Energy Flow & Cycles of Matter [Ch. 7- Reading Assignment]

Integrated Science 1 Name: Period:

Directions: Complete the following reading assignment using your Integrated Science book (pgs 187 – 200)

The Flow of Energy thru an Ecosystem

1. Define:

producers-

consumers-

decomposers-

trophic level-

2. Complete the following sentence: Energy flows through an in one direction, from the to and then to .

3. Summarize the 10% rule:

Ecological Pyramids

1. Define ecological pyramids.

2. Summarize each type of ecological pyramid described in the textbook:

Pyramid of energy-

Pyramid of biomass-

Pyramid of numbers-

Biogeochemical Cycles

1. What is a biogeochemical cycle?

a. Why are they called cycles?

2. Summarize the following cycles:

The Water Cycle-

The Nitrogen Cycle-

The Carbon Cycle-

The Phosphorus Cycle-

Nutrient Limitation

1. Define limiting nutrient and give an example.

Feeding Relationships

1. Complete the following table.

Definition / Example
Food Chain
Food Web

2. Observe Figure 7. What do the arrows represent in this food web?

3. Use Figure 8 to complete the following table. Use additional resources as needed.

Trophic Level / Definition / Example(s) from
Figure 8
Producer
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Top Level Consumer

Critical Thinking

1. Explain why each trophic level in a food chain contains less energy than the level below it.

2. Why is it more energy efficient for people to eat plants instead of animals?

3. Each year, large tracts of wetlands are filled in or paved over for commercial, residential, and recreational use. What effect could such development have on surrounding ecosystems? (recall it is wetlands being destroyed)

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Energy and Nutrients Reading Assignment