2. Colorado Life Zones 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 5. Prairie Alpine Foothills Subalpine Montane Riparian

3. Foothills 5,500 – 8,000 ft. Plains 3,500 – 5,500 ft. Montane 8,000 – 10,000 ft. Sub alpine 10,000 – 11,500 ft. Riparian Alpine 11,500 +ft. Colorado Life Zones

4. Influences on the Life Zones Elevation Climate Soils (Dirt) Threats Animals Plants Food Web

5. PRAIRIE / GRASSLANDS

6. Foothills 5,500 – 8,000 ft. Plains 3,500 – 5,500 ft. Montane 8,000 – 10,000 ft. Sub alpine 10,000 – 11,500 ft. Riparian Alpine 11,500 +ft. Plains Life Zone

7. What Is It Like On The Prairie? Temperature Rainfall Soils Geography Less than mountains, more than desert Cold in winter, hot in summer East side of the mountains Very fertile, plants grow easily with deep roots

8. Canopy Height Plains Montane Alpine Foothills Riparian

9. What kinds of plants grow on the Prairie? ?

10. Buffalo Grass Blue Grama Needle & Thread Grass Can you think of the kinds of ADAPTATIONS that help these plants grow in the hot and dry climate of the prairie?

11. Yucca

12. What kinds of animals live on the Prairie? ?

13. The Lark Bunting The Colorado state bird !

14. Hawks and Eagles Predators in the sky look for food below. Who is their prey?

15. Prairie Dogs & Pups Burrowing Owl “prairie dog owl”

16. Swift Fox Kits Swift Fox

17. Coyote

18. Kangaroo Rat

19. American Bison

20. Pronghorn or Antelope

21. Notice how well this horned lizard blends in with its surroundings.

22. Prairie Rattlesnake

23. The Food Chain grass kangaroo rat snake red-tailed hawk The kangaroo rat will eat the grass. The snake will eat the kangaroo rat. The red-tailed hawk will then eat the snake. Who eats Whom?