Food Chain 1:
For the first food chain, the trophic levels are the following:
Burmese Python - Tertiary Consumer
Bob Cat - Secondary Consumer
Southern Flying Squirrel - Primary Consumer
Oak Tree - Producer
The reason that this is deemed a critical food chain is because by the Burmese Pythons eating all of the bob cats, there are not many predators left to control the flying squirrels population. With the flying squirrel population not being moderated and kept to the carrying capacity that they should be at, they will eat up all of the Oak Trees. Thus, the Oak Tree numbers will significantly decrease. All of this is due to the introduction of the Burmese Python.
Burmese Python - Tertiary Consumer
Bob Cat - Secondary Consumer
Southern Flying Squirrel - Primary Consumer
Oak Tree - Producer
The reason that this is deemed a critical food chain is because by the Burmese Pythons eating all of the bob cats, there are not many predators left to control the flying squirrels population. With the flying squirrel population not being moderated and kept to the carrying capacity that they should be at, they will eat up all of the Oak Trees. Thus, the Oak Tree numbers will significantly decrease. All of this is due to the introduction of the Burmese Python.
Food Chain 2:
For the second food chain, the trophic levels are the following:
Burmese Python - Tertiary Consumer
Florida Panther - Secondary Consumer
White-tailed Deer - Primary Consumer
Muhly Grass - Producer
Similarly to the first food chain, this one is also critical as the Burmese Pythons are depleting the panther and deer population rapidly. The Florida Panthers are now a threatened species and the deer population sightings have decreased by 94.1%. With the Python consuming numerous amounts of both these populations, there will soon be no mammals left to control the grass as the python eats both the Florida Panther and White-Tailed Deer. Also, by eating the White-Tailed Deer, the Pythons are depriving the panther's of food.
Burmese Python - Tertiary Consumer
Florida Panther - Secondary Consumer
White-tailed Deer - Primary Consumer
Muhly Grass - Producer
Similarly to the first food chain, this one is also critical as the Burmese Pythons are depleting the panther and deer population rapidly. The Florida Panthers are now a threatened species and the deer population sightings have decreased by 94.1%. With the Python consuming numerous amounts of both these populations, there will soon be no mammals left to control the grass as the python eats both the Florida Panther and White-Tailed Deer. Also, by eating the White-Tailed Deer, the Pythons are depriving the panther's of food.
Food Chain 3:
For the third food chain, the trophic levels are the following:
Burmese Python - Tertiary Consumer
Raccoon - Secondary Consumer
Crayfish - Primary Consumer
Algae Grass - Producer
This is a critical food chain as the raccoon sightings in the Everglades National Park have decreased significantly. Time magazine has noted that there has been a 99.3% decrease in Raccoon sightings. They have also said that this is primarily due to the Burmese Pythons.
Burmese Python - Tertiary Consumer
Raccoon - Secondary Consumer
Crayfish - Primary Consumer
Algae Grass - Producer
This is a critical food chain as the raccoon sightings in the Everglades National Park have decreased significantly. Time magazine has noted that there has been a 99.3% decrease in Raccoon sightings. They have also said that this is primarily due to the Burmese Pythons.
Food Chain 4:
For the fourth food chain, the trophic levels are the following:
Burmese Python - Quaternary Consumer
American Alligator - Tertiary Consumer
Bass Fish - Secondary Consumer
Crayfish - Primary Consumer
Algae Grass - Producer
This is the most surprising critical food chain out of all of them as the Burmese Python is preying on the once apex predator of the Everglades. If the Python keeps eating up the Alligators, there will be no other big predators left besides the Python (as the panther and bobcat population are declining). The Alligators essentially also control a lot of what happens under water, but if they keep being eaten, there will be no predator to do so. Thus, the waters in the Everglades could possibly over populate.
Burmese Python - Quaternary Consumer
American Alligator - Tertiary Consumer
Bass Fish - Secondary Consumer
Crayfish - Primary Consumer
Algae Grass - Producer
This is the most surprising critical food chain out of all of them as the Burmese Python is preying on the once apex predator of the Everglades. If the Python keeps eating up the Alligators, there will be no other big predators left besides the Python (as the panther and bobcat population are declining). The Alligators essentially also control a lot of what happens under water, but if they keep being eaten, there will be no predator to do so. Thus, the waters in the Everglades could possibly over populate.