mh_land ecology

Land Ecology

Primary Producers | Primary Consumers | Secondary Consumers
Food Web | Energy Pyramid

Desert

The desert biome can be found on the continents of Mandalea and Penancea where the temperature is extremely hot and dry. These regions typically receive less than 10 inches of rain annually and temperatures are well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Animals and plants that live in the desert have evolved to live in such an arid region. Plants such as Frombles, Jetocactus, Elteeb have extensive root structures used to maximize water absorption when it rains. Frombles and Jetocactus also use specialized stem structures to store water for long dry periods. To minimize water loss, many plants and animals also have a wax-like layer to minimize water evaporation. In addition, animals adapt to the heat by burrowing underground to stay cool and minimizing their activity during the day. Many sleep during the day and roam around looking for food at night.

Primary Producers
Fromble	Frombles have lived in the hot desert for many years. They have specialized root structures that are extensive and expand deep within the soil to absorb as much water as possible when it rains. They store water in their stems and they have a waxy skin layer to help keep in moisture. Since water is scarce in this region, frombles don't grow very near each other in order to avoid competition for water. Frombles also developed sharp spines to defend themselves from predators in addition to providing shade for the plant. Frombles can grow up to 4 feet tall.
Jetocactus	Jetocacti are short wide plants that expand outward rather than upward. They can grow up to no more than 6 inches tall and 4-5 inches wide. Their bodies allow them to store large amounts of water during long and hot dry days in the desert region.
Verde Shrub	Verde Shrub has evolved to form specialized stomata that will only open at night when the temperature is not very hot. These specialized stomata stay closed during the day, which helps the plant retain water during the day. In addition, Verde Shrub has deep roots that can reach sources of water far below the surface of the land. Verde Shrub can grow up to 3-4 feet.

Primary Consumers
Desert Elteeb	The Desert Elteeb is a small cold blooded insect found clustered mainly around twigs of Verde Shrubs. However, on occasion, a few Elteeb have been found on Jetocacti and Frombles. The bodies of the Elteeb can grow up to 1/2 to 1 inch long and weigh only 0.01 pounds. In order to survive in the hot desert, Elteeb holds its abdomen against the surface of Verde Shrubs and collects fog and respiration water from the leaves of the shrubs. Elteeb reproduce sexually by laying their eggs in a safe place, usually under the leaves of Verde Shrubs. They can produce 50-100 young during each breeding season.
Ratspunk	Ratspunk is small warm blooded animal that lives in the hot and dry desert biome. To adapt to the heat, the animal survives by burrowing underground during the day. At night, it roams around the desert to find food, eating seeds, grasses, and leaves of the Verde Shrub and Jetocacti and Frombles. Ratspunks have a unique ability to convert dry seeds into water. They also have specialized kidneys that help them dispose of waste material without losing a lot of water. They weigh 1-6 ounces and can grow up to 1 foot. They reproduce two to three times a year with an average of 3 offspring per litter.

Secondary Consumers

Slither

Slither is a sly cold blooded animal that roams around the desert biome. It can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh up to 20 lbs. Slither feeds on small creatures such as Ratspunks and insects such as Elteebs. To protect itself from Luminous, it burrows underground during the day and hunts at night. It has a yellow, brown, and olive green camouflage skin to protect itself against predators that may be lurking in the sky. During the spring, male slithers will obsessively look for females to mate. Once inseminated, female slithers will produce live youngs usually during the late summer.

Food Web

	Slither is a carnivore that will eat small insects and animals like Desert Elteebs and Ratspunks.
	Desert Elteeb and Ratspunk are herbivores. They eat plants and seeds from plants such as Fromble, Jetocactus, and Verde Shrub.
	Fromble, Jetocactus and Verbe Shrub are all primary producers. They utilize the energy from Luminous to produce food to survive.

Energy Pyramid

	The secondary consumer includes Slither. It store less than 2 Kilocalories per squared meter per year in their bodies.
	The primary consumers include Desert Elteeb and Ratspunk. They provide less than 20 Kilocalories per squared meter per year for small carnivores to eat.
	The primary producers consist of Fromble, Jetocactus, and Verde Shrub. They produce less than 200 Kilocalories per squared meter per year for animals to eat.

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Page created by Mandy Hua 2003