Pond Study Hypothesis Questions

• Is the pond in Media a healthy ecosystem?

• How do you know?

Healthy Ecosystems

Features of healthy ecosystems

• Biodiversity

• Index species

Biodiversity

• The variety of plant and animal species in an ecosystem

Biodiversity and ecosystems

• The greater the biodiversity, the more stable the ecosystem will be

Index species

• A species whose presence tells if water is clean or polluted

Common Pond Index species

• Mayflies:

clean water

Common Pond Index Species

• Caddisfly larvae:

• Clean water

Media Pond Index Species

• Scuds:

clean water

Common Pond Index Species

• Tubifex worms:

• Pollution

Niche review

• Decomposers

• Producers

• Consumers–Herbivores

–Predators

Consumers in the pond

• Collectors–Gatherers: feed on the

bottom–Filter feeders: filter small particles out of the water

Consumers in the pond

• Scrapers: graze on algae that is attached to rocks

• Shredders: break dead plants into smaller pieces

Consumers in the pond

• Predators–Grab and eat other animals

●Parasites

Pond organism sketches

• View with the dissecting microscope

• Draw your specimens -4 minimum

• Label each with the name of the organism, habitat (where you found it), niche, and feeding adaptation

• Each person makes drawings!

Work with your field trip group

• To identify your specimens, use the packets and our class website for help

Discussion questions

• How many different organisms did you see?

• Does the pond show biodiversity?

Food Web Analysis

Keystone species: keeps ecosystemIn balance

Food Web Analysis

Keystone Species