. Bio-ecology. Plant ecology; Animal ecology; Botany; Ecology; Zoology. 268 THE NORTH AMERICAN GRASSLAND pidity than in the dry sand areas (Pool, 1914). The ponds are often alkaline, and those that dry up leave white barren flats. A tiger beetle, Cicindcla fulgida (Say), is characteristic of such areas, as are some other insects. Reactions and Coactions. The effect of the community on the habitat is marked, owing to the very deep root systems of the prairie grasses and to the large number of burrowing mammals and insects, especially ants. The abundance of pallid ground squirrels and the ex- te
. Bio-ecology. Plant ecology; Animal ecology; Botany; Ecology; Zoology. 268 THE NORTH AMERICAN GRASSLAND pidity than in the dry sand areas (Pool, 1914). The ponds are often alkaline, and those that dry up leave white barren flats. A tiger beetle, Cicindcla fulgida (Say), is characteristic of such areas, as are some other insects. Reactions and Coactions. The effect of the community on the habitat is marked, owing to the very deep root systems of the prairie grasses and to the large number of burrowing mammals and insects, especially ants. The abundance of pallid ground squirrels and the ex- tensive network of burrows made by each pair bespeaks a consider- able movement of soil materials by this single species. The prairie. Fig. 61.—Painted box tortoise or sand turtle (Terrapene ornata kg.) in the sand hills of the mixed prairie area. According to Cahn (1937), Ortenburger found this turtle feeding on grasshoppers, caterpillars, and robber flies, while Cahn found only vegetable matter in the stomachs. (Photo by Edith Clements.) dog digs deeper, commonly to a depth of 12 to 15 feet, and brings enormous quantities of soil to the surface. Since it is commonly con- centrated in towns, the result is much more conspicuous but less gen- erally distributed than for the ground squirrel. Probably the soil- moving type of reaction originally reached its greatest intensity in these mixed prairie areas. Another type of reaction, formerly of much local significance, was the tramping of enormous herds of bison, which was likewise most marked in this association. The outstanding coaction was grazing or clipping of grasses by the large ungulates, the prairie dog, the ground squirrel, and other Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Clements, Frederic E. (Frederic Edward), 1874-1945; Shelford, V
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, booksubje, booksubjectbotany, booksubjectzoology
