1. Abiotic things: sun, water, rocks, soil, air. Primary producers: grass, trees, algae. Primary consumers: rabbit, mouse, fish. Secondary consumers: hawk, snake. Decomposers: mushrooms, bacteria (implied by decay).
2. If the sun stops shining, photosynthesis stops → plants die → herbivores starve → carnivores starve → ecosystem collapses.
3. If no rainfall for several months, water dries up → plants wilt and die → animals lose food and water → population declines or migrates.
4. If hawk population grows very large, they overhunt prey (rabbits, mice, fish) → prey populations crash → hawks eventually starve due to lack of food.
5. If local wastewater treatment plant leaks sewage into the stream, water becomes polluted → fish and aquatic life die → predators that eat them lose food → toxins may accumulate up the food chain.
6. a) A wildfire burns the grassland → removes primary producers → consumers starve or migrate.
b) A new predator is introduced → disrupts existing food chain → may cause extinction of native species.
c) Overfishing in the stream → fish population collapses → birds and snakes lose food source.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of ecosystem worksheets.
