Food Web
Below is a food web of an average grassland ecosystem.
Symbiotic relationships (Biotic Factors)
Symbiotic Example 1: Rattle is an herb that is considered parasitic. It lives on the roots of grasses and gains sustenance from feeding on the flow of nutrients and water through the roots. The presence of rattle reduces nutrient flow to the grasses and also reduces the competitive dominance of grasses, allowing other species such as herbs to grow in the grasslands.
The two organisms are rattle and grass. The relationship is parasitism (+/-). The rattle benefits, while grass is harmed.
Symbiotic Example 2: Grasslands are cellulose-rich environments, since the dominant vegetation and keystone species is grass. Cellulose is difficult for many species to break down. In grasslands, bacteria that live in the stomachs of large herbivores helps to break down cellulose. In this way, the bacteria thrives in the stomach of the herbivores and the herbivores are able to metabolize cellulose.
The two organisms are bacteria and herbivores. The relationship is mutualism (+/+). The bacteria benefits by eating the cellulose, while the herbivore is able to break down cellulose in its digestive system.
The two organisms are rattle and grass. The relationship is parasitism (+/-). The rattle benefits, while grass is harmed.
Symbiotic Example 2: Grasslands are cellulose-rich environments, since the dominant vegetation and keystone species is grass. Cellulose is difficult for many species to break down. In grasslands, bacteria that live in the stomachs of large herbivores helps to break down cellulose. In this way, the bacteria thrives in the stomach of the herbivores and the herbivores are able to metabolize cellulose.
The two organisms are bacteria and herbivores. The relationship is mutualism (+/+). The bacteria benefits by eating the cellulose, while the herbivore is able to break down cellulose in its digestive system.