HARARE HIGH SCHOOL

COMBINED SCIENCE CALA #1

TOPIC: ECOSYSYTEMS

FOOD WEB PROJECT

BACKGROUND FOR CALA #1

Ecology is the study of the interaction of living things with their environment. The environment
of any living organism includes the community of plants around it as well as the physical
features of the environment. There are many types of ecosystems in Zimbabwe, of which some
are fresh water ecosystems or terrestrial ecosystems, and some are natural or artificial
ecosystems.

LEARNERS GUIDE CALA #1

As an ‘O’ level combined science learner, you are required to research on the organisms that
makeup an artificial freshwater ecosystem and a natural terrestrial ecosystem.

Expected products

1. Create a poster illustrating and describing two separate food webs that represent an artificial
freshwater ecosystem and a natural terrestrial ecosystem. The food web must be illustrated by
hand. You may draw pictures or use pictures from the internet.

Create a food web for each ecosystem and use written descriptions for each food web.

Follow the requirements below

Food web requirements: Each food web must contain the following

1. At least 2 producers, 6 consumers and 1 decomposer

2. Label the name of each organism

3. Use arrows to show the flow of energy between all organisms

4 .Identify and label the primary energy source

5. Include at least one parasite/host relationship in at least one of the food webs

Written requirements: food webs must be supported with a written document explaining the
following

1. Definitions of the following terms; Ecosystem, Natural ecosystem, artificial ecosystem,

Producer, Consumer, Decomposer, Bio-diversity

2. Identify which organisms are producers and consumers. Specify each type of consumer as a
primary, secondary or tertiary for each food web.

3. Identify all pairs of organisms that are part of a predator/pray relationship for each food web.

4. For at least one of the food webs, identify at least one pair of organisms that are part of
parasite/host relationship

5. Differentiate between a food chain and a food web

Explain the pathway of energy in an ecosystem`

6. Analyze the reduction of energy available at successive trophic levels

7. State one advantage of biodiversity

MARKING GUIDE FOR THE TEACHER

Food web expectations

6. At least 2 producers, 6 consumers and 1 decomposer for each web [8]

7. Label the name of each organism [2]

8. Use arrows to show the flow of energy between all organisms [1]

9. Identify and label the primary energy source [1]

10. Include at least one parasite/host relationship in at least one of the food webs [1]

Written document expectations

1. Definitions of the following terms Ecosystem, Natural ecosystem, artificial ecosystem,

Producer, Consumer, Decomposer, Bio-diversity [4]

2. Identify which organisms are producers and consumers. Specify each type of consumer as
primary secondary and tertiary for each food web [4]

8. Identify all pairs of organisms that are part of a predator/pray relationship for each food web
[3]

9. For at least one of the food webs, identify at least one pair of organisms that are part of
parasite/host relationship [1]

10. Differentiate between a food chain and a food web [2]

11. Explain the pathway of energy in an ecosystem` [1]

12. Analyse the reduction of energy available at successive trophic levels [1]

13. State one advantage of biodiversity [1]