Grasslands Gary B., Norm B., Marissa B.

Where is ecosystem located?  North and South America  Africa and Asia  Europe and Australia  Everywhere but Antarctica

Describe the abiotic factors of your ecosystem  Temperature is usually 75 degrees F  Soil is fertile  Grasslands receive from 25 to 39 inches of rain during the year

Producer: Grass. How does your producer rely on other organisms in the prairie/grasslands to survive?  Earthworms, beetles, bacteria, and fungi break down dead plants and animals-recycle nutrients  Wind spreads seeds – more grass grows  Fires clear area of young or bushes that could block sunlight from the grass

How do other organisms of your ecosystem rely on your producer to survive?  Prairie Dogs, Kangaroo Rats, Ferrets, Skunks, Bobcats, Pocket Mice, Burrowing Owls, American Badgers, and Gophers are some of the animals that need burrows for shelter  Grass provides food for Cattle, Bison, Elk, and insects

How do humans affect your ecosystem?  Large parts of Grasslands get plowed for farms  People go on safaris to shoot lions and other large animals  Native Americans started and controlled fires for good nutrients  People collect grass seeds to replant grass

Choose one biotic or abiotic factor in your ecosystem & describe how a change in one of these could your ecosystem.  Change: If you take away bull snakes  Rodents and birds would overpopulate  Worms would decrease  Decomposing would be slower

Other interesting facts:  Grasslands have very little trees and bushes  There are a lot of different types of grass  North American grasslands are called prairies

Sources Used  Stille, Darlene R. A True Book Grasslands. New York, CT: Children's Press, Print.  Stille, Darlene R. A True Book Grasslands. New York, CT: Children's Press, Print.  Allaby, Michael. Biomes Of The World. Danbury, CT: Grolier Educational, Print.  Patent, Dorothy H. Life In a Grassland. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications Company, Print.