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Virtual Semiarid Desert Biome

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Maroon = Energy(nutrients/nitrogen/sunlight/CO2) to primary producersYellow = 1st level heterotrophs obtaining energy from Primary producers.Orange = 2nd level heterotrophs obtaining energy from 1st level heterotrophs.Blue = Tertiary heterotrophs obtaining energy from 2nd level heterotrophsPurple = Decomposer that obtains energy from carcasses.Brown = Nutrients/energy put into the soil.

Atmosphere

Primary Producer

Primary Producer

Primary Producer

Primary Consumers

Secondary Consumer

Secondary Consumer

Tertiary ConsumerDecomposer

Nutrient Rich SoilNitrogen Fixing Bacteria

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-Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria-Bull Grass-Tumbleweed-Saguaro Cacti-Honey Ant-Jack Rabbit-Diamondback Rattlesnake-Saker Falcon-Coyote-Turkey Vulture

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

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-Bacteria that is found in soil, or in the roots of plants.

-They perform Nitrogen fixation (N2 + 6 H+ + 6 e− → 2 NH3)that provides Nitrogen that plants use to grow.

Rhizobium azotobacter

Bull Grass

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Muhlenbergia emersleyi

-A low dense grass that grows up to three feet tall, and wide. Very drought resistant.

-Serves as food to small mammals.

-Performs Photosynthesis:6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

icus

Honey Ant

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Myrmecocystus mimicus

-Rigid ants that live in arid conditions. They live in underground colonies where some ants live as living food storage.

-Obtain food from termites, and flower nectar.

-Cellular RespirationC6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 36 or 38 ATP

Jack Rabbit

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Lepus californicusLepus alleni

-These jack rabbits are very fast moving from 30-35mph, and if need be can bound 20ft in on leap. These Rabbits also rarely use burrows, but rather just dig small depressions into the ground.

-Obtain food from multiple grasses, and bark. Receives most of it’s water from the plants it eats.

-Cellular RespirationC6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 36 or 38 ATP

Tumbleweed

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Salsola tragus

-A salt tolerant, quick growing invasive species. Introduced by humans during the mid 1870s.

-Can serve as food to mammals, not preferred.

-Performs Photosynthesis:6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Diamondback Rattlesnake

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Crotalus atrox

-A large snake that is highly defensive. Gives birth to 10-20 baby snakes, they only stay with the mother for a few hours.

-Obtain food from small mammals, fish, eggs, birds, amphibians and other reptiles.

-Cellular RespirationC6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 36 or 38 ATP

Saguaro Cacti

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Carnegiea gigantea

-Large cacti species, can grow from 15-20 feet with a stem diameter of 18-24 inches. Grows approximately 5 “arms” until it matures. Grows slowly under nurse plant, about an inch a year.

-Rarely eaten due to spines, stored water is drinkable.

-Performs Photosynthesis:6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Turkey Vulture

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Cathartes cathartes aura

-Very light with weight to wing-span ratio, uses minimal effort to fly. Mistaken for the Black Vulture. Has a keen sense of smell.

-Obtain food from small mammals’, fish’s, eggs’, birds’, amphibians’ and reptiles’ carcasses. Occasionally eat rotting fruit and insects

-Cellular RespirationC6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 36 or 38 ATP

Saker Falcon

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Falco cherrug

-After they sexual maturity the females wait 0-4 years before mating, while males wait from 1-5 years to mate.

-Obtain food from small mammals, ground-dwelling birds, some aeriel birds, some lizards, and even other saker falcons..

-Cellular RespirationC6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 36 or 38 ATP

Coyote

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Canis latrans

-Coyotes are less likely to stay in a pack, unlike wolves, because when they hunt they either hunt individually or in small units up to 4. Coyotes sometimes form hunting partnerships with badgers, because badgers can dig up rodents out of holes, and the coyotes can catch the rodents above ground.

-Obtain food from small mammals, fish, eggs, birds, large insects, invertebrates, some carrion and other reptiles.

-Cellular RespirationC6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 36 or 38 ATP

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Semiarid Desert Information

-Average Rainfall: 2-4cm a year-Average Temperature: 21-27°C-Location: See Map-Dominant Animals: Jack Rabbit, Kangaroo Rats, Coyote, Corsac Fox, Turkey Vulture, Saker Falcon, Mongolian Gerbil, Skunks, Desert Locusts, Red Honey Ants, Pronghorn Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Chuckwalla Lizard, Diamondback Snakes, and Sage Thrasher.

-Types Of Vegetation: Saguaro Cacti, Fringed Sage Bush, Milk Vetch, Sweet Vernal, Rhubarb, Bull Grass, and Tumbleweed.

-Positive Effects Of Humans: There is more food for certain species to eat, and reduces population of certain species of plant and animal.

-Negative Effects Of Humans: Invasive Species introduced, over killing of certain species, loss of habitat, and forcing animals to crowd into small locations.

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Biome Map

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Black are Semiarid Deserts/Steppes

Biome Map

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Black are Semiarid Deserts/Steppes

Bibliography• Room Background retrieved November 4, 2009 from Mrmaintenance4u.com Website: http://mrmaintenance4u.com/empty%20room.bmp-for-web.jpg • Door that leads outside retrieved November 4, 2009 from glacier mouldings.comWebsite: http://www.glaciermouldings.com/pics/gmDoor.jpg• Desk and Computer retrieved November 4, 2009 from amishdirectfurniture.comWebsite: http://www.amishdirectfurniture.com/images/YT-Computer%20Desk%2075_400.jpg• Biome Map retrieved November 4, 2009 from polarhusky.comWebsite: http://polarhusky.com/media/cms/mapsdata/TN4-2aBiomeMap.jpg• Virtual Assistant Character retrieved November 4, 2009 from storage3d.comWebsite: http://storage3d.com/storage/2009.04/7bc2559538ceed5bff03fe8c97834a5a.jpg• The Semiarid desert retrieved November 4, 2009 from ursispaltenstein.chWebsite: http://ursispaltenstein.ch/blog/images/uploads_img/desert_usa_1.jpg• Semiarid desert info retrieved November 6, 2009 from ucmp.berkeley.eduWebsite: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php• Semiarid Desert Animal Info retrieved November 7 2009 from buzzle.comWebsite: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/desert-biome-animals-and-plants.html• Semiarid Desert animal Info retrieved November 7, 2009 from enchantedlearning.comWebsite: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/desert/desert.shtml• Semiarid animal + plant info retrieved November 8, 2009 from blueplanetbiomes.orgWebsite: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm• Semiarid Grasses info retrieved November 8, 2009 from desertmuseum.orgWebsite: http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_grasses.php• Bull Grass pic retrieved November 9, 2009 from plantsystematics.orgWebsite: http://www.plantsystematics.org/users/dws/12_9_06_19/MuhlenbergiaRigens/MuhlenbergiaRigens6.JPG.thb

BibliographyJack Rabbit Pic retrieved November 9, 2009 from astronomy-images.comWebsite: http://www.astronomy-images.com/day-images/California/jackrabbit.200307.jpgAnimals for semiarid desert retrieved November 9, 2009 from desert.coyoteman.comWebsite: http://desert.coyoteman.com/zoology.htmlHoney Ant Pic retrieved November 9, 2009 from heatheronthego.comWebsite: http://heatheronthego.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/honey-ants.jpgCoyote pic retrieved November 9, 2009 from heyokamagazine.comWebsite: http://www.heyokamagazine.com/coyote.jpgDiamondback Snake Pic retrieved November 9, 2009 from carolinanature.comWebsite: http://www.carolinanature.com/herps/diamondback-aj.jpgTurkey Vulture Pic retrieved November 9, 2009 from prometheus.med.utah.eduWebsite: http://prometheus.med.utah.edu/~bwjones/C755559754/E20070904122340/Media/Turkey%20Vulture.jpgSaker Falcon Pic retrieved November 9, 2009 from saorangorang.files.wordpress.comWebsite: http://saorangorang.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/saker-falcon.jpgTumbleweed Pic retrieved November 9, 2009 from upload.wikimedia.orgWebsite: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Tumbleweed_038_.jpg/800px-Tumbleweed_038_.jpgNitrogen Fixing Bacteria Pic retrieved November 9, 2009 from markergene.comWebsite: http://www.markergene.com/WebNewsletter7.4_files/image007.gif PDA Pic retrieved November 10, 2009 from chemistry.nmsu.eduWebsite: http://www.chemistry.nmsu.edu/Instrumentation/HP_PDA.jpgGenus and Species name of plants + animals retrieved November 11, 2009 from blueplanetbiomes.orgWebsite: www.blueplanetbiomes.orgALL Genus + Species Info retrieved November 12, 2009 from animaldiversity.ummz.umich.eduWebsite: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html