Name:_________________________________ Class:_________

Model Ecosystems Virtual Lab

The Model Ecosystem Virtual Lab is an introduction to trophic levels and the flow of energy
through the different levels.
Directions:
1.) Go to the website: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_02/BL_02.html
2.) Read through the text entitled How does energy flow through the ecosystem? (on the
left side)
There will be questions concerning these paragraphs
Under the paragraphs containing useful information is the Procedure for this lab
WHEN LOOKING AT #5 UNDER THE PROCEDURE YOU WILL BE USING THE
CALCULATOR ON THE WEBSITE, BUT FILLING THE DATA INTO THE TABLE ON THIS
WORKSHEET.
FOR #6 THE JOURNAL QUESTIONS ON THE WEBSITE ARE ON THIS WORKSHEET. SO
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS HERE AND NOT THE WEBSITE.
How does energy flow through the ecosystem?
1.) What does an ecosystem consist of?

2.) What is the source of energy that fuels most ecosystems?

3.) Define autotroph.

4.) What are autotrophs also called and why?

5.) How do heterotrophic organism obtain nutrients?

6.) Fill in the blank:

A heterotroph that feeds only on plants is called a _______________. They are also called
__________________________________.
Carnivores that feed on herbivores are called __________________________________.

___________________that feed on other carnivores are called third order heterotrophs.

Each level of production and consumption in a food chain is a ______________________.

7.) What occurs in the pyramid of energy?

8.) What does the pyramid of biomass express?

Energy Conversion Efficiency for Ecosystem Trophic Levels move the organisms to their
proper trophic levels in each ecosystem and then click on the Energy Pyramid button at the
bottom of the pyramid. Record the total energy for each trophic level and then calculate the %
of energy that moved up each level by dividing energy in that level by the energy in the level
below it and multiplying by 100.
Ecosystem
Producers
First Order
Second
Third Order
Heterotroph
Order
Heterotroph
s
Heterotroph
s
s
Deciduous
Forest
(
(
(
%)
%)
%)
Hot Desert
(
(
(
%)
%)
%)
Grassland
(
(
(
%)
%)
%)
Antarctic
Ocean Shore
(
(
(
%)
%)
%)
Freshwater
Lake
(
(
(
%)
%)
%)
Journal Entries:
1.) Suggest reasons why the information represented in the pyramid of numbers of animals of
one of the ecosystems you studied may not truly represent that ecosystem.

2.) 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.

3.) 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?

4.) Could there be a food chain without herbivores and carnivores?

5.) Summarize what youve learned from this activity.