Fennec foxes and their Environment
Interdependence
Fennec foxes tend to live in a group of up to ten in an area. During mating season, male fennec foxes will become aggressive towards each other. Once a fox has chosen a partner, the two will stay together for life. The offspring of the pair will also stay with its parents. The family will have its own territory, marked by the males. The fennec fox will prey on many small animals that it can find while hunting. Eagle owls will prey on the fennec foxes as well as rodents. There could be competition between the two over food sources. The fox is near the top of the food chain in the Sahara desert. When given the chance, fennec foxes will drink water. If no water is available, they will search for plants as a source of water. They live underground in dens to protect them from the heat. The Sahara desert is the main region in which fennec foxes live. In the desert, there are harsh conditions, making it difficult for organisms to thrive. Those who have adapted to the desert won’t have any problems with being there. Because the temperature is much lower at night, many animals have adapted to being nocturnal.
Fennec foxes tend to live in a group of up to ten in an area. During mating season, male fennec foxes will become aggressive towards each other. Once a fox has chosen a partner, the two will stay together for life. The offspring of the pair will also stay with its parents. The family will have its own territory, marked by the males. The fennec fox will prey on many small animals that it can find while hunting. Eagle owls will prey on the fennec foxes as well as rodents. There could be competition between the two over food sources. The fox is near the top of the food chain in the Sahara desert. When given the chance, fennec foxes will drink water. If no water is available, they will search for plants as a source of water. They live underground in dens to protect them from the heat. The Sahara desert is the main region in which fennec foxes live. In the desert, there are harsh conditions, making it difficult for organisms to thrive. Those who have adapted to the desert won’t have any problems with being there. Because the temperature is much lower at night, many animals have adapted to being nocturnal.
Flow of Energy:
The fennec fox preys mainly on insects, such as grasshoppers or locusts, but also eat small
mammals and reptiles, and plants. Eagle owls, jackals, and hyenas could prey on the fennec fox, putting it as a secondary consumer.
The fennec fox preys mainly on insects, such as grasshoppers or locusts, but also eat small
mammals and reptiles, and plants. Eagle owls, jackals, and hyenas could prey on the fennec fox, putting it as a secondary consumer.
As energy moves through a food chain, most of the
energy is lost due to heat.
Carbon could be the most essential element to organisms. Carbon is present in proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. Animals
consume glucose, which combines with oxygen, giving the animal energy. Oxygen is important because it combines with glucose to give animals energy. Water is present in water, which is essential for life. Hydrogen is also present in water and holds an animal’s atoms together. Nucleic acids and amino acids, both essential acids to life, are made out of nitrogen. Nitrates and ammonium are the only ways that nitrogen can be used by organisms. DNA is made of phosphorus and it is used by consumers. Phosphorus moves through the food chain, and is reused by producers.
energy is lost due to heat.
Carbon could be the most essential element to organisms. Carbon is present in proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. Animals
consume glucose, which combines with oxygen, giving the animal energy. Oxygen is important because it combines with glucose to give animals energy. Water is present in water, which is essential for life. Hydrogen is also present in water and holds an animal’s atoms together. Nucleic acids and amino acids, both essential acids to life, are made out of nitrogen. Nitrates and ammonium are the only ways that nitrogen can be used by organisms. DNA is made of phosphorus and it is used by consumers. Phosphorus moves through the food chain, and is reused by producers.
Succession:
Succession is the series of changes that regenerates or creates a community. The development of an ecosystem in an uninhabited area is primary succession. The reestablishment of an ecosystem is secondary succession. Primary succession can help the environment due to the growth of trees. Secondary succession can also help the environment in the same way. Desertification can be secondary succession. Agricultural land can be returned to a desert by a drought or dust storm. The Sahara desert could one day be returned to the way it was
thousands of years ago, into lush grassland. Because that process could take a very long time, the fennec fox could have time to adapt to the changing biome. The desert is also expanding through desertification, which could allow the fennec fox to expand the area it inhabits.
Succession is the series of changes that regenerates or creates a community. The development of an ecosystem in an uninhabited area is primary succession. The reestablishment of an ecosystem is secondary succession. Primary succession can help the environment due to the growth of trees. Secondary succession can also help the environment in the same way. Desertification can be secondary succession. Agricultural land can be returned to a desert by a drought or dust storm. The Sahara desert could one day be returned to the way it was
thousands of years ago, into lush grassland. Because that process could take a very long time, the fennec fox could have time to adapt to the changing biome. The desert is also expanding through desertification, which could allow the fennec fox to expand the area it inhabits.
Human Impact:
Humans can’t do much in the Sahara desert, due to the scarce amount of water, harsh winds, and greatly differing temperatures. The construction of oil rigs and of roads in the desert could disturb the surrounding wildlife. Not much of the Sahara desert is disturbed by humans due to the harsh conditions.
Humans can’t do much in the Sahara desert, due to the scarce amount of water, harsh winds, and greatly differing temperatures. The construction of oil rigs and of roads in the desert could disturb the surrounding wildlife. Not much of the Sahara desert is disturbed by humans due to the harsh conditions.
Plant Adaptations:
Long roots: Plants in the Sahara desert have long roots that stretch wide and deep underground. Having long roots makes it easier, and more likely, for plants to find water in underground reserves.
Oily leaves: To keep from losing water through their leaves, many plants cover their leaves in oil. The oils make leaves waterproof, making it nearly impossible for water to escape.
Seeds: Some plants spread seeds that only sprout after rainfall. After the rain, the seeds quickly sprout and undergo the plant life cycle so that they may spread their seeds. The seeds may lay dormant for years, waiting for
rainfall so that they may sprout.
Long roots: Plants in the Sahara desert have long roots that stretch wide and deep underground. Having long roots makes it easier, and more likely, for plants to find water in underground reserves.
Oily leaves: To keep from losing water through their leaves, many plants cover their leaves in oil. The oils make leaves waterproof, making it nearly impossible for water to escape.
Seeds: Some plants spread seeds that only sprout after rainfall. After the rain, the seeds quickly sprout and undergo the plant life cycle so that they may spread their seeds. The seeds may lay dormant for years, waiting for
rainfall so that they may sprout.
Fennec Fox Physical Adaptations:
Large ears: The Fennec fox’s most notable adaptation, their large ears. The ears serve to keep the foxes cool in the desert. Blood flows near the skin, dissipating heat. Seen in all pictures.
Long fur: The fur of the fennec fox is quite long. It helps keep them cool at night, and cool during the day. Seen in all pictures.
Furry feet: The fox’s feet are furry, working like snowshoes to keep them from sinking into the sand. They also help keep the fox’s feet cool, and are great for digging burrows. Seen in pictures 2 and 3.
Light colored fur: The fennec fox’s fur is a light color to camouflage it in the sand. The color also reflects the sun’s heat, keeping them
cool. Seen in all pictures.
Nocturnal: Being nocturnal makes it easier for the foxes to live in the desert, because they don’t have to deal with the desert heat. Seen in picture 5.
Underground dwellings: Living underground makes it easier to live in the desert. Being underground keeps the foxes out of the sun, and could capture any water available. Seen in picture 4.
Kidneys: The fennec foxes kidneys retain water, which is very important when living in an environment in which water is scarce. No picture available.
Omnivore: Being an omnivore means that the fennec fox will eat almost anything available. The foxes also gain water from whatever they eat. Their diet consists of insects, small reptiles, plants, eggs, and other small animals. Seen in picture 6.
Large ears: The Fennec fox’s most notable adaptation, their large ears. The ears serve to keep the foxes cool in the desert. Blood flows near the skin, dissipating heat. Seen in all pictures.
Long fur: The fur of the fennec fox is quite long. It helps keep them cool at night, and cool during the day. Seen in all pictures.
Furry feet: The fox’s feet are furry, working like snowshoes to keep them from sinking into the sand. They also help keep the fox’s feet cool, and are great for digging burrows. Seen in pictures 2 and 3.
Light colored fur: The fennec fox’s fur is a light color to camouflage it in the sand. The color also reflects the sun’s heat, keeping them
cool. Seen in all pictures.
Nocturnal: Being nocturnal makes it easier for the foxes to live in the desert, because they don’t have to deal with the desert heat. Seen in picture 5.
Underground dwellings: Living underground makes it easier to live in the desert. Being underground keeps the foxes out of the sun, and could capture any water available. Seen in picture 4.
Kidneys: The fennec foxes kidneys retain water, which is very important when living in an environment in which water is scarce. No picture available.
Omnivore: Being an omnivore means that the fennec fox will eat almost anything available. The foxes also gain water from whatever they eat. Their diet consists of insects, small reptiles, plants, eggs, and other small animals. Seen in picture 6.