The cache is not at the posted coordinates.
Geocachers don’t just explore ecosystems — we protect them.
Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) events help restore habitats, remove litter, and reduce human impact on natural systems.
To locate this cache, rebuild the final coordinates using core ecology ideas typically taught in 9th grade science: energy flow, biodiversity, trophic levels, and human impact.
Final Coordinates Format
N 41° 18.ABC W 111° 57.DEF
A. Energy Transfer Rule
If producers contain 8,000 units of energy, how much energy is available to primary consumers?
(0) 200
(1) 600
(2) 800
(3) 1,000
B. Keystone Concept
A coastal ecosystem contains sea stars, mussels, barnacles, and algae. Scientists remove only the sea stars. Within a year, mussels dominate and biodiversity drops sharply.
Question: Which role did the sea star play in this ecosystem?
(8) Apex predator
(9) Decomposer
(0) Keystone species
(1) Primary producer
C. Trophic Levels
Given this list of organisms, which does not belong in this group?
(5) Algae
(6) Grass
(7) Rabbit
(8) Tree
D. Biodiversity Levels
Which area has the highest biodiversity?
(1) Amazon rainforest
(2) Field of alfalfa in Utah
(3) Tundra in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska
E. Impact of a CITO Event
A group removes 120 pounds of trash from a park and plants native vegetation. Which level of environmental impact is MOST directly affected?
(9) Ecosystem health
(0) Genetic diversity
(1) Species diversity
(2) Trophic level
F. Supportable population size
Many years ago, I lived on a farm. For our cattle, we used the rule of 1 acre of grass per cow. When I visited friends in New Mexico and asked them about there rule for animals and acres of food, they said the previous year they had 7 horses and not enough feed from 22,000 acres. What is the term to explain the difference?
(9) Biotic potential
(0) Carrying capacity
(1) Limiting factor
(2) Succession