Ecological InteractionsPRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. Explain how some heterotrophs could be described as both a primary consumer or a
secondary consumer.
2. Where do you think fungi fit into a food chain? Are they autotrophs or heterotrophs?
Explain your answer using scientific reasoning and data.
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Ecological Interactions
EXPERIMENT 1: ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
Data Tables
Table 2: Volume and Concentration Totals
Trophic
Level
Cylinder
1st
10 mL
2nd
100 mL
Volume of
Oil
Post-Lab Questions
1. What does the water in this experiment represent? What does the oil represent?
2. How did the amount of oil change from one trophic level to the next?
3. How does the change in the amount of oil relate to biomagnification?
4. Why would this change in amount of an accumulating substance potentially be of
concern in the food chain of an ecosystem?
If you would like to read more about issues surrounding bioaccumulation simply search for
case studies that address POP (persistent organic pollutants) and biomagnification in
ecosystems.
© eScience Labs, 2018
Ecological Interactions
EXPERIMENT 2: OIL SPILLS AND AQUATIC ANIMALS
Data Tables
Table 3: Cloth and Feather Observations
Item Type
Initial
Water
Oil
Liquid
Dishwashing
Detergent
Powdered
Laundry
Detergent
Powdered
Dishwashing
Detergent
Chamois Cloth
Feather
Post-Lab Questions
1. Identify one marine species with an outer layer that is similar to the chamois cloth, and
one with an outer layer similar to the feathers.
2. How might aquatic mammals be affected in a natural environment if a coat or outer
shell was compromised by pollution? How might bird species be affected?
3. Identify one additional way that aquatic species may be affected by water pollution
(other than via coat or shell contamination).
4. Aquatic life may be directly affected when oil leaks or spills occur. For example, the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 (which is considered to be the largest oil spill in
petroleum industry history) affected over 8,000 marine species including fish, birds,
mammals, and more. Research one species (plant or animal) that was affected by the
© eScience Labs, 2018
Ecological Interactions
Deepwater Horizon oil spill and describe how the population was affected, and how well
it has recovered since the spill occurred.
© eScience Labs, 2018
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