Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

This response demonstrates some understanding of the problem. The trophic levels are mentioned (the Heron is on top; At the bottom there is bacteria). The energy transfer is addressed by listing eating habits (The shrimp gets eaten by crab and fish; Crab gets eaten by Heron and snapper. Snapper gets eaten by Heron). Biotic and abiotic factors and the disappearance of the heron population are not addressed. Overall, supporting details are only minimally effective.

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

This response demonstrates some understanding of the problem. The energy transfer is addressed by listing eating habits (algae is eaten by shrimp and crabs. The snapper then eats the shrimp and crabs). The effect of the disappearance of the heron is superficially explained (shrimp would die out fast; the crabs would then die out; the snapper would die; whole ecosystem would be destroyed). Biotic and abiotic factors and trophic levels are not addressed. Supporting details are only minimally effective.

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

This response demonstrates a basic understanding of the problem. The distinction between biotic (amount of food … like the snapper and the crab) and abiotic factors (tempature, the amount of rainfall, and the climate) is clear. Trophic levels are listed (Bacteria and dead organic matter are at the bottom. The algae is next and the shrimp is after. Then the crab and then the snapper. The Heron is on the top). The energy transfer mechanism is explained (by them eating each other). The effect of the heron's disappearance is described with explanations as to why it occurs (the crab and the snapper's population would go up because nothing would eat them; other organisms would go down because the snapper and the crab would eat them all). Long-term effects are added (snapper and crab populations would go down … because the snapper and crab would have less to eat). Overall, supporting details are adequate.

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

This response demonstrates a basic understanding of the problem. Although there is some confusion, biotic (heron; snapper; crab; shrimp; algae) and abiotic factors (rocks, sand, seashells, waste) are listed. Trophic levels are identified (The Producer is the Algae, the Primary Consumers are the shrimp and the crab, the secondary consumers are the snapper and the crab, the tertiary consumer is the Heron). Although the mechanism for energy transfer is not explained, the loss of energy is recognized (At each trophic level 90% of energy is lost). The effect of the heron's disappearance is addressed (all of it's prey would then live longer, so they would need more food). Overall, supporting details are adequate.

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

This response demonstrates a good understanding of the problem. Several biotic (predators; prey) and abiotic factors (pollution, temperature, pH) are listed. Trophic levels are identified (algae are producers; crab and shrimp are first level consumers; snapper and heron are third level consumers, or second level carnivores). Good use of terminology strengthens the discussion of energy transfer (energy starts in the producers, then 10% of it is passed to the first level consumers. 10% of that is passed to the second level consumers; just .01% of the total, goes to the fourth, the heron). Though some statements are unsupported, good cause and effect are used to describe the disappearance of the heron (overpopulation of the rest of the wetland organisms; Competition would arise, and space would become scarce), demonstrating synthesis of information. Supporting details are generally complete.

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

This response demonstrates a good understanding of the problem. Abiotic factors are named and explained (climate … water … terrain, whether or not there is appropriate shelter, air quality, and pollution). Biotic factors are also named and explained (its prey and the habbits and welfare of their species). Trophic levels are identified (producers and decomposers, namely algae, bacteria); shrimp is a first order consumer; crab is a first and second order consumer; fish…is a second and third order consumer; heron is a third and fourth order consumer). Energy flow is briefly described (the consumer is eating not just one organism but whatever organisms it ate before it died). The effects of the heron's disappearance follow from this idea (so if the heron population suddenly disappered, the fish and crabs would thrive with no predator [or fewer predators], causing a shortage of what they consumed [or the rest of the web]). Overall, supporting details are generally complete. Additional details are needed for a higher score, such as a more complete discussion of energy flow or energy loss.

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

This response demonstrates a full and complete understanding of the problem. A biotic factor (amount of snapper or crab to eat) and an abiotic factor (amount of sunlight) are named. An explanation of how these factors affect the heron demonstrates synthesis of information (The more snapper and crab, the more the heron has to eat and the heron population will grow; more sunlight, more algae will grow … the heron will have more to eat). Trophic levels are identified (algae … is the 1^st, since they are all producers; shrimp … herbivore; crab is on the 3^rd trophic level). Energy is completely described from its source (1^st trophic level organisms get 100% energy from the sun) through its loss in the food chain (only 10% is transferred; the rest is lost as heat energy; the 5^th gets 0.01% of the original energy). The immediate effect of the heron's disappearance is explained (the crab and snapper population would increase, since they had no prey). The long-term effects contribute to the integration of all pertinent supporting details throughout the response (there wouldn't be enough shrimp and algae to sustain such a large population, so crabs and snappers would have to decrease again to find a good equilibrium).

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

This response demonstrates a full and complete understanding of the problem. Biotic factors are listed (food source; amount of predators); abiotic factors are listed and described (weather, temperature, pH of the water which may drive away its food source, and oxygen content of the water). Trophic levels are identified (algae is a producer because it creates it own food, and the bacteria are decomposers). The response demonstrates synthesis through the recognition that levels may vary depending on how the web is followed (the heron is a 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th level consumer; these levels may sometimes depend on the specific food chain being followed). The discussion of energy transfer begins at the producer and describes energy loss through the web (The energy starts with the producer, algae. When algae is eaten, 10% of its energy is transferred to the next level. Every time another organism is eaten, 10% of its energy is passed on to the next level. This will happen until there is virtually no energy left). The primary and secondary effects of the loss of the heron are explained (the population of the snapper would increase and eat many crabs and shrimp so as to reduce their populations. The snapper would then run out of resources and decrease as well). This shows a synthesis of information and integrates pertinent supporting details.