Investigation Lab: Backyard Ecosystem
Research Question
What organisms live in a small outdoor area, and how are they connected in a food chain?
Materials Needed
- Notebook and pencil
- Magnifying glass (optional)
- String or hula hoop to mark your study area
- Timer or clock
Procedure
- Choose your area: Find a small outdoor space (about 1 meter square) in a yard, park, or school grounds.
- Mark it: Use string or a hula hoop to mark the boundaries of your study area.
- Observe quietly: Sit still for 10 minutes and watch carefully for any living things.
- Record organisms: Write down every plant and animal you see in your notebook.
- Classify each organism: Label each as producer, consumer, or decomposer.
- Draw a food chain: Connect at least 3 organisms you observed in a food chain.
Sample Data Table
Use a table like this to record your observations:
| Organism | Type | What It Eats |
|---|---|---|
| Grass | Producer | Makes own food (sunlight) |
| Ant | Consumer (omnivore) | Seeds, dead insects |
| Spider | Consumer (carnivore) | Small insects |
Analysis Questions
1. How many different producers did you find in your study area?
A) 0
B) 1-2
C) 3-5
D) More than 5
Think About It
Count all plants including grass, weeds, flowers, and trees. Most small areas have several producers.
2. What was the most common type of organism in your area?
A) Producers
B) Herbivores
C) Carnivores
D) Decomposers
Think About It
In most ecosystems, producers (plants) are the most common because they are at the base of the food chain.
3. If you observed a bird eating a worm, what role does the bird play?
A) Producer
B) Primary consumer
C) Secondary consumer
D) Decomposer
Answer
C) Secondary consumer - The worm eats dead plant matter (primary consumer), and the bird eats the worm.
4. Why is it important that producers are the most common organisms?
A) They are prettier
B) They provide energy for all other organisms
C) They don't need water
D) They move around more
Answer
B) They provide energy for all other organisms - Producers capture energy from the sun and pass it up the food chain.
5. What would happen to your mini ecosystem if you removed all the plants?
A) Nothing would change
B) More animals would come
C) Animals would find new food sources or leave
D) The soil would improve
Answer
C) Animals would find new food sources or leave - Without producers, herbivores would have no food, affecting the entire food chain.
6. Did you observe any decomposers? What were they doing?
A) Making food from sunlight
B) Hunting other animals
C) Breaking down dead material
D) Building nests
Answer
C) Breaking down dead material - Decomposers like fungi, bacteria, and some insects break down dead plants and animals.
7. Based on your observations, which food chain is most likely in your area?
A) Sun → Plant → Insect → Bird
B) Rock → Water → Air
C) Bird → Plant → Insect
D) Insect → Sun → Plant
Answer
A) Sun → Plant → Insect → Bird - Energy flows from the sun to producers to consumers in order.
8. Why might you see more insects than birds in your study area?
A) Insects are more colorful
B) Birds are scared of people
C) There are always more organisms at lower food chain levels
D) Insects don't need food
Answer
C) There are always more organisms at lower food chain levels - Energy decreases as you go up the food chain, so fewer top predators can be supported.
9. What non-living things in your area are important for the ecosystem?
A) Only living things matter
B) Sunlight, water, air, and soil
C) Just rocks
D) None are important
Answer
B) Sunlight, water, air, and soil - These non-living (abiotic) factors are essential for all organisms to survive.
10. How could human activity affect your mini ecosystem?
A) It couldn't
B) Only positively
C) Pollution, trampling, or removing plants could harm it
D) Humans help all ecosystems
Answer
C) Pollution, trampling, or removing plants could harm it - Human actions can disrupt the balance of even small ecosystems.
Draw Your Conclusions
In your notebook, write answers to these questions:
- What was the most interesting organism you observed?
- Draw a food chain with at least 3 organisms from your study area.
- What would happen if one organism in your food chain disappeared?
Next Steps
- Observe your area at different times of day
- Compare your findings with a classmate
- Continue to CER Writing