Curated OER
Dynamics of Ecosystems
A set of guided notes walks your biology or environmental studies learners through the dynamics of ecosystems. They write short answers to questions about the energy budget, food webs, trophic levels, and biogeochemical cycles. One way...
Curated OER
it's Lonely At The Top
Students explore the differnences between food producers in food webs and food consumers in food chains. Behavioral choices of primary and secondary consumers such as herbivores, vegetarians, carnivors, and omnivors are analyzed.
Curated OER
Ecological Pyramids
Students apply the ecological pyramids of numbers and biomass with an activity using topographic maps. For this trophic level lesson, students work in groups using a topographic map to determine the number of organisms that can live in...
It's About Time
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Emerging biochemists more fully understand the flow of energy in ecosystems as they explore the laws of thermodynamics and relate them to energy transfer in food chains. They also investigate heat loss from the human body and how...
Curated OER
The Biosphere
In this biosphere learning exercise, learners identify the different levels of organization that ecologists study. Students complete charts, sentences, and answer short answer questions.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Leaf Litter Ecology Lab
Some organisms spend their entire lives in leaf litter. The third in a series of six is a great lesson exploring the community of leaf litter. Groups gather and then spread leaf litter over white paper and remove leaves/twigs while...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Building Ecological Pyramids
Looking for a fresh take on traditional food/energy pyramids? Conduct an innovative activity where pupils build their own! The lesson uses research data from Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique for a real-life safari touch. Scholars...
Curated OER
Populations and Ecosystems
Seventh graders create a model of an ecosystem and label it to show structure and function. They research the food web of an aquatic animal and also trace energy flow from the primary producer up the food chain.
University of Michigan
University of Michigan: Global Change: The Flow of Energy: Higher Trophic Levels
This lesson addresses the following questions: What is the efficiency with which energy is converted from trophic level to trophic level? What are the differences between assimilation efficiency, net production efficiency, and ecological...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Episd: Trophic Levels
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Understand what trophic levels are and identify producers and consumers in a food web.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Trophic Levels
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how to identify trophic levels in a food chain or food web.
Other
Marietta College: Ecosystems
Complete illustrated discussion of energy flow within ecosystems, including discussions of trophic levels, ecological pyramids, food chains and webs, biological magnification, and cycles.
BiologyWise
Biology Wise: An Analogy: Biomass Pyramid vs. Energy Pyramid
Explains what biomass and energy pyramids are and provides a table highlighting their differences.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Energy Pyramids: Lesson 2
This lesson will introduce energy pyramids, and show how energy moves from one trophic level to the next. It is 2 of 4 in the series titled "Energy Pyramids."
National Geographic
National Geographic: Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity
In this unit young scholars explore major marine ecosystems by locating them on maps. Students use marine examples to learn about energy transfer through food chains and food webs and then they discuss how food webs can illustrate the...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Energy Pyramids: Lesson 3
This lesson will introduce energy pyramids, and show how energy moves from one trophic level to the next. It is 3 of 4 in the series titled "Energy Pyramids."
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Energy Pyramids: Lesson 1
This lesson will introduce energy pyramids, and show how energy moves from one trophic level to the next. It is 1 of 4 in the series titled "Energy Pyramids."
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Biology: Flow of Energy in an Ecosystem: Self Check Quiz
Try this five question comprehension check over ecosystems and the ecological relationships within them.
Tom Richey
Slide Share: Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycle
Read 37 slides on energy flow and the nutrient cycle.