot Desert
c. Grassland
d. You cannot tell from this information
9.
You are in an area where the ground is littered with what appear to be dry, dead
leaves. You are most likely in which ecosystem?
a. Deciduous forest
b. Hot Desert
c. Grassland
d. You cannot tell from this information
10.
This zone has the greatest concentration of plankton in a freshwater lake ecosystem:
a. Profundal
b. Littoral
c. Limnetic
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Short Answer Questions: Use the Internet or other sources to answer the following
questions:
1.
Define the following terms: (6 marks)
a. Abiotic
b. Biotic
c. Biome
d. Ecosystem
e. Food Chain
f. Food Web
2.
Name five biomes found in Canada, and VERY briefly describe the type climatic
characteristics of each biome. (10 marks)
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Use the following diagram to answer the next three questions.
3. List three biotic factors and three abiotic factors shown in the diagram above: (6 marks)
4. Fill in the blanks to show the proper sequence of a food chain illustrated in the diagram
above: (5 marks)
________ > ________ > ________ > ________ > ________
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5. In the space below, draw a FOOD WEB using the following terms: (10 marks)
Earthworm, hawk, sparrow, grass, aphid, mouse, seeds, frog, wolf, rabbit
Congratulations! You have completed the “First Assignment” for
Science 10 at The Link!
Please attach this assignment to your registration forms and submit them
according to the instructions given in the registration web page.
After your forms have been accepted, you will meet your teacher, and get started
on the remainder of the course. Thank you, and we will see you soon!
=== End of Document ===
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