Pond Keeper: Ecosystem Survival

You're the new Pond Keeper! 🌿

A pond is a system. Every living thing is connected in a food web. Change ONE thing, and the effects ripple through everything else, like dropping a pebble into water. Can you keep your pond healthy through mysteries, invaders, and disasters?

New to food webs? Visit the 📘 Food Web Lab first!

🔤 Ecosystem words

Tap each card to flip it.

🔗 Build a food chain

Tap the living things in order, from the one that makes its own food to the top predator. (Energy flows UP the chain!)

🔺 The Energy Pyramid

Only about 10% of the energy at each level passes up to the next. The rest is used for moving, breathing, and staying warm. That's why there are LOTS of plants and algae, fewer minnows, and only a few herons!

🌎 Real-world ripples

Yellowstone wolves: In 1995, wolves were brought back to Yellowstone National Park. Scientists found that wolves changed how elk behaved and where they grazed, which helped some trees and plants grow back in certain places. One species can cause a ripple through a whole ecosystem!

Lake Mead invaders: In 2007, invasive quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead, right here near Las Vegas. They spread fast, clog pipes, and compete with native animals for food. That's why boats must be cleaned before going into a different lake!