Food Chains and Webs

Work done in this Nuffield 13 - 16 module followed from the B units called ‘Energy’ and ‘Competition and predation’. This S unit provided enough material for eight double periods during a single-certificate science course. The teachers’ guide included 12 worksheets to supplement the students’ booklet.

The general notes about the module in the teachers’ guide pointed out that food chains and webs are very difficult to establish by first-hand observation. Also that the identification of organisms, particularly invertebrate animals, can be difficult, and seeing animals feeding requires patient and long term observation. For these reasons, much use was been made of secondhand information.

Many of the calculations were simplified and numerical data 'rounded' so that less numerate students would not be so overcome by the figures.

Contents
1. What are boys and girls made of?
2. The web of life
3. Ashes to ashes
4. No room at the top
5. Interfering with a food chain
6. Food from plants
7. Making ends meat
8. Where does the energy in food go to?