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Trophic Cascades: HHMI Click and Learn

Go to the website: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/exploring-trophic-cascades

1. Define the term trophic cascade.

2. What kind of effect do otters have on kelp? Explain why.

3. What effect of the disappearance of the otters on the diet of the glaucous-winged gulls?

4. What effect of the disappearance of the otters on the diet of bald eagles?

Select the Arctic Tundra Case Study:

5. What is the effect of foxes on seabirds? Explain your answer.

6. What is the effect of seabirds on soil nutrients? Explain your answer.

7. What is the effect of soil nutrients on grass? Explain your answer.

8. Describe the picture that illustrates the effect of the addition of foxes to an arctic tundra
ecosystem. Explain why this is the result.
Select the Midwestern Lake Case Study:

9. What is the effect of bass on minnows? Explain your answer.

10. What is the effect of phytoplankton (photosynthetic microorMiganisms) on carbon influx-

removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? Explain your answer.

11. What is the effect the bass on the amount of carbon stored in the lake? Explain your answer.

Select the African Savannah Case Study:

12. What is the effect of the rinderpest virus on the wildebeest population? Explain your answer.

13. What is the effect of vegetation on the amount of fires? Explain your answer.

14. Describe the graph that illustrates the effect of eradication (getting rid of) of the rinderpest
virus through a vaccination program. Explain why this would be the result of the elimination of
the virus.

Select the Venezuelan Jungle Case Study:

15. Describe the landscape that has large predators. Explain your answer.