Download Defining Wildlife Habitat and Recognizing Its Importance CONSIDER

Defining Wildlife Habitat and
Recognizing Its Importance
C
ONSIDER what you need to survive. You probably
think of food and water. You might also consider
shelter and space. These four items compose habitat
and are wildlife requirements. This unit focuses on
habitat and the importance of habitat in natural
resources.
Objective:
þ
Describe habitat, types of habitat, and habitat
management.
Key Terms:
Ñ
biomes
biotic pyramid
cover
desert
edge
estuary
featured species
home range
interspersion
metabolism
permafrost
savannas
space
species richness
stream
taiga
territory
tundra
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat for animal wildlife can be classified based on ecosystems that are in areas known as
biomes—large areas with distinct combinations of animals and plants.
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
Several terrestrial biomes exist in the United States: tropical, temperate forest, grasslands
and savannas, tundra and taiga, and desert.
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Tropical Biome
Tropical areas are near the equator. Typically, they are in forests or grasslands with high
temperatures. Tropical forested areas have high rainfall and tend to have a wet season and a dry
season. Birds, insects, frogs, and many other small animals occupy the tops of the trees in such
areas. Tropical grassland areas tend to have abundant small grasses and forbs, despite low rainfall. These areas provide a good habitat for grazing animals, snakes, rodents, and lizards.
Temperate Forest Biome
The temperate forest biome covers much of the eastern and southern United States. In the
east, this biome consists of mixed hardwoods. Pine trees are the predominant tree species in
southern forests. The precipitation varies from moderate to heavy. Berries, acorns, fruit, and
cones are produced and serve as food for squirrels, deer, rabbits, and quail.
Grasslands and Savannas
Grasslands and savannas host
the predominant vegetation of
grass because the precipitation is
too low to support trees. As a
result, there are many grazing animals (e.g., deer, elk, and bison).
Savannas are areas similar to
grasslands with the addition of
widely spaced trees. They are
often transitional zones between
prairies and forests and are found
in Africa, Australia, and India.
Tundra and Taiga
FIGURE 1. This biome consists mainly of grass and wildflowers. (Courtesy,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA)
Tundra and taiga are cold climates found in North America. Tundra is in the Arctic area or
at high elevations. It is characterized by low temperatures and permafrost—permanently
frozen ground. Many lichens, mosses, a few shrubs, and some grasses grow in tundra. In contrast, taiga areas have large conifer forests that can withstand low temperatures and heavy
loads of snow.
Desert
A desert is a sandy and dry area with little or no rain. Temperatures range from extremely
hot to extremely cold. The desert areas with more moisture support plant growth.
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AQUATIC BIOMES
Aquatic biomes include lakes and ponds, streams, oceans and seas, and wetlands and estuaries. They may involve freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water habitats.
Lakes and Ponds
Lakes and ponds are natural or
artificial reservoirs of the earth
that usually hold freshwater. The
water temperatures vary with the
surrounding climate and the
water source. In lakes and ponds,
algae, insects, and other small
creatures are sources of food for
fish, shellfish, and other aquatic
wildlife.
Streams
FIGURE 2. An aquatic habitat and edges are created when a beaver makes a
A stream is flowing water
dam and pond. (Courtesy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA)
that moves from a higher to a
lower elevation. Some of this water is from ground runoff or springs; other streams are
released by users. Creeks are small streams, and rivers are large streams.
Oceans and Seas
Oceans and seas are large bodies of saline or salty water that cover 71 percent of the planet
Earth. Seas are somewhat smaller than oceans. Most rivers and streams flow to oceans and seas.
Some organisms are adapted to the mix of fresh and saltwater as habitats.
Wetlands and Estuaries
Wetlands and estuaries have a big effect on land areas and serve as important habitats for
some wildlife species. Swamps and marshes are wetland areas along inland streams that provide
a habitat for many kinds of waterfowl. An estuary is the area where a stream flows into an
ocean; wildlife in these areas can tolerate freshwater and brackish water.
HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
Wildlife species have life requirements that must be met by their habitat for survival. Components of habitat are food, water, cover, and space.
Food
All living organisms require food for nutrients to live, grow, and reproduce. A key component of food is energy. The series of transfers of food energy from one organism to another is a
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biotic pyramid. The internal process by which an organism receives energy from food is
metabolism.
Water
Water is the basic need of life. Water’s chemical structure is H2O. With terrestrial habitats,
water determines what species of plants will grow. The plants impact which animals live in the
habitat. In aquatic habitats, there can be damaging pollutants (e.g., siltation, sewage, and other
pollutants). Some wildlife animal species receive most of their water through the food they
consume, but many need a watering area for drinking once or twice a day.
Cover
Cover is needed for most wildlife species and is sometimes referred to as “shelter.” Cover is
the vegetation or other material that provides safety in a habitat. Animals use cover for nesting,
resting, and protecting the pack, herd, etc. from predators and adverse weather.
Space
Space provides air, food, and
cover for wildlife species; it is the
area around an organism. Space
requirements vary with season,
animal, and habitat quality. The
space an animal normally uses for
living is home range. It is where
the animal obtains food, water,
and cover. Within a home range,
an animal may establish a territory—an area smaller than the
home range. For example, squirrels may only travel a few feet
around their den in a tree to
acquire food.
FIGURE 3. Pheasants need food and shelter. (Courtesy, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, USDA)
HABITAT MIX
Many animal wildlife species require more than one stage of succession in their habitat.
Interspersion
Interspersion, the mixture of lots of different stages within an area, supports a greater
variety of wildlife. The best way to measure the amount of interspersion is to use the interspersion index principle. This involves counting the number of times a habitat changes from
east to west and north to south in aerial photographs. Without dispersal, animals have limited
access.
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Edge
Edge is a concept also known as ecotone. Edge is the area where two habitats meet. Habitats with a large amount of edge provide more food, water, and cover for a variety of species
than areas of the same vegetation type. Edge quality is measured by the transition that occurs.
Edges with high contrast have more species of animal wildlife than those with low contrast.
For example, edge between Stage 2 and Stage 5 has higher contrast than edge between Stages 2
and 3.
HABITAT PRODUCTION
Habitat management influences the diversity of species attracted to the area. Most habitats
are managed for a featured species or for species richness.
Featured Species
The first basic goal of wildlife habitat management is to provide a habitat for a specific wildlife species. A featured species is an animal type that will be promoted through an
improved habitat. For instance, the needs in shortest supply (e.g., water, food, or cover) are
provided. In selecting habitat management practices, the effects of practices on species other
than the featured species must be studied.
Species Richness
The second basic goal of wildlife habitat management is to provide habitats for different wildlife
species. Species richness is
the number of different species
found within an area. The following are part of the wildlife management plan to promote species
richness: a mixture of
successional stages is present;
unbroken block sizes are of 10 to
40 acres; the edges have high contrast; and a wide variety of vegetation layers is present within each
area containing only one
successional stage. Providing
some habitat for as many species
as possible promotes species richness.
FIGURE 4. A conservationist discusses habitat management with a
landowner. (Courtesy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA)
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Summary:
2
A biome is a large area with a distinct combination of animals and plants. Terrestrial
biomes in the United States include tropical, temperate forest, grasslands and savannas, tundra and taiga, and desert. Aquatic biomes include lakes and ponds, streams,
oceans and seas, and wetlands and estuaries.
Wildlife species require habitats consisting of food, water, cover, and space.
Many animal wildlife species require more than one stage of succession in their
habitat. Interspersion supports a greater variety of wildlife. Habitats with a large
amount of edge provide more food, water, and cover for a variety of species than
areas of the same vegetation type.
Habitat management influences the diversity of species attracted to the area. The first
basic goal of wildlife habitat management is to provide a habitat for a specific wildlife
species. The second basic goal is to provide habitats for many different wildlife species.
Checking Your Knowledge:
´
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What are some terrestrial biomes?
What are some aquatic biomes?
What does habitat provide for wildlife?
Why is habitat mix important?
What are two goals of habitat management?
Expanding Your Knowledge:
L
Identify several wildlife species you would like to attract to your area (e.g., birds,
deer, or fish). Conduct research to determine their habitat requirements. Then
develop a plan that would promote that type of habitat.
Web Links:
:
Biome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome
The World’s Biomes
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php
Management Practices for Enhancing Wildlife Habitat
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:nPoezsQuo6cJ:pubs.cas.psu.edu/
FreePubs/pdfs/uh107.pdf+habitat+management&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=
18&gl=us
Wildlife Habitat
http://www.hillsdalecounty.info/planningeduc0065.asp
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