How to draw up a diagram of the food chain characteristic of the steppe zone? The food chain in the steppe zone

The food chain is a sequence of interactions of living organisms, during which the transfer of matter and energy is carried out. Simply put, she says who eats whom in what order.

Who eats whom in the steppe

Steppes are open treeless arid spaces; it is hot and dry in summer and cold and windy in winter. Of the plants, herbs predominate here, in the first place - cereals; they are at the base of the local food chain (like almost any other, however), since only they can create organic substances from mineral substances with the help of sunlight (energy). They are eaten by herbivores; in the steppes, these are both invertebrates (primarily insects, but also other arthropods, molluscs, etc.) and vertebrates (rodents, ungulates, some birds, etc.). Those, in turn, are hunted by predatory steppe vertebrates and invertebrates. It happens that one predator becomes the prey of another. In this case, the length of the supply chain increases.

What are the food chains in the steppe

In view of the foregoing, let's consider specific examples of what the following food chains can be in the steppe:

  • grass - locust - falcon kestrel. This is a short supply chain;
  • grass - hare-hare - fox - eagle-eagle. This food chain already includes two predators;
  • grass - ground squirrel - yellow-bellied snake - steppe eagle;
  • grass - green grasshopper - steppe viper;
  • grass - locust - gray grasshopper - praying mantis - eared hedgehog - steppe fox corsac - steppe eagle.

In the latter case, we see as many as seven elements in the food chain (the gray grasshopper also acts as a predator here, since it is able to feed on insects). In fact, food chains can be even longer.

The food chain in the steppe can also include humans. Then it might look like this:

grass - saiga - man.

In the past, in prehistoric times, it happened that man himself could get into the food chain not only as a predator, but also as prey.

Any species of steppe animals and plants is a component of at least one, and usually several, food chains.

In the past, there were endless steppes in the steppe zone. Now they are plowed almost everywhere, fields have taken their place. The preserved areas of the steppes with their wonderful flora and fauna must be protected.

Using the map in the textbook, paint over the steppe zone on the contour map (World around 4th grade, pp. 36-37). To select a color, you can use the "key" below.

What zone, located between the steppes and forest zones, remained unpainted? Paint it at home.

Answer: Forest steppe

Our inquisitive Parrot knows something about the steppes. Here are some of his statements. Are they true? Circle "Yes" or "No". If not, correct the mistakes (orally).

a) The steppe zone is located south of the forest zones. Answer: Yes
b) The steppe zone has a cold, rainy summer. Answer: No
c) The soils in the steppe zone are very fertile. Answer: Yes
d) Tulips bloom in the steppe at the height of summer. Answer: No
e) In the steppe there is a bustard - one of the smallest birds in our country. Answer: No

Seryozha and Nadya's mother asks if you know steppe plants. Cut out the drawings from the Appendix and place them in the appropriate boxes. Check yourself in the textbook. After self-testing, stick the drawings.

And this task was prepared for you by Seryozha and Nadia's dad. Learn steppe animals by fragments. Write the names of the animals. Ask a student sitting next to you to check on you.

Make a diagram of the food chain characteristic of the steppe zone. Compare it with the scheme proposed by a neighbor on the desk. With the help of these diagrams, tell about the ecological connections in the steppe zone.

Feather grass - Filly - Steppe lark - Steppe eagle
Tipchak - Hamster - Steppe viper

Think about what environmental problems of the steppe zone are expressed by these signs. Formulate and write down.

Suggest conservation measures to help solve these problems for class discussion.

Continue filling out the poster "The Red Book of Russia", which was drawn by Seryozha and Nadia's dad. Find on the poster a plant and animals of the steppe zone and sign their names.

Thin-leaved peony, steppe eagle, bustard, steppe dyke

8. As instructed by the textbook (p. 117), draw the steppe.

9. As instructed by the textbook (p. 117), prepare a report on the plants and animals of the steppe that are of particular interest to you.

Post subject: Bustard


Message plan:

1) Preface
2) Basic information
3) Conclusion

Bustard is recognized as the heaviest of flying birds, this inhabitant of the steppe mainly moves on the ground and runs quickly in case of danger. Individuals are considered omnivores, in their diet are plant foods (seeds, shoots, wild garlic) and animals (insects, rodents, frogs), during the mating season, males perform a spectacular dance.
Dimensions:
Length: males up to 105 cm, females from 75 to 80 cm
Weight: males up to 16 kg, females - up to 8 kg
Lifespan: 20-25 years
The bustard is predominantly a steppe bird. It lives on open plains without copses, meadows and fields. This is due to the caution of the birds, since the free space there is far visible. During nesting, individuals stop at areas with high vegetation. There are also cases when bustards nest among grain crops, sunflowers and other crops.

Source(s) of information: Internet, encyclopedia

    The steppe is a place where there is little vegetation, trees, because they need to endure a long drought. The peak of their development is in the spring.

    A short chain is, for example, a blackberry-lemming-arctic fox.

    Longer: snake-spider-mantis-grasshopper-grass.

    In this picture, you can see several food chains, for example, feather grass-gopher-fox, butterfly-lizard-falcon, buzzard.

    The climatic conditions of the steppe are not the most comfortable - in summer the scorching rays of the sun dry up the earth, in winter it is very frosty, and winds walk along the plain, but, nevertheless, the flora and fauna of the steppe zone is quite diverse. As for food preferences, each inhabitant of the steppe has their own, it will not be possible to draw up a single nutrition scheme. Looking at the picture, let's try to make several food chains:

    Cereals and sedges - vole - fox;

    Grass (plants) - saiga - wolf;

    Grass - butterflies and larvae - lizard - buzzard (falcon);

    Plants - mouse (gopher, mole rat, marmot) - steppe eagle;

    Cereals and sedges - gopher - ferret, etc.

    Plants are the first link in this chain. Next will go herbivores and insects, the next and last link are predators and animals that feed on carrion.

    Examples of such chains that are typical for the steppe are:

    blackberry lemming arctic fox (this is a small chain that consists of only three links).

    snake spider mantis grasshopper grass (this is already a larger chain, it consists of five links).

    To do this, you need to know what grows in the steppe. And what kind of animals live in this area. Of the plants there are shrubs, trees do not grow in the steppe. There are many cereals. Many birds fly. Saiga and steppe wolves run.

    Here is an example of such a chain: cereals - mouse vole - ferret - steppe eagle. Look at the animals and identify your patterns. There are many of them, you can even build a chain of five links.

    Draw a power circuit diagram for the steppe zone can be studied by studying the flora and fauna characteristic of the steppe. Who lives in the steppe? These are golden eagle, steppe wolf, steppe hare, steppe eagle, steppe fox, saiga, bustard, lizard, kestrel, field lark, jerboa, eared hare, ground squirrel, yellow-bellied snake.

    Animals must be poisoned in such a way that at the first level there are producers (plants, insects, worms), at the second level - consumers of the 3rd order (herbivores), then consumers of the 2nd order (small carnivores) and the food chain of the steppe zone should be completed by its characteristic consumers 1 order (carnivorous, feeding on small carnivores).

    To make a food chain for a particular natural area, you need to know what animals live in it, what plants grow.

    For the steppe zone, for example, the following food chains can be compiled:

    grass - saiga - wolf

    cereals - vole - owl

    insects - hamster - steppe wolf

    All animals and plants that live and grow in the steppe participate in food chains. Each of them is a link in the food chain. Therefore, the destruction of at least one link leads to the disappearance (extinction) of other animals. This is how ecological connections in the food chain are manifested. For example, in relation to the steppe zone: if for one reason or another (for example, drought) the vegetation in the steppe disappears, saigas, voles, hares and other herbivores will have nothing to eat. Accordingly, the population of these animals will decrease. Following the herbivores, the number of predators will decrease, as they will also lack food.

    It all starts with the fact that the first chain element will be the strongest and oldest.

    Indeed, in the steppe zone, the smallest animal, or insect, will be the weakest.

    The complete item can be seen in the picture.

    The steppe is not very rich in flora and fauna, however, you can make a food chain and more than one.

    Vegetation - hare - fox.

    Insects - marmots - wolf.

    Vegetation - steppe pied - steppe polecat.

    Locusts - multi-colored foot-and-mouth disease - steppe viper.

    To begin with, let's analyze what kind of climate and what kind of vegetation grows in the steppes.

    1) It is very hot in the steppes in summer, the summer is dry. In winter it is very cold. Nevertheless, not a small number of animals, birds and all kinds of insects live in the steppes.

    2) There are no trees in the steppes, but many different shrubs and cereals grow.

    And each creature has different food preferences to a degree, and therefore there is no unambiguous food chain for the steppe.

    I found a plausible power circuit on the Internet, here it is:

    From this it follows that the following animals, birds and even reptiles are at the head of the food chain for the steppe zone:

    1. steppe polecat
    2. Steppe Buzzard Eagle
    3. Kestrel
    4. Steppe viper.
  • We know that the climate in the steppe is usually arid and hot, and cold winters with winds, respectively, animals and plants are somewhat different from forest ones. Let's take these steppe inhabitants and make such interesting food chains. Here they are, look :) simpler) blackberry berries lemming (this is a rodent) serves as food for - polar fox.

    More complicated: a snake is a hunter of spiders, which in turn feed on praying mantises, and he, in turn, eats grass.

    And one more thing: grain that serves as food for the half-mouse, which is caught by the bird of prey eagle owl. There are many examples where everyone eats someone, yes.

2. (p. 53) Our inquisitive Parrot knows something about the steppes. Here are some of his statements. Are they true? Circle yes or no. If not, correct the mistakes orally.

a) The steppe zone is located south of the forest zones. (Yes)

b) The steppe zone has a cold, rainy summer. (Not)

c) The soils in the steppe zone are very fertile. (Yes)

d) Tulips bloom in the steppe at the height of summer. (Not)

e) In the steppe there is a bustard - one of the smallest birds in our country. (Not)

3. (p. 54) Seryozha and Nadya's mother asks if you know steppe plants. Cut out the drawings from the Appendix and place them in the appropriate boxes. Check yourself in the textbook. After self-testing, stick the drawings.

4. (p. 54) And this task was prepared for you by Serezha and Nadia's father. Learn steppe animals by fragments. Write the names of the animals. Ask a student sitting next to you to check on you.

5. (p. 55) Make a diagram of the food chain characteristic of the steppe zone. Compare it with the diagram proposed by your desk mate. With the help of these diagrams, tell about the ecological connections in the steppe zone.

Feather - hamster - steppe eagle.

6. (p. 55) Think about what environmental problems of the steppe zone are expressed by these signs. Formulate and write down.

1) Plowing up the steppes.

2) Long grazing.

3) Poaching.

7. (p. 55) Continue filling out the poster "The Red Book of Russia", which was drawn by Seryozha and Nadia's father. Find on the poster a plant and animals of the steppe zone and sign their names.

Plants and animals of the steppe zone steppe eagle, steppe dybka, fine-leaved peony.

8. (p. 56) As instructed by the textbook (p. 117), draw the steppe.

9. (p. 56) As instructed by the textbook (p. 117), prepare a report about the plants and animals of the steppe that are of particular interest to you.

Post subject: Bustard

Message plan:

1) External description of the bustard.

3) Where is the bird found?

Important information to report:

Dudak (or common bustard) is the largest representative of birds in the fauna of Russia. She has a rather massive physique, somewhat reminiscent of a turkey: a wide chest, a thick neck. The difference between females and males in size is very clearly expressed. The former are much smaller, reaching a weight of 4-8 kg and a length of up to 80 centimeters. At the same time, males are real giants. The total body length averages about a meter, and the weight reaches 16 kilograms. Therefore, it is not surprising that this steppe bird once became an object of hunting. A distinctive feature is powerful legs with three fingers without plumage - a device for rapid movement on the ground. This is another distinguishing feature by which you can easily recognize this bird. The plumage is very variegated. Nature has chosen for her a beautiful combination of discreet colors. Where does this beauty live? This is a steppe bird, it prefers places rich in dense, but not very tall vegetation (fescue, feather grass steppes), meadows. Initially, the bustard inhabited only virgin semi-deserts and steppes, now its habitat has expanded, and human economic activity has played an important role in this.

Information source: Internet.