Antarctic Marine Ecosystem
Student Activity

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1. student activity
2. activity questions
3. activity vocabulary

Student Activity

materials: paper and pen or pencil

1. Read through the section of the lesson describing organisms in the Antarctic marine food web.

2. Construct a table similar to the example shown

   Primary producer      diatoms

   Primary consumer

   Secondary consumer

   Tertiary consumer

   Scavenger

   If necessary, check the vocabulary section to be sure you understand the terms for each category.

3. Use your completed table to construct a food web. Use arrows to indicate connections in the web. The arrow should point to the animal that is eaten. Organisms can have more than one connection.

   A sample food web diagram follows. You are encouraged to create your own design. Include as many Antarctic organisms in your web as you can. Don' forget to connect the boxes with arrows.

   ---

   Tertiary consumer

   Tertiary consumer

   Tertiary consumer

   Secondary consumer

   Secondary consumer

   Secondary consumer

   Primary consumer

   Primary producer

   ---

Activity questions

After you have constructed your food web, answer the following:

1. Which column in your table represents organisms on which all the others depend? Discuss reasons for your answer.
2. Which column represents organisms on which the others are least dependent? Why?
3. Of the animals in your table, which would have the greatest impact on the others if it were to become extinct?
4. Which animal in your table, if its population were to become seriously decreased, would have the greatest impact on the others. Cite facts to support your opinion.

Activity vocabulary

primary producers: Organisms capable of producing organic matter from inorganic materials. Usually green plants.

primary consumers: organisms that feed on producers such as green plants. Also called grazers or herbivores.

secondary consumers: organisms that feed on primary consumers. Also called carnivores, or first level carnivores. example: A snake eating a mouse that eats grain is a secondary consumer.

tertiary consumers: organisms that feed on secondary consumers. Also called 2nd level carnivores. example: A hawk that eats a snake that eats mice that eats grain is a tertiary consumer.

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