Sonoran Desert Food Chain

All energy in the Sonoran Desert comes from the sun. Producers like the saguaro cactus use that energy to grow. Primary consumers like desert tortoises get energy by eating the saguaro cactus. Secondary consumers like coyotes get energy by eating the desert tortoise. Scavengers like turkey vultures and decomposers like termites get energy by eating producers or consumers that die of disease or old age. [[Each part of the food chain depends on the others.|dependence]]

If you change any part of the chain, it will affect the others. (set: $dominos to 0) [[Saguaro cactus]] [[Desert tortoise]] [[Coyotes]]

What if there were suddenly [[more cacti]] or [[fewer cacti]]?

What if there were suddenly [[more tortoises]] or [[fewer tortoises]]?

What if there were suddenly [[more coyotes]] or [[fewer coyotes]]?

(if: $dominos < 7) [ If there were more cacti, there could be [[more tortoises]] because there would be more for them to eat. (set: $dominos to $dominos + 1) ] (else:) [ [[Reach balance]] ]

(if: $dominos < 7) [ If there were fewer cacti, there would be [[fewer tortoises]] because they wouldn't have enough to eat. (set: $dominos to $dominos + 1) ] (else:) [ [[Reach balance]] ]

(if: $dominos < 7) [ If there were more tortoises, there could be [[more coyotes]] because there would be more tortoises for them to eat. But there also might be [[fewer cacti]] because the tortoise eat them up. (set: $dominos to $dominos + 1) ] (else:) [ [[Reach balance]] ]

(if: $dominos < 7) [ If there were fewer tortoises, there may be [[fewer coyotes]] because the coyotes wouldn't have enought to eat. But there also might be [[more cacti]] because it wouldn't all get eaten by the tortoises. (set: $dominos to $dominos + 1) ] (else:) [ [[Reach balance]] ]

(if: $dominos < 7) [ If there were more coyotes, there might be [[fewer tortoises]] because the coyotes would eat so many of them. (set: $dominos to $dominos + 1) ] (else:) [ [[Reach balance]] ]

(if: $dominos < 7) [ If there were fewer coyotes, there might be [[more tortoises]], because they aren't as many predators to eat them. (set: $dominos to $dominos + 1) ] (else:) [ [[Reach balance]] ]

Ideally, the numbers of saguaro cactus, desert tortoises, and coyotes reaches equilibrium, or a balanced state where there are just enough of each. [[Try again?|Beginning]]