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Lesson 4 of 84 · Atomic Structure
ExperimentFood Chains and Food Webs
What You'll Learn
Food webs show the complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem. Unlike a simple food chain, a food web shows that most organisms eat more than one type of food.
Key Words
- producer
- consumer
Materials Needed
- labels
- seeds
- soil
- cups
- water
Safety First
- Handle glass items carefully to avoid breakage.
- Do not mix unknown chemicals together.
- Tie back long hair before starting the experiment.
Steps
Step 1 — Read
Review the background information on Atomic Structure before starting.
Step 2 — Do
Set up a composting experiment: place food scraps in one sealed bag and leaves in another. Observe decomposition over two weeks and record changes.
Step 3 — Observe
Look for patterns in your observations.
Step 4 — Record
Make a graph or chart showing your results.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What is the main source of energy for most food chains?