Description
Students investigate the efficiency with which developing painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) incorporate their food into their body mass. In this lab, painted lady larvae, representing a primary consumer, feed on a growth medium that represents a primary producer. To track the amount of medium consumed over time, students daily measure and record the mass of a control cup and a cup containing the larvae or chrysalises. At the end of the experiment, students graph their data in multiple ways, analyze the results, and calculate efficiency. Kit provides materials for 15 groups of students. Note: Kit includes perishable materials when shipped.
Unit Connection
This laboratory investigation correlates to Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems, topics 1.9: Trophic Levels and 1.10: Energy Flow and the 10% Rule in the AP® Environmental Science Course and Exam Description.
Standards Connection
This kit addresses the following AP® Environmental Science concepts:
Big Idea 1: Energy Transfer (ENG) Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes. Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere. As energy flows through systems, at each step, more of it becomes unusable.
Time Requirements
Teacher Preparation (before class):
- Prelab: 60 minutes
- Investigation: 60 minutes
Class Time:
- Prelab: 45 minutes
- Investigation: Day 1, 45 minutes; Daily Measurements and Observations, 5–10 minutes; Final Lab Day, 45 minutes
- Free-Response Questions: 60 minutes
The times provided are estimates. The time required may vary based on your student population.
Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support instruction. Digital resources may include teacher manual and student guide, prelab activities and setup videos, simulations, and postlab analysis and assessments.
Prior Knowledge and Skills
Students should be familiar with the following skills or concepts:
- Accurately using a scale
- Graphing
- Trophic levels and energy transfer within ecosystems
- The construction and understanding of food chains and food webs
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