The Torterra Ecosystems

The Torterra Ecosystems

The Torterra Ecosystems create a unique, protected, mobile ecosystem for many Pokemon. But the type of ecosystem you may see on the shell of a Torterra depends on a few 'ecosystem engineers'. Click on the pokemon names to find the engineers on the Torterra shell. Then click on the Pokemon to learn about the unique ecosystems they help create.

Combee

Starly

Pachirisu

Ok Smarty-Pants, jump to the pop quiz?

Wurmple

The Torterra Ecosystems

• This Combee generated ecosystem lacks the available space for packs of smaller bird Pokemon like Starly, not to mention Vespiqueen which can fend off smaller birds, but for highly evolved, solitary birds like Staraptor, Noctowl, and Honchkrow it is the perfect hunting grounds with plenty of prey to choose from. CLICK TO CONTINUE

Click on the images you see on Torterra's shell to watch the Combee generated ecosystem unfold.

• If a Combee colony gets large enough, a Combee will evolve into a Vespiqueen to lead the colony. Vespiqueen can tilt the battle for nectar in their favor, driving off other pollinators like Beautifly. Interestingly, Heracross has been seen helping Vespiqueen, in hopes that it will be rewarded with honey from the hive. CLICK TO CONTINUE

• Carnivine can be found in areas with successful pollinators. The sweet-smelling saliva from Carnivine attract pollinators to its mouth where it then devours the insects whole. Carnivine can be seen dangling from trees awaiting unsuspecting bug Pokemon to pass by. CLICK TO CONTINUE

• More Combee and flowers means more nectar and honey. This supports a wider variety of bug-type Pokemon such as Heracross and Beautifly. The arrival of Beautifly and Heracross can cause Combee numbers to decline as Heracross steals honey from their hives and Beautifly outcompetes them for nectar. CLICK TO CONTINUE

• Pollinators like Combee support the growth of flowers through cross pollination. The arrival of a Combee hive can support vast fields of flowers. CLICK TO CONTINUE

The Torterra Ecosystems

• Smaller predatory birds frequent this ecosystem as a tertiary consumer, though they fail to dominate likely due to the toxic defense mechanisms employed by Beautifly, Dustox, and Mothim. CLICK TO CONTINUE

• A pokemon called Burmy will also take advantage of this protected ecosystem and strip Torterra's tree of foliage to make its leaf cloak. A combination of Burmy and Dustox in this system can be detrimental as they both destroy foliage. Sometimes Burmy will metamorphose into Mothim, a sex-linked gene in Burmy. Mothim has a competative edge in the honey and nectar race, though prefers to steal from Combee. CLICK TO CONTINUE

Click on the images you see on Torterra's shell to watch the Wurmple generated ecosystem unfold.

• Wurmple, based on its combination of chromosomes, will go through complete metamorphosis and change into either Beautifly or Dustox. Wurmple, in its vulnerable chrysalis form of Cascoon or Silcoon, takes advantage of Torterra's isolated and protected ecosystem and awaits metamorphosis in the tree. If too many Dustox emerge in this system, the health and biodiversity of the system could reverse due to Dustox's voracious appetite for foliage. CLICK TO CONTINUE

• This ecosystem also starts with flower production leading to a pollinator dominate landscape. However, this time Wurmple and its evolution Beautifly control the flower field before Combee can establish a colony on the shell. Beautifly, being one of the most competative pollinators in Sinnoh, forces the weaker Combee out of the ecosystem. CLICK TO CONTINUE

The Torterra Ecosystems

• Large Terrestrial predators such as Purugly and Skuntank can climb to the top of this ecosystem as they prey upon the smaller Starly, Hoot Hoot, and Murkrow predatory bird Pokemon. If competition for resources is too intense, Skuntank can potentially destroy the whole system with its noxious spray. CLICK TO CONTINUE

• Other predatory bird Pokemon, such as Noctowl, Honchkrow and their kin, can show up in this ecosystem and compete for the same limited resources as the Starly species. Honchkrow can especially disrupt this ecosystem as it can form massive social groups with its Murkrow kin and drive off the other bird Pokemon competition. CLICK TO CONTINUE

Click on the images you see on Torterra's shell to watch the Starly generated ecosystem unfold.

• When Starly reaches its fully evolved form, Staraptor can act as the apex predator in this ecosystem. Though it is a very solitary and independent Pokemon, it will fight off other predatory birds, even of its own species for the top spot in the ecosystem. The crest at the top of its head is an indicator of its genes. The larger the crest, the better the genes, and thus the larger crested Staraptor is often found roosting in the coveted Torterra ecosystem. CLICK TO CONTINUE

• Starly hunt and travel in flocks to make up for its lack of size and defense mechanisms. If a group of Starly can be the first to establish the Torterra ecosystem, they will have the added protection of being on the behemoth Torterra shell and they will have free reign over any insect Pokemon that comes flying or creeping onto the shell in search of food. Starly is a very tolerant Pokemon due to its non-specific diet and unique social adaptations. CLICK TO CONTINUE

The Torterra Ecosystems

• A couple of larger Pokemon act as top predators in this ecosystem. Vespiqueen along with its Combee colony do not rely on the tree for its food or shelter. Thus Vespiqueen has free reign across the shell to devour competing Pokemon with its powerful mandibles. Staraptor is a transient, solitary top predator that does not need to live in the Torterra shell tree and can swoop into and out of this ecosystem as it pleases knowing it has no competition in this ecosystem. CLICK TO CONTINUE

Click on the images you see on Torterra's shell to watch the Pachirisu generated ecosystem unfold.

• Without some of the predators and competition from tree-dwelling Pokemon, others that feed on grasses, shrubs, and pollen like Wurmple, Beautifly, and Combee flourish in this unique Pachirisu ecosystem. CLICK TO CONTINUE.

• Pokemon like starly, burmy, dustox, and aipom that rely on the tree of the Torterra shell for food, protection, or shelter will leave this ecosystem if too many Pachirisu fur balls are lodged into the tree. CLICK TO CONTINUE.

• Pachirisu, upon finding food from the tree or bushes on the Torterra shell, will hide it in the tree and protect it with electrically charged fur balls. If the tree gets filled with enough of these fur balls, it can greatly decrease the number of different species seen on the Torterra shell. CLICK TO CONTINUE.

Now that you have learned about Torterra and the mini mobile ecosystems that it can create, its pop quiz time!

QUESTION 1 of 3

Which of the following is a limiting factor influencing populations in the Combee generated Torterra ecosystem?

higher than average temperatures

lower than average annual precipitation

fewer flowering plants grown annually

Right!

Next

QUESTION 2 of 3

Which of the following is an example of an abiotic factor that influences the biodiversity of a Torterra ecosystem negatively?

Predatory bird Pokemon

Pachirisu's charged fur balls

Plants growing on the shell

Right!

Next

QUESTION 3 of 3

Which of the following is likely a species of Pokemon that exhibits tolerance within the Torterra ecosystem?

Starly

Heracross

Cascoon

Right!

Next

Let's review what we just learned

Types of Torterra Ecosystems: (Click the Pokemon Below)

• The Combee-generated ecosystem: This ecosystem has honey and nectar at its foundation. This ecosystem twists and turns based on the continual competition for honey resources.

• The Starly-generated ecosystem: This ecosystem is created if a large population of Starly are first to settle on the shell. This ecosystem evolves based on the predators and prey of Starly that also inhabit the shell.

• The Wurmple-generated ecosystem: This ecosystem forms from Wurmple and its evolutions as the pioneer species to inhabit the shell. Depending on the Wurmple evolution, this can either be a flourishing ecosystem or a degenerative one.

• The Pachirisu-generated ecosystem: This unique ecosystem is driven by the unique properties of Pachirisu fur balls, a powerrful limiting factor for a wide variety of Pokemon species.

Special Thanks To:

The following AMAZING artists from DeviantArt:

• Torterra images found on slides 1 -5--"Torterra v.2" by Xous54
• Torterra image found on slide 13--"The Grave" by suikuzu

*Other Pokemon images belong to Nintendo

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