Coughing Up Clues Food Webs

Coughing Up Clues 5/16/13 Key Question: How can you tell the interactions between organisms in an ecosystem? Initial Thoughts:

Evidence 1: Prairie Food Web Using the clues from the worksheet, construct a food web in your journal.

A NW Prairie Ecosystem Kincaid’s Lupine A threatened species

Fender’s Blue Butterfly Fender’s Blue Butterfly An endangered species The larvae feed on the Lupine Adult feeds on nectar of other flowers I nthe prairie ecosystem

Evidence 2: Owl Pellets Dissect the pellet for clues to the Owl’s diet.

Analysis Questions What did you learn about the Owl’s diet? Include the type and number of organisms in the owl’s diet Besides the voles and mice, owl’s also eat shrews and insects. Use this info to draw a food web. Voles eat mostly plants like grass, seeds, roots, and bark. Shrews eat insects. Add these to your food web. The great horned owl sometimes eats other owls, and voles. Add the great horned owl to your food web. What would be the impact to the prairie food web if there was an increase in owls?

Summary What did you think interactions between organisms in an ecosystem before this lesson? What did you learn about interactions between organisms in an ecosystem from this lesson? (Minimum of 3 sentences!!!) What are some further thoughts or questions you have about interactions between organisms in an ecosystem?

Reflection Predator-Prey relationships are key to food webs. What role do you think evolution aka natural selection plays a role in food webs. Explain using words or pictures.

Big Idea