Construct An Illustrated Food Web To Diagram Trophic Interac

Construct an illustrated food web to diagram trophic interactions in the Everglades ecosystem

Consider the food web above depicting a terrestrial food web and a marine food web. In the Everglades, a freshwater marsh, terrestrial and aquatic environments are interconnected. The complexity of this unique ecosystem can be analyzed by constructing a food web to trace the flow of energy between organisms. Part 1: Your task for this project is to construct an illustrated food web to diagram trophic interactions in the Everglades ecosystem. The food web must be an original creation, you cannot submit a food web that you find online!

You must use a minimum of 8 species that are found in the Everglades. You must indicate, using arrows or lines, the flow of energy between the species in your diagram. Be sure to upload your food web as an attachment in the assignment dropbox. Your constructed food web is worth 60 points. Click here for a resource that will allow you to identify plants and animals that are found in the Everglades.

Part 2: Answer the following questions about the food web you constructed. Answers should be provided on a separate attachment in the assignment dropbox. Answers to the 10 questions using correct spelling and grammar are worth a total of 40 points. 1) List the producer(s) in your food web. 2) List the herbivores in your food web. 3) Are there any organisms in your food web that are omnivores? On which trophic levels are they feeding? 4) List the carnivores in your food web. 5) Identify and list a food chain within your food web that depicts at least three trophic levels. What organism in your selected food chain is a secondary consumer? 6) Are there any nonnative species in your food web? Briefly describe are they altering this food web in the Everglades ecosystem? 7) Choose a primary consumer in your food web. If its population suddenly started to decline, what density-dependent (biotic) factors could be causing it? 8) Choose a secondary consumer in your food web. If its population suddenly started to increase, what density-dependent (biotic) factors could be causing it? 9) Are there any keystone species in your food web? If a keystone species were removed from your food web, how would its loss impact the other organisms? 10) Are there any endangered or threatened species in your food web? If the species goes extinct, how would its loss impact the other organisms? Your capstone project is worth a total of 100 points.

Paper For Above instruction

The Everglades ecosystem presents a complex interplay of terrestrial and aquatic species interconnected through various trophic interactions. Constructing a food web that accurately reflects this environment requires selecting representative species from the region and illustrating the pathways of energy flow among them. In this paper, I will describe a food web comprising eight species native to the Everglades, analyze their interactions, and answer subsequent questions regarding ecosystem dynamics, adaptation, and conservation concerns.

The primary producers forming the foundation of the Everglades food web include sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense), a dominant emergent plant in the marsh. Sawgrass utilizes sunlight to produce organic matter through photosynthesis, supporting herbivores such as the Florida apple snail (Ampullariidae) and the marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris). These herbivores consume sawgrass and other aquatic vegetation, serving as primary consumers.

Herbivores like the marsh rabbit feed directly on plants, but some omnivores, such as the raccoon (Procyon lotor), consume a variety of food items, including small fish, crustaceans, and plant matter. Raccoons feed on both plant material and animal prey, occupying a trophic level that spans several levels depending on their diet, thus exemplifying omnivory in the Everglades food web.

Carnivores in this ecosystem include the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), which preys on fish, turtles, and occasionally small mammals. The great egret (Ardea alba) also acts as a carnivore, feeding primarily on fish and invertebrates. These predators occupy higher trophic levels, relying on the abundance of primary and secondary consumers for sustenance.

Within the constructed food web, a notable three-tiered food chain consists of sawgrass as the producer, the Florida apple snail as the primary consumer, and the wading bird (e.g., great egret) as the secondary consumer. In this chain, the great egret functions as the secondary consumer, feeding on herbivorous snails and fish. This chain exemplifies energy transfer across trophic levels and highlights predator-prey relationships vital to ecosystem stability.

Non-native species also impact the Everglades, notably the Burmese python (Python bivittatus). As an invasive predator, the python preys on native mammals, reptiles, and birds, disrupting existing food webs by reducing prey populations and competing with native predators. Its presence is a significant concern, potentially leading to declines in native species and altering trophic dynamics.

The population dynamics of primary consumers like the marsh rabbit are influenced by density-dependent factors such as food availability, predation pressure, and disease. If marsh rabbit populations declined markedly, predators such as bobcats or raptors might experience prey shortages, leading to reduced reproduction rates or increased competition among predators. Conversely, this decline could also result from habitat loss or increased pollution, which are abiotic factors impacting survival.

Secondary consumers like the American alligator may experience population increases due to factors such as removal of competitors or increased prey abundance. Density-dependent factors regulating alligator populations include food resource limits and disease prevalence. An increase in alligator numbers might lead to over-predation on prey species, subsequently affecting the abundance of fish and invertebrates, thereby impacting lower trophic levels.

Keystone species like the American alligator play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. Alligators create habitats such as gator holes that serve as refuges for fish and invertebrates, supporting biodiversity. If such a keystone species were removed, it could lead to habitat loss, decreased prey diversity, and increased dominance of certain prey species, thus destabilizing the food web.

Endangered or threatened species in the Everglades include the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). The loss of panthers could result in increased populations of herbivores like deer or feral hogs, leading to overgrazing and habitat degradation. This change would ripple through the ecosystem, affecting plant populations and other dependent species, ultimately diminishing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

In conclusion, constructing a food web for the Everglades involves identifying key species, understanding their trophic interactions, and considering human impacts such as invasive species and habitat loss. Appreciating these relationships is crucial for managing and conserving this delicate ecosystem, ensuring its health and longevity for future generations.

References

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