Plants and animals need to adapt to survive in the desert. They also need each other. Interdependence is when living things are dependent (need) each other to survive.
The
Yucca Plant
The yucca plant and the yucca moth are an example of how desert plants
and animals need each other to survive.
The yucca plant cannot create seeds without the help of the yucca moth. Only yucca moths can carry pollen from one yucca flower to another. Not only that, but the caterpillars of the yucca moth ONLY eat yucca seeds. Because of this fact, these living things are dependent on each other for survival. You can't have one without the other.
The yucca plant and moth aren't the only plants and animals of the desert that depend on each other. In fact, all desert plants and animals need each other to survive.
The
Saguaro Cactus (a desert apartment)
Many animals depend on the saguaro cactus. For long-nosed bats, birds,
bees, and butterflies, the nectar of its flower means food and water.
These animals aren't just taking from the saguaro cactus. As they collect nectar, they spread the pollen grains of the flower to other saguaro flowers. This is called pollination and it allows the cactus to produce more seeds!
Other animals, like the gila woodpecker and the elf owl, live in the saguaro. Gila woodpeckers use their sharp beaks to "peck" holes in the thick skin of the cactus. They make their nests in the holes they create.
Once the woodpecker family moves out, the hole is used by other animals ... like elf owls.
Food
Webs
All of the plants and animals in the desert belong to a food web. The
food web of the desert is made up of all the food chains at work there.
Let's look at a food chain in action.
The prickly pear cactus uses energy from the sun to grow roots, stems, flowers, and fruit.
The wood rat gets energy from eating prickly pear plant parts.
The Harris' hawk hunts, catches, and eats woodrats (and other small animals). They get their energy (and water) from their food.
When animals die, their bodies decay and put helpful materials back into the soil. They also become food for creatures like the turkey vulture!
If any one of the parts of the chain is missing everyone and everything in the chain is in danger. When part of the food chain is missing or hard to find over a long period of time, plants and animals must adapt (change to better match their surroundings) or move. Those that don't or can't will die.
In a very real way all of the plants and animals in the desert are dependent upon each other. Many animals eat the same kinds of food and help pollinate the same plants. When something happens (good or bad) to one plant or animal, the whole desert is affected!
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Desert Journal #7 Click on the cactus to download your journal page. Print the page. Have fun!!! Important Note!!!! This journal will open in a new window. Be sure to close it when you are done printing! |
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Photos
used with permission: ©2001-2003 The Curriculum Store, Inc. |