Evaluating Food Supply
Evaluating Food Supply is a Grade 7 science concept from Amplify Science (California) Chapter 2: Energy and Changes to Populations, examining whether increased zooplankton availability caused the Moon Jelly population explosion in the Glacier Sea. If more zooplankton provided additional Energy Storage Molecules, the higher energy availability would increase reproduction rates and birth count, driving population growth.
Key Concepts
Did the Moon Jellies increase because they had more food? Hypothesis 1 suggests an increase in zooplankton provided more Energy Storage Molecules .
If true, this extra energy would lead to a higher rate of reproduction and more births , driving the population explosion.
Common Questions
How does food supply affect population growth in an ecosystem?
More food provides more Energy Storage Molecules. With greater energy availability, organisms can reproduce more frequently, increasing the birth rate and driving population growth.
What hypothesis links zooplankton to Moon Jelly population growth?
Hypothesis 1 proposes that an increase in zooplankton provided more food energy for Moon Jellies, allowing them to reproduce more rapidly. If supported by data showing zooplankton increased before the Jelly explosion, this would explain the population boom.
How do scientists test whether food supply caused a population explosion?
Scientists examine population data for the potential food source to see if it increased before or alongside the population explosion. They also look for other potential causes to rule out alternative explanations.
What do Grade 7 students learn about evaluating food supply in Amplify Science?
In Chapter 2 of Amplify Science California Grade 7, students evaluate whether increased zooplankton supply caused the Moon Jelly explosion, practicing the skill of connecting food availability data to population change hypotheses.