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?

1. food web relationships

• identify three predator - prey relationships shown or implied in the film.
• what might happen to the ecosystem if one of these species disappeared?

Explanation:

1. In ecological terms, the "Circle of Life" refers to the transfer of energy and nutrients through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. Producers like plants capture energy from the sun and are consumed by herbivores (primary - consumers), which are then eaten by carnivores (secondary or higher - level consumers). Decomposers break down dead organisms, returning nutrients to the soil.
2. In the Pride Lands, producers are plants. Herbivores like zebras and carnivores like lions are consumers. Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi recycle nutrients but aren't shown in the movie.
3. The main ecosystem in the film is a savanna. Biotic factors include lions, zebras, plants etc. Abiotic factors are soil, water, sunlight, temperature, and climate. When Scar becomes king, over - hunting by hyenas (biotic), over - grazing, and mismanagement of water sources (abiotic) cause the land to change.
4. Three predator - prey relationships: lions preying on zebras, hyenas preying on antelopes, lions preying on gazelles. If one species disappeared, it could cause a cascade effect. For example, if zebras disappeared, lions would have less food, potentially leading to a decline in lion population, and plants that zebras ate would grow more abundantly.

Answer:

1. In ecological terms, "The Circle of Life" means the energy and nutrient flow through trophic levels in an ecosystem.
2. Producers: plants; Consumers: herbivores and carnivores; Decomposers: bacteria and fungi (not shown in the movie).
3. Biotic factors: lions, zebras, plants; Abiotic factors: soil, water, sunlight, temperature, climate. Environmental factors for the change when Scar becomes king: over - hunting by hyenas, over - grazing, mismanagement of water sources.
4. Three predator - prey relationships: lions and zebras, hyenas and antelopes, lions and gazelles. If one species disappeared, it could lead to a decline in the predator population due to less food and changes in plant growth if the prey was a herbivore.