Trophic Cascades: hhmi

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Trophic Cascades: HHMI
Click and Learn (just Google it to find it)
Go to the website: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/exploring-trophic-cascades
1. Define the term trophic cascade. (hint: check key concepts and wait to the end of this part too)
2. What kind of effect do otters have on kelp? Explain why.
3. What effect of the disappearance of the otters on the diet of the glaucous-winged gulls?
4. What effect of the disappearance of the otters on the diet of bald eagles?
Select the Arctic Tundra Case Study:
5. What is the effect of foxes on seabirds? Explain your answer.
6. What is the effect of seabirds on soil nutrients? Explain your answer.
7. What is the effect of soil nutrients on grass? Explain your answer.
8. Describe the picture that illustrates the effect of the addition of foxes to an arctic tundra ecosystem. Explain why this is the result.
A trophic cascade is when an apex predator who controls populations is removed from an ecosystem.
Otters control the population of sea urchins which eat the kelp. Without otters the sea urchins will overpopulate and eat all of the kelp.
As a result of the disappearance of the otters and loss of the kelp forests, the diet of the glaucous-winged gulls shifted from fish to invertebrates
As a result of the disappearance of the otters and loss of the kelp forests, the diet of the bald eagles shifted from fish and mammals to other bird species.

Select the Midwestern Lake Case Study:
9. What is the effect of bass on minnows? Explain your answer.
10. What is the effect of phytoplankton (photosynthetic microorMiganisms) on carbon influx- removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? Explain your answer.
11. What is the effect the bass on the amount of carbon stored in the lake? Explain your answer.
Select the African Savannah Case Study:
12. What is the effect of the rinderpest virus on the wildebeest population? Explain your answer.
13. What is the effect of vegetation on the amount of fires? Explain your answer.
14. Describe the graph that illustrates the effect of eradication (getting rid of) of the rinderpest virus through a vaccination program. Explain why this would be the result of the elimination of the virus.
Select the Venezuelan Jungle Case Study:

15. Describe the landscape that has large predators. Explain your answer.