Ecosystems In Colorado
The Journey Through
Colorado's Ecosystems
Grand Lake, CO
By:
Principles of Ecology
Biology
What makes Colorado so majestic and grand? This beautiful state has eight different ecosystems according to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Each strategically placed ecosystem has its own uniqueness. These unique areas can also be called a Biome. To define an Ecosystem, we say that there are numerous species of plants and animals that make homes in these different areas. This includes the physical and chemical parts of the environment. It also includes the acquiring and recycling nutrients, and the capture and flow of energy. Most amazingly, in one day a person could go from the desert and grasslands up and beyond the tree lines in the alpine tundra here in the state of Colorado. This is part of what makes Colorado so great!
Central Plains
Starting with the grasslands in the plains of eastern Colorado elevation around 4,500 feet, also known as the short-grass prairie, this ecosystem is very dry and flat. "The summers are sunny and hot, and the winters are windy and cold. Average precipitation is about 14 inches a year, and most of this falls in the spring and summer (mesastate.edu)." Plants such as western wheatgrass (Triticum), cactus (Cactaceae), buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides), coneflower (Echinacea rudbeckia ratibida), and sage (Salvia officinalis), thrive in this environment. Trees are not able to grow in this ecosystem because of the dryness and soil type. This is a challenge for the plants and animals that live here, because there is no protection from weather or predators. These grasslands are maintained by fire. However, different types of birds such as larks (Alaudidae), hawks (Accipitridae buteoninae), and eagles (Buteoninae), live here. They adapt to their surroundings and some make nests along the ground. Other animals that reside in this...
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