Ecology

Ecology Niche of the Komodo Dragon:

These keystone species sit at the top of the food chain, making them apex consumers, in their ecosystem with humans being the only thing (not including the komodo dragon themselves when intraspecific competition occurs) to affect their death rate. When attacking, they sit in hiding like a cat and pounce using their powerful back legs to latch onto their prey. Using there serrated teeth, with the help of their venomous bite sending them into a shock, are able to kill and feed on their prey.

Interactions of the Komodo Dragon with other Organisms and its Environment:

The Komodo dragon has a very unique mutualistic relationship with bacteria by enabling them to acquire a venomous bite that allows them to kill with a single bite. With this bacteria, the komodo dragon is able to locate it's prey if they managed to get away just by sniffing it out.

Javan Deer (listed below) is one of the many species these dragons make a meal of.

The Indonesian islands will sometimes carry these reptiles to different islands leaving some stranded by themselves with no other dragon to mate or compete with. This actually allows the females to asexually reproduce and maintain the population control of other species needed for the ecosystem to flourish.

Javan Deer

is a mammal, their known predators include komodo dragons, pythons, and crocodilia.

Status: Decreasing

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Cetartiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Genus: Rusa

Species: Rusa timorensis

Dugong

is the relative of our common manatee. The adults do not have natural predators, but juveniles may be eaten by crocodiles and sharks. They only give birth once every 3-7 years!

Unlike most aquatic mammals, the dugong's actually have mammary glands under their fins, and they also have tusks.

As you can see they belong to the Chordata phylum, meaning they poses a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve chord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail at some point during their development

Status: Decreasing

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Sirenia

Family: Dugongidae

Genus: Dugong

Species: Dugong dugon

Orange-Footed Scrubfowl

are unique to the bird family because they do not build their nests, but they build a large mound on the ground and generate heat by utilizing the composting process.

Status: Least Concern

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Galliformes

Family: Megapodiidae

Genus: Megapodius

Species: Megapodius reinwardt

"Data now suggest that birds belong withing the reptile clade.."

15.6 Vertebrates- Concepts of Biology

"Birds have several different types of feathers that are specialized for specific functions, like contour feathers that streamline the bird's exterior and loosely structured down feathers that insulate."

15.6 Vertebrates- Concepts of Biology

Obi Island Birdwing

this species is rare and are commercially bred and traded.

Status: Vulnerable

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Papilionidae

Genus: Ornithoptera

Species: Ornithoroptera aesacus

Giant Padma

is a vascular plant that lives as a holoparasite on vines. This plant does not have chlorophyll.

Status: Decreasing

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Dicotyledons

Order: Malpighiales

Family: Rafflesiaceae

Genus: Rafflesia

Species: Rafflesia arnoldii

Psilocybe eximia: (NEW- no common names)

grows in muddy soils among ferns and falling leaves.

Status: new to science- status unknown

Kingdom: Fungi

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Family: Hymenogastracease

Genus: Psilocybe

Species: Psilocybe eximia

"A typical fungal cell contains a true nucleus and many membrane bound organelles"

"Fungi were once considered plant-like organisms, however, DNA shows they are more closely related to animals than plants"

13.4 Fungi- Concepts of Biology

Great Mormon

the females are polymorphic- they are able to change their forms, because of this, males are much more common.

These beautiful butterflies are native to southern Asia and Indonesian islands.

Status: Not threatened

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidopera

Family: Papilionidae

Genus: Papilio

Species: Papilio memnon

Giant Golden Orb Weaver

are known to eat small reptiles and even birds if they happen to get stuck in their webs! Their webs are typically 3 feet in size with the spider growing as large as 2 inches and their leg spanning 4-5 inches.

Status: Least Concerned

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae

Family: Araneidae

Genus: Nephila

Species: Nephila pilipes

Papaya

this fruit is common for treating intestinal parasites and treating fever, burns, and wounds. The unripe paya contains latex that can be used to treat psoriasis, ringworm and more!

Status: Decreasing

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Brassicales

Family: Caricaceae

Genus: Carica

Species: Carica Papaya

The Heart of Jesus or Elephant Ear

this herbaceous plant is poisonous to pets and are very common to find in homes but is a problematic invasive species.

Status: Unknown

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Liliopsida

Order: Alismatales

Family: Araceae

Genus: Caladium

Species: Caladium bicolor

References:

13.4 fungi - concepts of biology. OpenStax. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/13-4-fungi

Great mormon butterfly: Identification, facts, & pictures. Butterfly Identification. (2019, December 19). Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.butterflyidentification.com/great-mormon.htm

Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, April 30). Psilocybe eximia. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_eximia

Rafflesia arnoldii r.br. GBIF. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.gbif.org/species/7279683

(SRLI), M. B. (2018, January 24). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15511/725553

International), B. L. I. (B. L. (2016, October 1). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22734302/95081879

Susan Sobtzick (James Cook University, T., & Helene Marsh (IUCN SSC Sirenia Specialist Group). (2015, July 12). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6909/160756767

Timmins, R., William Duckworth (IUCN SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group; IUCN SSC Deer Specialist Group), Simon Hedges (IUCN SSC Asian Elephant RLA), Gono Semiadi (Research Centre for Biology – LIPI), & Gordon Dryden (IUCN SSC Deer Specialist Group). (2014, November 17). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41789/22156866#taxonomy

Hays, J. (n.d.). Komodo Island. Facts and Details. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://factsanddetails.com/indonesia/Places/sub6_10f/entry-6807.html

Giant Golden Orbweaver (Nephila pilipes). iNaturalist. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/68390-Nephila-pilipes

Papaya (carica papaya). iNaturalist. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62811-Carica-papaya

Heart of jesus (caladium bicolor). iNaturalist. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/283377-Caladium-bicolor

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