Name: _____________________________

Ecosystem Diagram Activity

Learning Target: I am able to develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and
flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
Task:
In previous classes, you have learned about ecosystems, food webs, and how living
things interact with one another. Now that you have learned about the cycling of matter,
you are going to plan and draw a detailed diagram that shows how matter and
energy cycle among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. You will be assigned an
ecosystem and you may choose which features and organisms of that biome that you
would like to use. See the grading checklist at the end of this document to see the
details about what must be included in your diagram.
Knowledge Probe:
The following video, readings, and questions will help you make sure that you know
everything you need to know (especially key vocabulary!) in order to complete this
model.
Video 1: Biotic and Abiotic Factors (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=rNfmew9C508 )
Biotic factors = all of the living things in an ecosystem; animals, plants, and
microorganisms.
Abiotic factors = all of the nonliving things in an ecosystem; geological formations,
water, soil, atmosphere, etc.
Video: Mr. Andersons video about Biotic and Abiotic factors
1. When wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park, was that a
change in a biotic factor or an abiotic factor? Why?

2. The amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has changed

over time. Is that a change in a biotic factor or an abiotic factor? Why?

3. Mr. Anderson used biofilms as an example of how changes in the abiotic

factors can affect cells. What is a biofilm?

4. Mr. Anderson used the example of the Snowshoe Hare and the Canada Linx to
show how changes in biotic factors can affect organisms. How are the cycles
of the Snowshoe Hare and Canada Linx populations related to one another?

5. Mr. Anderson uses food chains and food webs to show how even small
changes in ecosystems can cause complex changes in populations,
communities, and ecosystems. What are some of the things that have
happened since wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone? List at least one
biotic factor that has changed and one abiotic factor that has changed.
Biotic =

Abiotic =

Textbook: Food Webs (Page 484-485)

Step 1: Define the following terms.
Producer

Herbivore

Carnivore

Decomposer

Step 2: Fill in the table using the organisms pictured below.

Producers

Herbivores

Carnivores

Decomposers

Video 2: Interactions between organisms AND interactions between

organisms and their resources. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-SfeH3-L-4)
1. What is mutualism?

2. An example of mutualism is the Bullhorn Ants and the Acacia tree.

a. What benefit do the ants gain from the relationship?
b. What benefits do the trees gain from the relationships?

3. What is a host?

4. What is a symbiont?

5. What is parasitism?

6. Give an example of parasitism.

7. What is commensalism?

8. Give an example of commensalism.

9. What is amensalism?

10.

Give an example of amensalism.

Article: Food Webs and the Transfer of Matter and Energy

Step 1: Complete the Energy Pyramids reading and answer the questions on the
back.
Step 2: Brainstorm some of the organisms that live in your assigned ecosystem and
place them on the pyramid below.

Grading Checklist:
Title
Cycling of
matter

Abiotic
Factors
Biotic
Factors
Interaction
of biotic
and abiotic
factors
Types of
organisms

Food Chains
and Webs

Types of
interactions
between
organisms
Types of
interactions
between
organisms
and
resources.
Total Points

Prominently display the name of the ecosystem that you

diagraming.
You must show how the carbon cycle is working in your
ecosystem.
- Label carbon in at least three parts of your
ecosystem.
- Draw and label arrows showing the movement of
carbon.
- Briefly describe how the carbon gets from one step
to the next.
Label at least one place where nitrogen is being
converted from one form to another in your ecosystem.
Label at least one place where phosphorus is being
converted from one form to another in your ecosystem.
Explain how humans might alter a matter cycle (carbon,
nitrogen or phosphorus) and how that could impact your
ecosystem.
You must label at least TWO abiotic factors in your
ecosystem.
You must label at least TWO biotic factors in your
ecosystem.
Explain how a change in one of the biotic OR abiotic
factors in your diagram would lead to other changes in
the ecosystem. This can be done on the diagram itself or
in another location (on the back or an attached piece of
paper).
Include and label at least one producer.
Include and label at least one herbivore.
Include and label at least one carnivore.
Include and label decomposers in your ecosystem.
Draw arrows (and label them) to show a food chain (or a
simple food web) in your ecosystem. Include the sun and
at least four living organisms.
Explain which organisms there are more of in your food
chain/web and why.
Show at least one example of interactions between
organisms in your ecosystem. It could be mutualism,
commensalism, predator-prey, etc. Explain the
relationship either on the diagram itself or in another
location (on the back or on an attached piece of paper).
Explain at least one relationship between a living thing in
your ecosystem and a resource that organism would
need. Explain the relationship either on the diagram
itself or in another location (on the back or on an
attached piece of paper).

/1 point
/5 points

/1 point
/1 point

/2 points
/2 points
/2 points
/2 points

/2 points.

/3 points

/2 points

/2 points

/25 points

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