Energy Flow in the Coral Reef Ecosystem
In this video segment, adapted from NOVA, learn how energy from sunlight is transferred through the inhabitants of the reef ecosystem. Photosynthesizing plants and algae convert light energy into chemical energy, which then gets passed through the food web to plant eaters, flesh eaters, and ultimately to scavengers and decomposers.
This video is accompanied by a short background essay that will give the students the information necessary to understand the video. This background information is followed up by four discussion questions that could be used after the students watch the video as a means of testing for understanding. Discussion Questions: 1. Why do you think the polyps only feed on plankton at night? 2. What do you think would happen to reef dwellers (e.g., coral, parrot fish, sea cucumbers) if the algae were not able to photosynthesize? 3. What is a double diet? What do you think the advantages are, if any, of having a double diet? 4. How does energy flow through the reef ecosystem?
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