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Grasslands
are large lands dominated by many different
species of grasses. This habitat can be located
all over the continents of the planet Vesta.
Also, they are home to a rich array of many
grassland animals. There are two main types
of grasslands: tropical grasslands and temperate
grasslands. Tropical grasslands are located
near the Central Girth in the tropical zone.
Temperate grasslands can be found further from
the Central Girth in the temperate zone. Due
to the seasonal droughts and occasional fires
by volcanic eruptions, and grazing by large
mammals, the soil of grasslands is the richest
in the planet Vesta. In summer, the temperatures
can go up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit while winter
temperatures can be as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grasslands usually receive approximately 15
to 30 inches of precipitation a year. The amount
of rainfall affects the height of grassland
vegetation and the life of grassland animals.
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Plants And Animals
in Grass Lands
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| Primary
Producer |
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Sion-Kangaroo
is a primary producer in the grasslands. It grows
in open grasslands. Environmental catastrophes
such as drought and seasonal wild fires are the
biggest threats to its survival. However, it is
able to revive and survive by spreading its roots
underground. With its long and thin leaves, it
is also able to capture the maximum amount of
light available for photosynthesis. For this reason
it needs a lot of light. The foliage turns to
red-green color during the non-growing season.
Sion-Kangaroo can be reproduced both sexually
and asexually by seeds. Its seeds and thin leaves
are the nutritious food resource for many grassland
animals.
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Terrateon
Tails is a primary producer in the grasslands. It
has thick and leathery blades. At the ends of the
blades, and upon maturity, red and yellow fine hairs
would grow waving in the gentle breeze. These hairs
were preparatory structures for future plant sexual
reproduction appendages. Although these "grasses"
have a passing resemblance to true grasses, their
function was much more like a prairie lichen; a
hardy colonizer. They need little soil and their
job appears to be to colonize the grasslands in
places where more delicate grasses would not survive.
These plants were not greatly affected by heat,
cold, or draught. They simply inflated or deflated
according to environment conditions. Another adaptation
accomplished by the Terrateon Tails was their root
system, why, having roots was quite an accomplishment.
The roots to this plant became interwoven mats that
bound loose or dry soil. After about another million
years, Terrateon Tails began having true flowers
and being able to pollinate. |
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| Primary Consumer |
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Palooch
is a primary consumer in the grasslands. Palooch
lives comfortably in the grasslands. Palooch has
a long tongue, small legs, and a short tail which
can break off and regrow. It grows up to 24 inches
long and weighs approximately 1-2 pounds. Palooch
feeds on small animals like insects, worms, and
flowers. It also eats plants like Sion-Kangaroo
and Terrateon Tails. Palooch's body is covered in
smooth overlapping scales. Palooch uses its tongue
and eyesight to find food. The tongue picks up food
particles and brings them into the mouth. It has
no well-defined teeth but is still capable of a
powerful and painful bite. The pattern Palooch's
body can be very brightly colored or plain and drab.
Palooch usually find shelter at night in hollow
logs and ground debris.
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Sion-Echidna
is a primary consumer in the grasslands. They fed on insects,
plants, seeds, flowers, and carrion. Sion-Enchidna showed
interesting adaptations by which it got smaller in size
than its ancestors in the open place with many predators.
A matured Sion-Echidna weighted 1 pound. It has four short
legs necessary to walk on the ground. Also its back is
covered with sharp spines that look like grasses to disguise
itself and protect itself from the predators. When being
attacked, it curled itself into a ball to disguise itself
as a chestnut burr showing only spines to its enemy. Those
spines contained a poisonous substance that was deadly
to the predators. In addition, Sion-Echidna developed
a long beak to pick up its food on the ground. The female
Sion-Echidna developed a pouch on its belly. The start
of the mating season is in summer. After mating the female
laid 1 soft egg into this pouch. It took 10 days for an
Echidna to hatch from the egg. |
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| Secondary Consumer |
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Teonpion
is a secondary consumer in the grasslands. This
invertebrate, scorpion-like creature is the most
dangerous predator to the grassland animals like
Palooch and Sion-Echidna. It uses the stinger, also
called a telson to kill prey. The stinger has deadly
venom. Prey was first grasped firmly with the pincers,
and then injected with venom. Prey that cannot be
killed by simply crushing with the pincers is usually
stung one or more times. |
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The Food Chain and
Carorie Pyramids
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This page is created
by Joseph Choi
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