Sam Mellon and Jacob Cauvel

1. Sam Mellon and Jacob Cauvel Grassland Prairie

2. Biotic and Abiotic Features • Average Temperatures between 100 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. • Average Rainfall is 10-30 inches of rain. • Diverse plants such as tall grasses, short trees, and bushes. • Main species of herbivores animals such as the bison and deer. • Carnivores include bears and hawks.

3. Symbiotic Biotic Relationships • The bumble bee and the milkweed flower have a symbiotic relationship. • The bumble bee pollinates the flower while the flower gives the bee nectar. • The relationship is mutualism because both organisms are being helped.

4. More Symbiotic Relationships • The relationship between the butterfly and the milkweed plant is parasitic. • The butterfly feeds on the milkweed plant, thus ingesting its toxins. The toxins build up in the butterfly making it poisonous to birds. • This relationship is parasitic because one organism benefits at the others expense.

5. Trophic Level (Food Web) The trophic level in this biome is very simple. It has the top predators eat the smaller predators which eat small rodents which eat the primary producers.

6. Importance of Cycles The water needs to be continuously recycled since the grasses need water to prevent them from drying out. Nitrogen cycle Carbon Cycle- the grassland prairie ecosystem removes the most carbon in America.

7. Succession • Primary Succession- Grass- Shrubs- Trees- Oak-hickory Forest • Secondary Succession occurs after a fire or a piece of land used for agriculture is abandoned. • Lichen- Fungi- Moss- Grass

8. Animal • Bumble bee • Niche- pollinates flowers and used the nectar to produce honey • Developed stinger, sticky feet, and ability to see color. • Competition- other bees, butterflies compete for nectar from flowers

9. Animal • American Bison • Niche-to eat grasses and provide food for top carnivores • Developed sharp horns, thick fur coating, and tails. • Competition- compete for grass from deer, and Pronghorn

10. Plant • Milkweed plant • Niche- to provide a toxin for butterflies to defend against predators • Built up toxin and colorful flowers to attract bees for pollination • Competition- other flowers for pollination

11. Plant • Stinging nettle • Niche-provide food for insects • Stings when touched by bare skin to defend itself from people and animals. • Other flowers for pollination and grasses for light.

12. Human Needs and Affairs • We want to hunt the different types of animals there are. • We cut down the few trees present for lumber • We clear large areas for farm land and we eventually leave it • Pollution builds up eventually and destroys the life.

13. Ecological Problem • Overuse of farm land and pesticides. • The use of farm land eventually wears out the soil and nutrients • Pesticides were once used to keep bug from damaging crops. • Both destroyed the land and poisoned organisms • People are buying land and preserving it to help repair the ecosystem.

14. Te Nature Conservancy • Mission Statement- “Protecting Nature, Preserving Life” • The goal for this organization is to preserve the grasslands of the world and keep them alive for future generations. • They buy land from the country, state, or region and preserve it and let no one build on it.

15. Bibliography • www.wikipedia.org • lakegeorgeconservancy.com • nps.gov • nhs.needham.K12.ma.us • biomes.org • marietta.edu • mbgnet.net • buzzle.com • Google Images