Biotic+Factors+for+PF

Biotic Factors One of the important biotic factors in Petrified Forest are the decomposers. After a volcano erupted, mud and volcanic ash covered the Petrified trees. This blanket of deposits cut off oxygen and slowed the logs' decay. Now the petrified logs and fossilized animal and plant remains are exposed on the land's surface and the Painted Desert has its present sculpted form. The Painted Desert is the popular name for the desert comes from the Colonial Spanish who are said to have named it El Desierto Pintado because of its brightly colored landscape. Although most decayed animals eaten by other organisms, some are buried so quickly that it remains intact and may become fossilized. Water from the ground dissolves into crystalline from the ash and carried it into the logs. That is where it forms into quartz crystals that slowly replaced the organic matter. Traces of iron and other substances creates different colors in the petrified wood.



Another important biotic factor are the animals that live there. This would lead to the food web. For example, the sagebrush plant gets eaten by the Proghorn. Then the proghorn gets eaten by coyotes. When the coyote dies, the body decomposes which gives the plants and soil nutrition. The soil will impact the plants in a positive way keeping the plant healthy and alive.