Energy Traveler: Tropical Rainforest
Project Overview
Track ENERGY FLOW and
MATTER CYCLING in a tropical rainforest.
Game Objective
Complete 3 CYCLES using the correct food
paths and keep the ecosystem balanced.
Game Rules
-
Click organisms in the correct food-chain order after selecting a
producer
- Energy decreases at each step following the 10% rule
-
Reaching the decomposer returns nutrients to the soil and
restarts the cycle
-
Valid Path A: Leafy Shrub → Grasshopper → Frog →
Decomposer
-
Valid Path B: Banana Tree → Monkey → Snake → Decomposer
-
Valid Path C: Fig Tree → Bird → Eagle → Decomposer
-
Cycle 1 (Normal Flow Tutorial): no disturbances, complete the
standard path once
-
Cycle 2 (Imbalance Cycle): random instability appears (too many
herbivores or too few plants), and you must use Add/Remove to
restore balance
-
Cycle 3 (Broken Ecosystem Cycle): one trophic level starts missing
(or plants are weak), so rebuild the ecosystem before continuing
-
Some organisms may disappear temporarily during disturbances
- Incorrect clicks reset your current progress
Scientific Concepts
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Energy flows in one direction and decreases at each trophic level
-
Matter (carbon, oxygen, nutrients) cycles continuously in the
ecosystem
-
Decomposers are essential for recycling nutrients back to plants