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About the Food webs Virtual Lab Simulation
In this simulation, you will learn about food webs. You will be guided through the different trophic levels of a food web on the exoplanet Astakos IV, while learning about the interactions between different organisms.
Energy transfers in a food web
First, you will learn how energy is transferred in a food web, and how each trophic level interacts, during both top-down and bottom-up trophic cascades. You will also measure the respiration of an alien and calculate its energy needs.
Estimate energy transfer in a food web
You will be presented with an alien food web with grazers, omnivores and predators. By measuring respiration you will estimate the energy used by a central omnivore species. You will also be tasked with assessing the direction of the energy flow through the food web when a trophic cascade is caused by anthropogenic disturbances.
What happens when the main source of energy is removed from a food web?
Through a series of mini games you will help a group of settlers on Astakos IV asses their impact on the local ecosystem. Are you up for the challenge of figuring out how the settlers’ different constructions impact the local food web?
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Techniques In Lab
- Trophic cascades such as top down and bottom up cascades
- Feed conversion efficiencies
- Aquatic respirometry
Learning Objectives
At the end of this simulation, you will be able to…
- Understand food webs
- Explain the differences between different trophic cascades
- Calculate the amount of energy needed for maintenance
Screenshots of Food webs Virtual Lab Simulation
How it works
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