Title:
Trophic Level
Author:
Wikipedia.org
Publication:
Science Daily
(www.sciencedaily.com/articles/t/trophic_level.htm)
Date:
September 26, 2012
This is a trophic pyramid. This shows the trophic levels of the organisms above (grass, rabbit, snake, and eagle).
This is a trophic pyramid. This shows the trophic levels of the organisms above (grass, rabbit, snake, and eagle).
Summary:
What eats an organism and what an
organism eats determines where its level is on the trophic level, or where the
organism is on the food chain. All ecosystems have a “base” where all food
chains begin. Plants, which receive energy from the sun, are always the “base”
because they do not need to eat another organism to receive energy to produce
sugars and oxygen. All plants need is sunlight. Once an organism eats the
plant, 10% of the energy from the plant is passed to the organism that ate it.
The other 90% is lost due to heat, body temperature, etc. Once the primary
consumer, or herbivore, eats the plant, sooner or later, a secondary consumer,
or carnivore, will eat the herbivore. Then, only 10% of the herbivore’s energy
is transferred to the carnivore. Sometimes, there can be several intermediate
links, which then eat the carnivore, like a mountain lion eating a bobcat.
Trophic levels are never this simple to understand. There is usually more than
one organism a predator can eat. They are not tied to one organism. The
mountain lion, for example, is another level of predator, a secondary carnivore,
that will eat the bobcat and also eat the rabbit (herbivore). A food web is a
better term to use to explain most types of ecosystems. Just as with humans,
animals have various types of prey that they enjoy eating.
Reflection:
I think that even though trophic
levels and food webs can be hard to follow, they help us understand the
lifestyle of an ecosystem. Starting with the base to the herbivore to the
carnivore (and sometimes secondary carnivores), this complex system works. If
the base is eliminated, the chain is broken and may result in the death of organisms.
They face the challenges of either moving to another ecosystem or face
extinction. Sometimes, it may be for the good, and sometimes it may be for the
bad, but this is life. The ecosystems are what keep this world balanced, for
all organisms. I am just happy to be on the top of the food chain because I do
not want to be eaten anytime soon!
Questions:
1. Give
an example of a food web, not the example in the summary. (Doesn't have to be a
pictures, just show arrows in between organisms)
2. Are
you a carnivore(meat) or herbivore(no meat)? Explain why.
3. Where
does most of your energy come from? What organisms?
4. Do
you believe that ecosystems should be protected?
I found this website on changing food webs
ReplyDeletehttp://centerforoceansolutions.org/climate/impacts/cumulative-impacts/altered-food-webs/
This article talks about how ocean acidification, and other changes will all have impacts on food webs in marine habitats. The most widespread changes will occur when species invade new habitats in order to survive, or go extinct. It is said that Tropical and sub-polar regions will see the most species extinctions. The Arctic and Southern Ocean will see the greatest rise in species.
The expert that I chose to invite to comment on the blog is named Angelica Patterson and she is attending Columbia University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Science, after being a program manager at Barnard College's Department of Environmental Science. She is also the editor and publisher of the Environmental Science department newsletter.
ReplyDeleteEmail:
Hi Mrs. Patterson
My name is Nicole N, and I am currently studying environmental science at Hatboro-Horsham High School. My class is doing a blog on trophic levels and food webs, if you had time, I was wondering if you could comment on our blog and give your professional opinion. The link to our blog is http://bndmdeluca.blogspot.com/2012/09/trophic-levels-and-food-webs.html. Thank you for your time!
Sincerely,
Nicole N.
the first question that am responding is number 3:Where does most of your energy come from? What organisms? most of the energy comes form the plants (producers). for the plants to be able to survive with no other human they use the sun and air to make sugar. I am also answering question 4: Do you believe that ecosystems should be protected? I think that we should protect ecosystems because they help to balance everything out. with out ecosystems thing can be out of ratio.
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