ACTIVITY 3.3.2: HOMEWORK/ CLASS WORK (GPOUP WOPK) FOOD ChAINS AND I OOD Whes N1025 you should do kesd the following extract carefully and answer the questions set. Nany organisms live on the sand dunes and in the valleys between the dunes, forming a desert community. Ants, crickets, beetles, beelle larvae and termites all feed off seeds and bits of organic matter which larvae which hide in the sand Spiders The ants are eaten by ant-lion eat beetle-larvae and spiders. Sun spiders, which termites. Scorpions devour the scorpions as well as the beetles and beetle larve spiders, eat spiders, beetles and sun spiders. The side-winder ladie. Lizards the lizards. 1. Draw a food web to represent all the feeding relationships in the desert community. (10) 2. Using the food web drawn, now write down any food chain containing:- a. 3 trophic levels b. 4 trophic levels (7) \( [17] \)

In desert ecosystems, the food web you will create reflects the delicate balance of life amid harsh conditions. For a vibrant food web, visualize ants and crickets at the base level, feeding on organic matter, while spiders and scorpions occupy the middle, each preying on other organisms. Sun spiders and lizards act as both predators and prey, creating a complex network of interactions where each organism plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and energy flow. When constructing food chains, remember that each chain shows the flow of energy from one trophic level to the next. For a three-level food chain, you might illustrate a simple path: organic matter → ants → spiders. For a four-level chain, consider: organic matter → ants → lizards → scorpions. It’s essential to recognize that several food chains can arise from the same food web, highlighting the interdependence of species in the desert community!