The student name
The grass is the primary producer (“The Grasslands,” n.d). For example hare barley, scientifically called Eremopyrum triticeum. Through the process of photosynthesis, the grass makes food. Note that this requires the proper abiotic factors such as soil for anchoring and obtaining nutrients, suitable topography that support the growth of the grass. The grass uses carbon dioxide and produces oxygen. Also, the climate is a critical abiotic factor including suitable rainfall, temperature, and the wind among others. At the same time, there are biotic factors such as animals and insects that help in the pollination of the grass. They also assist in energy flow.
The second tropical level is the primary consumer such as the grasshoppers (Caelifera). The amount of grass determines the population of grasshoppers since they rely majorly on them for food. The grasshoppers and the other animals use oxygen produced by the grass during photosynthesis for respiration, and produce carbon dioxide. The secondary consumer such as snakes e.g. cobras (Szalay, 2014) such as the Ophiophagus Hannah is part of the third trophic level. The snake feeds on grasshoppers and other small animal species such as mice. If the population of the grasshoppers reduce significantly, the snakes may starve due to the shortage of food. The fourth tropical level is the tertiary consumer e.g. hawk such as the Buteo jamaicensis (The Cornel Lab of Ornithology, 2015). The population of the snake will reduce if there are fewer mice and snakes. Decomposers such as the earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) feed on the dead animal and plant materials and return the accrued energy to its original state. The grass uses water after precipitation. Some of it evaporate back to the atmosphere. The animals also get water directly from the source, e.g. rivers and from the food chain. Some water remains in the body while the animals excrete some to the environment. Plants lose water through evapotranspiration. Organic carbon goes back to the atmosphere when plant and animal remains decompose.
Reference
The Cornel lab of Ornithology (2015). Red-tailed Hawk. Retrieved on January 15, 2016 from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/lifehistory
The Grasslands. (n.d). Retreived on January 15, 2016 from http://grasslandishbiome.weebly.com/energy-flow.html
Szalay J. (2014). Facts About Cobras. Retrieved on January 15, 2016 from http://www.livescience.com/43520-cobra-facts.html
