Food Web
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 8
Focus: Understanding food web dynamics
Resources: Food web picture
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Questions/instructions:  



Click on graphic to enlarge.

Resource information in lieu of copyright:

Illustrations sourced from:
Paddle Crab, Cat’s Eye, Sea Biscuit – Enderby, J., Enderby,T. (photo.); Stace, G. (1997). What’s on the Beach?; Auckland: Penguin Books.
Seaweed – Enderby, J., Enderby,T. (photo.); Stace, G. (1998). What’s on the Rocks?; Auckland: Penguin Books.
Hermit Crab, Starfish, Heron, Rockfish – Gray, P. (photo.), Gray, P. (1997). New Zealand Rocky Shore; Alexandra: Central Otago Education Centre.
     
% responses
2007 ('03)
     
y8
Here is a food web that shows what animals on the rocky shore eat.
1. What eats the seaweed?
Cat’s Eye
82 (85)
2. What could happen to the other animals if most of the hermit crabs got sick and died?
less food for whitefaced heron
36 (30)
less food for spiny starfish
37 (32)
more tiny plants and animals
9 (4)
whitefaced heron eat more rockfish
10 (10)
whitefaced heron eat more paddle crab
12 (13)
spiny starfish eat more cat’s eye
12 (9)
3. What could happen to the other animals if more whitefaced heron started feeding at the rocky shore?
less rockfish
41 (40)
less paddle crab
41 (42)
less hermit crab
38 (34)
more biscuit shell
11 (10)
more tiny plants and animals
5 (6)
4. What are some things that the cat’s eye does to stop other animals eating it?
hides in its shell
76 (82)
hides in crevices
6 (6)
camouflages itself
10 (12)
sucks onto rocks
28 (36)
5. What are some things that the paddle crab does to stop other animals eating it?
hides in crevices
17 (18)
uses pincers
79 (72)
moves away
31 (32)
camouflages itself
23 (32)

Total score:
12–20
7 (6)
9–11
15 (13)
6–8
30 (41)
3–5
34 (29)
0–2
14 (11)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 8
Commentary:
Only about one quarter of year 8 students showed strong understanding of this food web. There was no evidence of meaningful change between 2003 and 2007.