NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIE Jordan Martz, Kaitlin Venneman, Kurtis Bertauche
NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIEJordan Martz, Kaitlin Venneman, Kurtis
Bertauche
THE BIOME
This biome is grassy, dry, and has some precipitation
The weather is temperate
It is important because of it’s unique habitat
Plus, it doesn’t need maintenance
It is found in North America
1
MAJOR ECOREGIONS
2
FOOD WEB
3
Sunflower
Indian Grass
Purple
Loosestrife
Grasshopper
Prairie
Chicken
Prairie Vole
Gray Fox
Swainson’s Hawk
Coyote
THE ECOREGION
1. Flat grasslands
2. Good for agricultural reasons
3. There are dry and mesic prairies
4. Pampas are similar
5. American Bison are common
6. Found in North America
4
DESCRIPTION
♪ Flora: Purple Loosestrife: takes water from other plants
♪ Fauna: Some large herbivores overgraze the native grasses
♪ Human: Farming and urban development
5
CAUSE
♪ Pollution from industrial factories
♪ Climate change contributes to drought
♪ Hunters are decreasing the bison population
♪ Bison and cattle are overgrazing the grass
♪ North American Indians sometimes burn the grass
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SOLUTIONS
♪ Technological advances help create better crops and fibers
♪ Little, but frequent burning to get rid of the dead grasses
♪ Plant more trees
♪ Spread the word
♪ Keep the wetlands safe, as they help the ecosystem
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OTHER ISSUES
♪ Lack of biodiversity- with small crops, disease can spread easily
♪ Global Warming- can easily change the ecoregion into deserts
♪ Urban development- leaving less land for animals to thrive and live
8
BLACK-FOOTED
FERRETMUSTELA NIGRIPES
Short legs
Large front paws and
claws
Tan body
Black legs
Black tip on tail
A black mask on their face
Wood BisonBison bison athabascae
Dense coat of warm and
durable hair that is dark
brown
Curved horns pointing up
Hair on its chin like a beard
Large head and shoulders
A big hump on its back
WOOD BISON MAINLY EAT
GRASSES, SEDGES, AND
FORBS. SILVERBERRY AND
WILLOW LEAVES MAKE UP
PART OF THEIR SUMMER
DIETS.
Prairie dogs make up
more then 90% of a
ferret’s diet. They also eat
ground squirrels, small
rodents, rabbits, and birds.
EXOTIC DISEASES AND
WIDESPREAD HABITAT
DESTRUCTION ARE BOTH
REASONS WHY THE BLACK-
FOOTED FERRET IS
ENDANGERED. DURING
1986 ONLY 18 REMAINED
Cattle diseases
including
Bovine tuberculosis
Brucellosis
Anthrax
As well as habitat loss
and wolf predation are
why the Wood Bison is
endangered.
TODAY, THERE ARE
APPROXIMATELY 500
FERRETS IN THE WILD
AND 300 IN CAPTIVITY.
There are currently
4,700 wood bison in
six healthy herds,
although there are a
similar amount of
diseased herds.
TO SAVE THE FERRETS,
THEY ARE BEING BRED IN
CAPTIVE BREEDING
FACILITIES
A special rule allows the state to manage wood bison on a sustainable
basis.
The ADF&G is the lead agency managing bison to
prevent critical habitat and mandates a
management plan
Local land owners support is strong
INVASIVE SPECIES
Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria L. (Lythraceae)
Purple in Color
Tall Plant
Has Flowers
Arranged in a “Cylindrical” Shape
Has Variations of Purple
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FOOD WEB
When invasive in North America there is NO predator
There a certain insects in Europe
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Galerucella calmariensis
PROBLEM
When grown closely, blocks water
Eliminates natural foods
Eliminates cover
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TRANSPORT
Originated in Europe
Brought by purpose on boat
Used as medicines
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SOLUTION
There is no SUPER effective method to remove it
For small areas, uprooting by hand
Certain insects have been released
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JORDAN’S SOURCES
Prairie. (2011, May 10). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://education.nationalgeographic.com/encyclopedia/prairie/
Purple loosestrife. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.invasiveplants.net/plants/purpleloosestrife.htm
Climate:. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/grass.htm
What Are the Impacts of Humans on Grassland Biomes? | The Classroom | Synonym. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://classroom.synonym.com/impacts-humans-grassland-biomes-2594.html
United States. National Park Service. (2015, September 16). Environmental Factors at the Preserve. Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.nps.gov/tapr/learn/nature/environmental-factors.htm
Grasslands Threats, Wetlands Threats - National Geographic. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/grassland-threats/
KDE Santa Barbara. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/grassland.html
Prairies of Ohio. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/features/panels/WayneNFPrairiesOhio.pdf
KAITLIN’S SOURCES
Tag Archives: Wildlife. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Prairie Dogs, Prairie Dog Pictures, Prairie Dog Facts - National Geographic. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Off the Beaten Path: Wood bison are back; it's a big deal. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Alaska Region - Endangered Species. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Rewilding Bison from Romania to Alaska. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Schweber, N. (2014, August 25). Moving Back Home Together. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Sometimes when one animal has trouble, the entire ecosystem has trouble. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
ADFG says Nushagak chinook are shrinking. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Tierpark Nordhorn - Erik's Pages. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
http://mythatchedhut.com/tag/bison/
Prairie Wildlife Research: What We Do. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Baby Wood Bison by Mark Newman. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
The Black Footed Ferret Scientific name: Mustela nigripes.. by Janae. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Wood Bison Species Profile, Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Basic Facts About Black-Footed Ferrets. (2012, March 18). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Black-Footed Ferrets, Black-Footed Ferret Pictures, Black-Footed Ferret Facts - National Geographic. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2015.
KURTIS SOURCES
Works Cited
"Galerucella Calmariensis." Galerucella Calmariensis. N.p., n.d.
Web. 14 Sept. 2015.
"Purple Loosestrife." Purple Loosestrife. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2015.
7, Lesson. "Invasives in the Food Web." Invasives in the Food
Web (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 14 Sept. 2015.