Lion King Ecology Study

An Ecological Study After watching the movie, respond to each of the following questions. Questions # 1 – 4 refer to the movie as a whole. You will need to be careful to make notes throughout the entire movie in order to accurately answer these questions. Questions # 5 – 13 refer to specific scenes. Be careful not to miss the answers to these questions as you watch. You may sing along and use this paper for notes throughout the movie. 1) Identify a food chain consisting of organisms in the movie. Include at least three total organisms and be sure to identify which organism are the producer, primary consumer and secondary consumer. In addition, state the nutritional modality of the consumers (is it an herbivore, carnivore, etc.?). [6] 2) Make a list of as many organisms you can identify that contributed to a balanced ecosystem in and around Pride Rock. Categorize the organisms by their nutritional modality (producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, or decomposer). You must have at least fifteen organisms to earn full credit. [5] 3) Identify three biotic factors and three abiotic factors you witnessed in the movie. [6] 4) During the movie Simba is in three different biomes. Identify the three biomes and describe characteristics of the biome that allowed you to identify it. [3] 5) In the opening scene Scar is about to consume a mouse. Define the type of species interaction that Scar and the mouse have in ecological terms (identify the role of the mouse and the role of Scar). [2] 6) During a lion and cub moment, Mufasa says to Simba, “Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance…..respect all creatures”. How can this quote be related to the concept of the food web, or Trophic/energy pyramid? What is the implied warning from Mufusa? What could happen if this balance is not respected? Indicate a scene in the movie that is an example of this loss of balance. [4] 7) In an attempt to explain the Circle of Life, Mufasa says to Simba; “when we die our bodies become the grass……the antelope eat the grass……” How is this possible? Describe the process that Mufasa is referring to in detail. Specifically explain what organisms play a role in this process. [3] 8) Describe three scenes (and the organisms involved) that show the following three distinct scavenger behaviors. [3] a) Consume already dead animal meat. b) Willingness to kill and consume young, sick or small animals. c) Willingness to kill larger weakened animals in a pack. 9) Puma asks Simba “What’s eating you?” Timone jokes, “Nothing, he’s at the top of the food chain!” What does Timone mean? What is one advantage and one disadvantage of being at the top of the food chain? [3] 10) Scar replacing Mufasa reflects a stable ecosystem being replaced by unstable ecosystem. Describe three ways that the movie indicates this change in ecosystems. [3] 11) Sarabi is summoned by Scar and reprimanded for not providing food. She responds; “The herds have moved on. It is over. There is nothing left. We have only one choice, we must leave Pride Rock.” How does this quote support the concept that the producers “produce” the energy for all? [1] 12) During the final scene, lightning strikes the Pride Land igniting a fire that burns out the existing dead brush and trees. This fire is symbolic of the end of an era of an unstable ecosystem. As time passes, pride rock is transformed back into a healthy climax community. What ecological term specifically describes this change in the ecosystem? Explain whether you would describe it as primary or secondary and why. [3] 13) The lions live together as a family Unit, cooperating and sharing with each other, while the hyenas do not operate together but as several single individuals. Explain the benefits of each and why some organisms have evolved to work in cooperation. [3]