Question

during the movie
as you watch the lion king, take notes on how the movie illustrates real biological and ecological principles.

1. the circle of life

the movie opens with \the circle of life.\ what does this phrase mean in ecological terms?
which trophic levels (producers, consumers, decomposers) can you identify in the pride lands?

1. habitat & ecosystem dynamics

describe the main ecosystem shown in the film. what are its key biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors?
when scar becomes king, the land changes drastically. what environmental factors might explain this change?

Explanation:

1. In ecological terms, "The Circle of Life" refers to the flow of energy and nutrients through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. Producers (like plants in the Pride Lands) capture energy from the sun through photosynthesis. Consumers (herbivores that eat plants, and carnivores that eat herbivores) obtain energy by consuming other organisms. Decomposers (such as bacteria and fungi) break down dead organisms, returning nutrients to the soil for producers to use again.
2. In the Pride Lands, producers are the grasses and other plants that form the base of the food - web. Herbivores like zebras and antelopes are primary consumers. Carnivores like lions are secondary or tertiary consumers. Decomposers are not as prominently shown but are present in the soil and environment to break down dead matter.
3. The main ecosystem in the film is a savanna ecosystem. Biotic factors include all the living organisms such as lions, zebras, antelopes, hyenas, and plants. Abiotic factors include the soil, water, sunlight, temperature, and climate.
4. When Scar becomes king, the over - hunting by hyenas (biotic factor) reduces the number of herbivores. This leads to over - grazing in some areas as the remaining herbivores compete for food. Also, Scar's mismanagement might lead to less care for water sources (abiotic factor), and the overall balance of the ecosystem is disrupted, causing the land to change.

Answer:

1. It refers to the energy and nutrient flow through trophic levels in an ecosystem.
2. Producers: plants; Consumers: herbivores and carnivores; Decomposers: bacteria and fungi (not prominently shown).
3. Biotic: living organisms like lions, zebras, plants etc.; Abiotic: soil, water, sunlight, temperature, climate.
4. Over - hunting by hyenas (biotic), over - grazing, and mismanagement of water sources (abiotic).