Name: _____________________________
What Do Energy Pyramids Show?
Student worksheet
What do energy pyramids show?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Organisms that turn sunlight energy into food energy (carbohydrates) are called:
_____________________________
Organisms that can’t make their own energy and must eat other organisms for food
energy are called: _____________________________
1st level consumers eat _____________. They are called: _________________
2nd level consumers eat _____________. They are called: _________________
3rd level consumers eat _____________. They are called: _________________
Plants use about ______% of the energy they get from the sun to survive.
Each level of consumer passes on about ______% of the energy they get to the
next level consumers.
Home range means: _______________________________________________
Healthy ecosystems have more 3rd level consumer because:
______________________________________________________________
Spotted Owls hunt prey such as: _________________, _________________,
_________________, _________________, _________________,
Spotted Owls live ____________ years. They live with the same _____________
in the same _________________ their whole lives.
1
Young Spotted Owls are called ____________________ when they are old enough
to ___________________________________________________________
Predators of the Spotted Owl include the: ___________________,
___________________, ___________________,
The Northern Spotted Owl Debate
By Brenda Coleman and Donna Van Vleet
http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/WebQuests/endangeredanimals/endangered.htm
Introduction
The Northern Spotted Owl has been the focus of recent controversy because of its special
breeding requirements. It does not normally breed in forest areas that have been cut and
cleared of trees. In order to breed and raise its young, the spotted owl needs 100 acres of
old-growth forest among the redwoods, Douglas firs, spruce and hemlock trees. Spotted
owl populations have declined because large areas of forests have been cleared.
In 1990, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Northern Spotted Owl as a
threatened species and limited the legal sale of timber from the areas where the owls
usually make their nests. Because the trees in this area are worth $1 million, this has
created conflict between the timber industry representatives who want to harvest the
valuable timber and protect jobs and conservationists who want to protect old-growth
forests.
What do we value? Is the price of progress worth the cost to the environment?
2
Quest(ions) and the Task
What should the policy be regarding the habitat of the Northern Spotted Owl?
Your task is to research the plight of the timber industry and the Northern Spotted Owl
and debate a policy for this issue.
Each person should choose a role below to gain a clear understanding of the different
issues and agencies that are involved in the task.
Roles:
Environmentalist
Timber Industry Representative
Senator from Oregon
Business Investor
Group Process
1. Visit the web resources for your role:
http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/WebQuests/endangeredanimals/endangered.htm
2. Using the web resources, answer the questions assigned to your role.
3. Write a persuasive essay supporting the point of view you represent in your role.
4. In groups, prepare arguments for a class debate regarding the policy of the Spotted
Owl Habitat.
3