Drop-In #1:

The Food Chain

Introduction –

An ecosystem is a living community which depends on each member and its surrounding environment. The interrelationship between individuals in an ecosystem is sometimes referred to as the food chain. Every participant in an ecosystem has an important part to play and if one becomes more dominant than the others, the ecosystem can develop problems.

Information –

As the lead investigator for the EPA in a case against a golf course superintendent it is your job to present an argument against the superintendent for using too many chemicals to help preserve the beautiful of the course. Click on the link under Website to learn about the Food Web. Be sure to note the different levels of the web and how they are interrelated. Also note how the superintendent might be affecting the equilibrium of the web.

Activity –

Find the facts about the Food Web. Write a one page argument as to why the superintendent should not be using as many chemicals. Also be sure to answer the questions in the follow-up activity.

Website –

The Food Web

Date visited – 7/9/03

http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=11353&url=11353/food.htm%3ftqskip=1

Alternative Sites –

Cheasapeake Bay: An Introduction to an Ecosystem

Date visited – 7/9/03

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/info/ecoint6a.cfm

Human Influences on the Environment – Try to answer the questions on this site (Extra Credit)

Date visited – 7/8/03

http://www.saburchill.com/questions/c80q01.html

The Food Web Simply Explained – Be sure to look at the two diagrams to the left.