Lesson Overview
This simulator supports a 20-minute interview lesson on ecosystems and food web resilience. It contrasts a simple food chain (Low Biodiversity) with a complex web (High Biodiversity).
Suggested Teacher Script
"Both ecosystems have food webs. One has more biodiversity than the other. I am going to introduce one change. Before I click, predict which ecosystem will cope better."
"The model shows that high biodiversity can make an ecosystem more stable. This is because organisms often have alternative food sources. In a low biodiversity ecosystem, losing one species can affect many others."
Key Discussion Questions
- What does the arrow in a food web show? (Energy flow from eaten to eater)
- Why did the Rabbit survive the Grass disease in the high biodiversity ecosystem? (Alternative food source: Clover)
- Why did the Fox survive in the low biodiversity ecosystem when pesticides killed the grasshoppers? (It can still eat rabbits)
- What happens to an ecosystem when it collapses?
Biology Explanation
Low Biodiversity: High dependency on few species. If one species fails, the cascade is catastrophic. Grass disease causes 100% species extinction.
High Biodiversity: High redundancy. Clover and Wildflowers maintain primary consumers, preserving predators like Owl and Fox.
Simplified Model Disclaimer
This is a simplified ecological model designed for educational clarity at Year 7. In real life, complex food webs contain many more species, decomposers, and behavioral adjustments.