Links

1. Giant Procoon
2. Plant Procoon
3. Giant Black Badger
4. Giant Wolf Ant
5. River Skunk
6. Giant Talon Sparrow
7. Tree Lion
8. Giant Tree Bat

Research Paper

Temperate Deciduous Forest Biome

by Alex M.

Overview:
The TDF biome is very common here in Michigan. The forests have cold winters, but warm summers, and four defined seasons. Rainfall varies about 30 to 60 inches a year, and a good percentage of humidity most of the time. The long summers of this biome allow a lot of growth and living, but the cold winters offer a hard time to the animals of the biome, making it hard to find food and almost too cold to stay. During summer, there are many plants, such as ferns and some wildflowers, that continue to grow throughout the summer, creating food for many animals, whether they eat the plants or the eat the animals that eat the plants. Some animals include: deer, raccoons, squirrels, foxes, lynxes, bobcats, wolves, and rodents, as well as the bigger cougars and bears.

The melting snow from winter and rain provide good amounts of water for plants to grow and animals to drink, and also contribute to the streams and ponds of the area. There are few aquatic animals in the biome, being water birds, insects, fishes, or amphibians.

Overview of hyper-evolved biome:
The hyper evolved biome is somewhat switched around, with the formerly and still somewhat small animals becoming more powerful than some of the larger animals. Ants are becoming stronger and somewhat larger to take the place of the wolf, hunting in packs, having stronger mandibles for attack, and having a tougher body structure so it isn't so easily broken.

The sparrow is becoming a raptor, along with the bat. The sparrow will have stronger and shaper claws, they will grow bigger, have a longer wingspan and a shorter tail, to be a little less noticeable and faster. Other things like a flatter head and a flatter beak are to increase its aerodynamic properties and make it easier to fly and become faster. The bat is going to grow too, but will receive claws on its feet, have an upper jaw that protrudes out to help catch larger prey, wider wings to glide, and an aerodynamic-flat tail.

Because the bear has gone extinct, there also needs to be something to take its niche as a large omnivore. However, there are two organisms becoming somewhat of a bear. The badger is becoming a carnivorous bear, and the raccoon is becoming the herbivorous/omnivorous bear. The badger is growing bigger, with more molars to chew the meat of the other animals, its teeth can now tear better in order to rip open the carcass, and it can now climb trees to be able to pounce on un-expecting animals.

The raccoon is also growing larger. It can climb trees to reach the leaves and branches, and its paws are somewhat more flexible so it can rip things out of the ground or get a better grip on it. Because of its old nature, it will also prey on the smaller animals from time to time. However, some other raccoons will also take the place of the deer/medium-sized herbivore. It has stronger teeth to chew plants, better hearing to be able to scatter from predators, longer, slimmer, and bonier legs, and blending colors.

The wildcat is taking the place of the mountain lion or medium-sized carnivore. The cats will grow in sized, have sharper and retractable claws to be able to rip open the carcass and attack the other animals, and it will also have stronger hind legs to fit its larger body and to be able to pounce better. It also has more of a camouflaged color to it and also has the thin membrane in the back of its eye to gain night vision.

Aquatic animals still remain smaller in numbers, but the otter has gone extinct. The skunk will take its place, becoming the aquatic carnivore. The skunk's fur will become more water resistant to keep its speed at maximum while in water; it has webbed feet to swim better, a flatter head and body, smaller nostrils, and larger lung capacity.

Comparison- old biome to hyper-evolved biome:
In the hyper evolved biome, there are less small animals, such as the raccoon or badger or ant even, because most of them have grown into larger organisms. However there are still the other herbivorous birds, and the main producers of the ecosystem, so the carnivores can still feed off of the herbivores with just a little more competition due to the lack of substantially larger carnivores, and the balance of size between all of the animals.

Eating habits haven't changed much, except for the fact that the mid-sized and larger carnivores would start feeding on each other and the other herbivores due to the fact that a good amount of the smaller animals have evolved.

The animals are still dependent on the flora of biome, many being herbivore, and some just using the flora as a home or as a way of sneaking up on their prey. Of course, all of the different biomes would depend on the plants because they are the main producers of the whole energy cycle.

The main differences are that the larger animals have gone extinct, and the smaller animals are evolving to take their place. Bears, deer, wolves have all gone extinct, while the raccoons, badgers, and even ants are taking their place. Of course, there are still the main raccoons, badgers, and such, but their numbers have decreased as time has gone by and they have continued evolving.

Bibliography for Hyper-evolution project

Vaiu, Elizabeth Anne, World Builders: Deciduous Forest Biome Viau, Last revision: 1999 http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/deciduous/decfor.html

Shefferly, N. Taxidea Taxus Last Revision: 1999 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Taxidea_taxus.html

"Grey Wolf", "Otter", "Skunk", "Birds of Prey", Microsoft Encyclopedia Encarta 2004 Ed., 2004.

Clicking on the links below will take you to exactly were they say they will.