The land ecology of Entropolia is dependent upon a variety of abiotic and biotic components that function in an interrelated fashion. Some of the more important components are: soil, atmosphere, radiation from Loomy, water and living organisms.
The soil is much more complex than simple sediments. It contains a mixture of weathered rock fragments, highly altered soil mineral particles, organic matter, and living organisms. Soils provide nutrients, water, a home, and a structural medium for organisms and plants.
The atmosphere provides organisms found within the ecosystem with carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and oxygen for respiration. The processes of evaporation, transpiration and precipitation cycle water between the atmosphere and Entropolia's surface.
Loomy radiation is used in the ecosystem to heat the atmosphere and to evaporated and transpire water into the atmosphere. Sunlight is also necessary for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis provides the energy for plant metabolism and the organic food for other forms of life.
All of the living tissue is composed of a very high percentage of water. It is the medium by which mineral nutrients enter and are translocated in plants. It is also necessary for the maintenance of leaf turgidity and is required for photosynthesis reactions. Plants and animals receive their water from Entropolia's surface and soil.
From this intrigue
interaction between the atmosphere and land, life evolved on Entropolia.
First plants evolved on Entropolia's land providing a source of
food for animals to follow. The ecosystem begins with the producers,
green plants, that manufacture their food through the process
of photosynthesis. There are two distinct ecosystems on Entropolia,
jungle and desert.
Life on land has not evolved to the level of life found in the oceans. Plants dominate the land environment with small animals thriving.
The main plants in the jungle
regions are Endrons, large treelike plants, and Croksenia, small
leafy plant. These plants are in abundant supply creating a solid
base in the food pyramid. The Croksenia is the most abundant land
plant that provides the base of the food web. The energies stored
in plants are used by the herbivores. These animals are preyed
on by carnivores. The primary consumer herbivores on Entropolia
are Spodorma. The Spodorma is a plant eating animal that captures
the energy from plants and gives up that energy to the carnivores.
The carnivores or secondary consumers are Terons which feed on
primary consumers.
The other ecosystem can be found
in the desert regions. The heat and extreme dryness limit the
kind of plant and animals that have evolved making this ecosystem
very small. The Saguaro are the producers within the desert ecosystem.
The food chain begins with Fronoids, which are little herbivore
insects. The secondary consumers are the Yahoo. These plants and
animals are constantly fighting for survival creating an unstable
ecosystem. Population growth is limited in this ecosystem due
to the scarce supply of water.
Photo credits: jungle = Jungle Photos