Activity

Making a food web

In this activity, students construct a food web using string to show connections between species.

Diagram showing how the food web in the Ross Sea works.

The food web in the Ross Sea

This diagram shows how the food web in the Ross Sea works. The arrows go from prey species (these get eaten) to predators (the hunters).

Rights: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA)

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

  • describe relationships between particular organisms within the Antarctic ecosystem

  • build their own food web to show the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.

Download the Word file (see link below) for:

  • introduction/background notes

  • what you need

  • what to do.

Related content

Further explore Antarctic marine ecosystems, marine habitats, marine food webs and Marine organisms and adaptations.

Activity ideas

Try these similar activities:

  • In Build a marine food web students build their own food web using images of organisms from the marine ecosystem. The activity can be completed indoors or outside.

  • Marine ecosystem – this interactive diagram explores food webs and other aspects of life in the sea.

  • Beach visits – habitats and food webs involves students in researching and then observing a range of organisms to understand the interconnected nature of ecosystems.

Useful link

Listen to this Radio New Zealand programme entitled Sea Lions As Food Web Ambassadors. Lucy Jack is hoping that her research will give insights into marine food webs and how they’ve changed over time.

Published:03 December 2007