Essentials of Ecology

S54 SUPPLEMENT 9

Golden eagleGolden eagle

Pronghorn antelopePronghorn antelope

GrasshopperGrasshopper

sparrowsparrow

GrasshopperGrasshopper

BacteriaBacteria

FungiFungi PrairiePrairie

coneflowerconeflower

PrairiePrairie

dogdog

Blue stemBlue stem

grassgrass

CoyoteCoyote

Golden eagle

Pronghorn antelope

Grasshopper

sparrow

Grasshopper

Bacteria

Fungi Prairie

coneflower

Prairie

dog

Blue stem

grass

Coyote

Producer

to primary

consumer

Primary

to secondary

consumer

Secondary to

higher-level

consumer

All producers and

consumers to

decomposers

Active Figure 2 Some compo-
nents and interactions in a temperate tall-grass
prairie ecosystem in North America. When these
organisms die, decomposers break down their
organic matter into minerals that plants can use.
Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and
energy among producers, primary consumers
(herbivores), secondary or higher-level consumers
(carnivores), and decomposers. Organisms are not
drawn to scale. See an animation based on this
figure at CengageNOW™. Question: What species
might increase and what species might decrease in
population size if the threatened prairie dog were
eliminated from this ecosystem?