Lupita Rivas Springbrook prairie Factors affecting prairie Biotic
Lupita Rivas Springbrook prairie
Factors affecting prairie • • • Biotic factors Competition- make it difficult for certain species to survive depending on whether they are native or non-native Producers- capture the suns energy through photosynthesis provide energy for insects/fungi/bacteria Consumers- consume plants and/or animals to gain energy for growth • Herbivores Omnivores Carnivores Decomposers- break down organic layer to provide nutrients for plants • • • Abiotic Factors Temperature- some plants need very specific climates to cultivate and survive Sunlight- some plants need more sun than others to live Water- too much water could flood certain plants; too little could dry out others Soil- certain species of plants need a certain type of composition of soil Fire- some plants are more prone to catch on fire than others; some are only destroyed above ground, while others are destroyed entirely Limiting Factors Precipitation level Amount of sunlight Flammability
Flow of energy Energy originates from the sun in the form of heat, which is taken in by producers through photosynthesis. Producers are then consumed by consumers as a source of energy. When these species die, they are then taken in by decomposers in the ground in order to provide nutrients for plants. The cycle repeats itself.
Ecosystem structure Niches The position or function of an organism in a community of plants and animals. Habitats The natural environment of a living organism; encourages life and growth for that organism. Trophic Levels Any class of organisms that share the same spot in a food chain… Primary Secondary Tertiary Measured by how far away you are from the sun (original source of energy)
Plants found in prairie
History of Springbrook Prairie The prairie was once farm land. It was then turned into a forest preserve that used to be school district property. It was sold and was going to become “Dragon Lake. ” However, Naperville ran out of funds to support the project. As the saying goes, “life finds a way, ” and soon endangered species of plants and birds, such as the Upland Sandpiper, Henslow’s Sparrow, Short-eared Owl, and Marsh Hawk, had made the future Dragon Lake home. It is illegal to remove endangered species from a location so the area became the Springbrook Prairie instead.
Impact of human activity Stream channelization- a while back, humans interfered to have the stream that runs through the prairie reconstructed in a straight path so it would be easier to get water for cropland. Now that the stream is part of the prairie, we are trying to restore it to its original meandering. Mitigation wetlands- the wetland area was created to make up for area lost elsewhere. Non-native plant species introduction- non-native plants disrupt the balance of set ecosystems. They can become invasive and harm native species in an existing ecosystem. Prairie management- Prairie fires that are done on purpose are actually beneficial to the environment by destroying certain non-native species. Human recreational activities- the prairie attracts different types of people by providing different activities to attract all. These include the bike path, model airplane field, and dog training area. Human encroachment- grasslands such as the Springbrook Prairie are rapidly decreasing in size as industrialization takes over; roads and subdivisions have been built surrounding the prairie. The prairie benefits the water quality. The wetland helps trap fertilizers by withholding runoff.
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