Species Interactions

One of the most important relationships in an ecosystem is how organisms create or consume their food. These interactions are known as trophic relationships and can be illustrated in a food chain or food web. While at first glance a food chain may seem like a simple representation of food consumption, these relationships have important impacts throughout the ecosystem. These interactions become even more apparent when a species is eliminated from the system, such as when European settlers in North America systematically exterminated the top predators such as wolves. In this assignment, you will explore how trophic interactions ripple through an ecosystem.

By the mid-1900s, wolves had been almost entirely removed from the continental United States, including in Yellowstone National Park. In the 1970s, passage of the Endangered Species Act and increasing environmental awareness raised the issue of wolf management for both natural resource managers and the public. Then, in 1995, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. For the past few decades, the impacts of the new wolves have been monitored. You can learn more about the impacts of wolves in the park with this video.

• Wolves of Yellowstone [Video]. (2014). In Passion Pictures (Producer), Earth: A new wild.

For this assignment, you will create a PowerPoint presentation that discusses a food chain of your choice and how the species in that food chain interact with each other and their environment. Using the resources provided, your textbook, as well as other reliable references, answer the following questions in your presentation. is provided to assist you with organizing your information.

1. Identify and research one simple food chain from anywhere in the world. Outline the food chain and briefly describe it including where this food chain can be found. Include a minimum of 4 species in your food chain.
2. Identify one predator-prey relationship in your food chain.
3. Which organism is the predator and which is the prey?
4. What level of the food chain does each organism hold (i.e., primary consumer, secondary consumer, etc.)?
5. What would happen to your food chain and ecosystem if the predator was removed?
6. Now imagine that an invasive plant species takes hold in your ecosystem.
7. How would this invasive species impact the food chain and ecosystem?
8. Describe impacts to producers and consumers.
9. Extinctions and invasive species can reduce biodiversity. Human activities are largely responsible for these issues. What are some ways that we can protect and enhance biodiversity? Include at least one example and explain.
10. Predator reintroductions are a controversial practice. Bringing wolves back to Yellowstone National Park was met with many concerns and challenges.
11. Do you think that reintroduction of predators is the responsibility of humans?
12. What are the benefits of predator reintroductions? Include at least two benefits and explain.
13. What are some challenges of predator reintroductions? Include at least two challenges and explain.