Food Chains and Carrying Capacity

Review this lesson’s key concepts and terms, before testing your knowledge below.

1. What is carrying capacity?
2. What three factors influence an ecosystem’s carrying capacity?
3. What is the relationship in the predator-prey cycle graph (Figure 1) on the right? Be specific.
4. Give an example of a predator-prey relationship in your area. Be sure to identify which organism is the prey species and which is the predator.
5. List at least three abiotic factors in the ecosystem that can influence the populations of the species you referenced in the previous question.
6. List at least three biotic factors in the ecosystem that can influence the populations of the species you referenced in the previous question.
7. What’s the difference between a food chain and a food web?
8. What’s a primary source of energy in an ecosystem? What does it provide to the ecosystem?
9. Define the following: trophic levels, decomposers, primary producer, photosynthesis, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore.
10. Create five different food chains from the list of Mount Robson species below (eg. Earthworm>Sedges>Elk>Grizzly Bear). Label the trophic levels.
11. For one of your food chains, explain what might happen if the primary producer disappears from the landscape.
12. For one of your food chains, explain what might happen if the tertiary consumer disappears from the landscape.
13. List two herbivores, two carnivores and two omnivores from the Mount Robson species list.
14. Create an infographic of a food chain in your community. Be sure to label the species and trophic levels. Describe what might happen if one species were to disappear.

Mount Robson Species