Snow Leopard's Food Web - Food Web & Trophic Pyramid Master

The snow leopard is a magnificent big cat that lives in the cold, mountainous regions of Central and South Asia, particularly in parts of the Himalayas, Mongolia, and Russia. This elusive animal is known for its thick fur, long tail, and beautiful spotted coat, which help it blend into its rocky environment.

The snow leopard's habitat is known as the tundra biome. This biome is characterized by high altitudes, steep cliffs, and extreme weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and chilly temperatures. The landscape is often rocky and rugged, providing perfect hiding spots for snow leopards. The vegetation in this biome is limited, consisting mainly of grasses, shrubs, and small trees that can withstand the cold.

What kind of biome is the now leopard found in?

• Desert

• Tundra

• Tropical Rainforest

• Savannah

In the snow leopard's food web, it plays a crucial role as a top predator. This means it is at the top of the food chain and has few natural enemies. The snow leopard primarily hunts ungulates, which are hooved animals. Some of its main prey include:

• Ibex: These mountain goats are agile climbers and are often found in steep, rocky areas where snow leopards hunt. Ibex, being herbivores, primarily eat vegetation like grasses, shrubs, bushes, leaves, shoots, and bark, and they may also consume mosses, lichens, and even acorns depending on the specific ibex species and the season

• Marmots: These small rodents are also part of the snow leopard's diet, particularly in the summer months when they are more active. Marmots are generally herbivores, with a diet consisting mainly of plants like grasses, forbs, and flowers. They also eat seeds, berries, roots, and occasionally insects and bird eggs. Some species, like the Hoary marmot, show a preference for certain plants and may be selective in their foraging. 

• Blue sheep: Known as bharal, these animals are another important food source for the snow leopard, particularly in the high-altitude regions. They primarily eat grasses, especially in summer, and switch to shrubs and forbs in winter when grasses are scarce. Their diet varies seasonally and depends on habitat, with grasses making up a large portion of their diet, especially in areas with abundant grass. 

The snow leopard's hunting strategies are fascinating. They are solitary hunters, using their stealth and strength to get close to their prey before launching a powerful leap to catch it. This skill allows them to thrive in their challenging environment.

Which of the following are prey that a snow leopard eats?

• Elephants, giraffes, crocodiles

• Rabbits, squirrels, and skinks

• Blue sheep, ibex, deer, hares, birds

• The snow leopard is not a predator

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Snow leopards are...

• Herbivores

• Carnivores

• Omnivores

• Scavengers

• Ibex: These mountain goats are agile climbers and are often found in steep, rocky areas where snow leopards hunt. Ibex, being herbivores, primarily eat vegetation like grasses, shrubs, bushes, leaves, shoots, and bark, and they may also consume mosses, lichens, and even acorns depending on the specific ibex species and the season

Ibex are ...

• Herbivores

• Carnivores

• Omnivores

• Producers

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

• Marmots: These small rodents are also part of the snow leopard's diet, particularly in the summer months when they are more active. Marmots are generally herbivores, with a diet consisting mainly of plants like grasses, forbs, and flowers. They also eat seeds, berries, roots, and occasionally insects and bird eggs. Some species, like the Hoary marmot, show a preference for certain plants and may be selective in their foraging.

•  

Marmots are ...

• Herbivores

• Carnivores

• Omnivores

• Producers

• Blue sheep: Known as bharal, these animals are another important food source for the snow leopard, particularly in the high-altitude regions. They primarily eat grasses, especially in summer, and switch to shrubs and forbs in winter when grasses are scarce. Their diet varies seasonally and depends on habitat, with grasses making up a large portion of their diet, especially in areas with abundant grass.  

Blue Sheep are ...

• Herbivores

• Carnivores

• Omnivores

• Producers

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Label each organism based on its role in the food chain.

a

b

c

Secondary Consumer

Producer

Primary Consumer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Label each level on the trophic pyramid.

a

b

c

d

Tertiary Consumer

Primary Consumer

Producer

Secondary Consumer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Place the organisms from the snow leopards food web on the correct levels on the trophic pyramid.

a

b

c

Grass

Snow leopards

Ibex

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Where does the energy originally comes from and how it flows through the ecosystem to get
to snow leopard. Hint: Where do the plants get their energy from? How does it get to the snow leopard?

• The energy comes from the sun, flows to plants, then to herbivores, and finally to snow leopards.
• Energy originates from water and moves to herbivores before reaching plants.
• Energy is generated by snow leopards and flows to plants.
• Energy comes from the soil and flows to carnivores directly.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3