8.12.A ecosystem disruption

Moose are consumers that eat plants in the northern forest habitats where they live. Wolves are consumers that eat moose. Use the space below to draw a food chain that represents the flow of energy from vegetation, to moose, to wolves.

Analyze the graph of wolf and moose population size over time. Discuss any patterns you observe. 

After the moose population size reaches its lowest level, the wolf population ​ (a)   . As the wolf population size decreases, the moose population size ​ (b)   .

Think about the relationship between population size and energy needed. When a population size increases, that population requires more energy from the food it eats to support the larger population. Where on the graph is energy transfer from plants to moose the greatest?

Where on the graph would you expect populations of plants that moose eat to be the largest?

Where on the graph would you expect populations of plants that moose eat to be the smallest?

Based on this example, describe the relationship between the wolf population and the populations of plants that moose eat.