Sunday, April 27, 2008

Worm and Anti worm tanks




1. What differences can be easily seen between the two tanks?

Both worm tank and anti worm tanks compost amount has all decreased a few center meter , the leaf layer had also fall, but the leaf layer didn't decrease anything at all in the anti worm tank. They fall because of the amount of the compost has changed. But the worm tank's leaf layer has decreased few center meter. Worm tanks soil has increase a little, but the anti worm tank haven't increase or decreased anything.

2. Is this the result you expected?

Yes, because i think the worm tank has worms and because the amount of the leaf layer and the compost layer has decreased because the worms will eat the leaf layers and the compost layers, the anti worm tanks doesn't have any worms, but the amount of compost and leaf layer has decreased, i think it's because maybe some of the ants and some microbes, eaten them.

3. Why did the soil layer get bigger in the worm tank but not in the anti-worm tank?

Because in the worm tank there are worms, and the worms digest the foods from after they've eaten the leafs and the compost, and hen the matter will be a part of the soil.

4. In the worm tank, why did the compost layer get much smaller, but the soil layer only got slightly bigger?

it's because the worms has decompose some matter, which has made the soil layer only got slightly bigger, but the worms has eaten more leafs and the compost which has made the layer decreased, and the amount of soil will only increase a little is because, the worms doesn't decompose every single matter they have eaten, they will absorb part of the foods.

5. Why do you think the leaf layer remained much the same in both tanks (why didn’t it change much)?

Maybe it's because the animals which lives inside there, has eaten more compost than the leaves, because the leaves are harder to digest.

6. Even though there were no worms in the anti-worm tank, the compost layer still got a bit smaller. Can you suggest a reason for this?

i think it's because in the anti worm tank, there lived some ants and microbes, and the matter they composed won't be as much as the worms, which makes the anti worm tank's soil doesn't increase or decrease.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Energy pyramid

There are bigger area of producers than consumers, because the consumers getting their energy from the producers, so if there are less producers then the consumers won't get enough energy. The producers (elodea) in this picture are usually found under sea's and ocean's and their numbers of area are greater than the consumers.


The pyramid gets smaller as it gets closer to the top, because the predators eats a lot of preys, and the populations of the consumers are smaller, because the producers needs to produce more than the consumers, so the consumers are less to eat more than 1 prey. Like the predators eats the preys in a double amount eg. platypus eats 2 large fishes but the 1 large fish eats 2 small fishes, so it means that the producers need an larger amount than the consumers do.



Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Food Web 2

1. What would happen to the rabbits if the foxes disappeared?

There will be less predators of rabbits. So, the number of the rabbits will increase.

2. What would happen to the toads if the predaceous insects disappeared?

The toads will have no food and they will die faster. And finally they disappear.

3. What would happen to the predaceous insects if the spiders disappeared (think carefully)?

The predaceous insects cannot eat spiders anymore, they will have to turn to herbivorous insects as their food to survive.

4.What would happen to the hawks and owls if the foxes and snakes disappeared?

They will have plenty foods and in the end their populations will increase.

4. What would happen to the foxes if the hawk and owl population increased?

They will have to compete with the hawks and owls for food and there will be less food available for them and it will make their population less in number.

5. Name two species which compete with each other for food.

Spiders and predaceous insects.

6. Name two first-order consumers.

Rabbits and mice.

7. Name two predators.

Foxes and snakes.