Central Kansas Prairie Grasslands

Transcription

1 Central Kansas Prairie Grasslands Definition- An area, such as a prairie or meadow, of grass or grass like vegetation. It has little or no trees. 10/04 1

2 Key to GHS Outdoor Wild Life Site 11 =Research Site = Research site 10 8 = Research site 8 7 = Research site 7 Pond = pond owls Outdoor Wild Life Site sign The Perimeter of the OWL site is 2,478 square ft Pond 10/ OWLS

3 The Role of Cycles in the Ecosystem An ecosystem is made up of living and non-living things. Cycles are very important in the ecosystem. All of the living things in the environment work together in a cycle. If one organism doesn t need one thing to survive, then they get rid of it. Usually another organism needs that thing to survive, so they take it. Then they get rid of the thing that the first organism needs and then that organism takes it. Therefore the two organisms depend on each other to survive. 10/04 3

4 The nitrogen cycle is a chemical cycle in which the element nitrogen is circulated in various forms through the ecosphere. The biggest area with nitrogen is in the atmosphere. Nitrogen is used by living organisms. It is an important part of nutrient cycles. 10/04 4

5 Water Cycle The First step of the water cycle is evaporation. The Second step is condensation. The Third step is precipitation. The Fourth step is collection. The earth has a limited amount of water. That water keeps going around and around in what we call the Water Cycle

6 Body of Water: a lake, pond, river, ect. Precipitation: when clouds release the vapor that it has collected like into rain Evaporation: the change of a substance from a liquid to a gas Transpiration: the process of plants releasing water into vapor 10/04 6

7 Food Cycle In the ecosystems there is a process called the food chain. The sun provides light and warmth for the plants (photosynthesis). Bugs and other animals depend on these plants for survival and food. Bigger animals depend on the bugs and smaller animals as a food source. When plants and animals die the decomposers break down the dead plants and animals and transfer the inorganic nutrients to the producers. The cycle keeps repeating itself. 10/04 7

8 The Mineral Cycle Plants provide food. Organisms eat the food. The organism releases waste products. Decomposers decompose the waste into minerals either in the air or in the ground. The minerals in the ground go to new plants so they can grow more food. The cycle continues indefinitely. 10/04 8

9 The Oxygen Cycle Animals Animals Turn O2 into CO2

10 The Oxygen Cycle Plants Plants turn CO2 to O2

11 PHOTOSYNTHESIS Photosynthesis is the process in which plants create food and oxygen. The plants take in light energy, carbon dioxide, and water. This creates their food and oxygen. 10/04 11

12 PHOTOSYNTHESIS Raw materials needed Produced from for photosynthesis = photosynthesis Carbon dioxide + Water + Sun light 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + Sun light Glucose + Oxygen C6H12O6 + 6O2 10/04 12

13 Respiration Animal ( Respiration) Plant + O2 ~> Energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water + Minerals The definition of respiration is the oxidation of food by organisms that releases usable energy, carbon dioxide, and water. In photosynthesis, a plant takes in carbon dioxide, water, minerals and sunlight to make or produce sugar in plant cells and oxygen. In respiration, an animal eats the plant and breathes the oxygen to make or produce energy, carbon dioxide, water, and minerals. 10/04 13

14 Types of grasses * There are many different types of grasses. One type is Indian Grass. The scientific term for this type is sorghastrum nutans; it grows to be 3-6 tall. It has long stems with fuzzy endings. * Another type of grass is Big Blue stem. Its scientific name is andropogow gerard. It also grows to be 3-6 tall. It has a short root structure. The buds at the end of the stem are fuzzy much like the Indian Grass. 10/04 14

15 Switch Grass: Panicum Virgatum - is a tall grass - is throughout the United States - grows in clumps 10/04 15

16 Grassland Animals The scientific name for the N. American grasshopper is Dissosteira carolina (linnaeus). Grasshoppers lay their eggs in the ground and cover them with a sticky fluid. Grasshoppers eat plant materials. They are eaten by birds, hedgehogs, and badgers. 10/04 16

17 Grassland Animals Admirable grasshopper Syrbula admirabilis 1-1 1/2 in. long. Males-brown, females-green. Field cricket Gryllus Sp. 7/8 in. long. Carnivorous 10/04 17

18 Grassland Animals Scientific name for spider is Araneae. A common grassland spider is the Grass Spider. These spiders make their webs dense and flat with a center funnel leading to one edge. They have two dark bands on the thorax and long spinnerets. 10/04 18

19 Grassland Animals The Great Black Wasp A very common insect The scientific name is Sphex Pennsylvanicus 10/04 19

20 The Stiff Sunflower lives in a dry, upland, tall grass, mixed prairies, and road sides. It s blooming period is from July-September. It can grow to be six feet tall. The Stiff Sunflower has sessile heart-shaped leaves, white- woolly hairs, and yellow disk florets. 10/04 20

21 The Missouri Goldenrod s blooming period is from July-October. Its habitat is nearly all prairie types and roadsides. They can grow to be 1-3 feet tall. 10/04 21

22 Grassland Monocultures A monoculture is land that consists of one grass, plant, or crop etc... 10/04 22

23 Monoculture Agriculture Milo/Maize Corn fields Wheat Memorial Garden Mowed Grass Businesses Homes Summary: Monoculture is a cultivation of one plant species ( such as wheat or corn) over a large area. The plants in the monoculture are the members of the same species. This community undergoes a lot of development and changes, and finally has its own climax community of plants and animals. 10/04 23

24 Monoculture in Grassland Mono Culture in OWLS Mono Culture in Field Farmers work hard to keep bugs and insects out. They have to use fertilizer to survive. Mono Cultures happen around places were people live and work. Diversity is important in all ecosystems in order for many plants and animals to survive in one place or ecosystem. 10/04 24

25 Plant and Animal Adaptations The thistle This plant has sharp thorns on its long,slender stalk that protect its soft, cotton-like seeds from being eaten. 10/04 25

26 Slide 2 ADAPTATIONS This wasp was found crawling on the ground towards some sheltering plants because his wings were damaged. This shows this insect s ability to adapt to circumstance. 10/04 26

27 Succession The replacement of one community by another. 1. In 1997 OWLS started with bare earth 2. Weeds took over the soil 3. Short grass has taken over the weeds 4. The tall grandfather grasses are starting to take over in the final stage of the climax community 10/04 27

28 Instructor s Slide Where do you find wildlife? Wildlife is best found in the wilderness. Why? Mankind has constructed many kinds of things for thousands of years. Some of these have been for the betterment of the human race but others have been directed at its destruction. The more advanced and powerful the organism, the more its destructive potential tends to be. For example, humans are a very advanced organism and they have eliminated entire forests and prairie grass ecosystems. They have also caused the extinction of different organisms. In the savannah of Africa, the lion might be a significant limiting factor. In the wilderness, all factors move towards balance, and stability is achieved by interdependence. On the other hand, humans can control their environments to some degree, and they are modifying the ecosystem s rules that nature has had (ex.-weather modification). Human civilizations are no longer located in isolated agriculturally productive biomes but have expanded to all regions of the globe between the polar circles. Wildlife rarely coexists with civilization because they require factors limited to the wilderness. Our wildernesses have never experienced anything quite like our expanding global civilizations ever before. What one wave of people have left, the next wave consumed; what the second wave left this generation is using up; what this generation leaves other generations will devastate. Wake up and lament for the sweet nectar of nature is being snatched away. 10/04 28