What are ocean food chains (Primary) - Lesson Four
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
Lesson 4 – What is a predator?
This lesson covers the role of predators.
Learning activities:
Explain what predators are.
Research and discussion on the role of sharks in reef systems.
Instructions
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2022
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year.
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During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
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There is one level of the food chain we have not discussed – predators. Ask students “What a predator is?”
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Predators are the fourth level of consumers. They are the apex species at the top of the food chain.
They are carnivores, animals that naturally prey on other animals, but have no natural predator in their habitat/ecosystem above them. They kill and eat other animals – like sea lions, leopard seals and orcas.
They are carnivores, animals that naturally prey on other animals, but have no natural predator in their habitat/ecosystem above them. They kill and eat other animals – like sea lions, leopard seals and orcas.
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Ask students ‘Why do you think predators are important to an ecosystem?’
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What would happen if predators are removed from the food web?
Prey (consumers) becomes abundant with no natural control over them.
Producer population will decrease as the first and second level consumers become more abundant.
Prey (consumers) becomes abundant with no natural control over them.
Producer population will decrease as the first and second level consumers become more abundant.
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What do you think might happen if predator numbers grow too quickly? Too many predators will result that prey (consumers) will become scarce. The balance in the ecosystem will be lost.
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But what happens if prey disappears?
The predators will start to go hungry and might look for other food sources or they might become weak and sick and die. Which means their numbers will decrease.
The predators will start to go hungry and might look for other food sources or they might become weak and sick and die. Which means their numbers will decrease.
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Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.
