Download Lesson 7 Arctic Ecoscenario arctic

FRONT
ARCTIC FOX
BACTERIA
Genus: Alopex
Genus: varies
Species:
Size: Approximately 0.5–1.0 µm (micrometer)
Range: Everywhere
Species: lagopus
Size: 50–60 cm (1.5–2 ft.) long; 30 cm (1 ft.) tail; 3–8 kg
(6.5–17.5 lb.)
Range: From western and northern Alaska across northern
Canada
BLACK FLY
CARIBOU
Genus: Simulium
Genus: Rangifer
Species:
Size: 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in.) long
Range: Tundra and taiga throughout Alaska and Canada and in
eastern U.S. forests
Species: tarandus
Size: 0.7–1.4 m (2.3–4.6 ft.) tall; 1.3–1.5 m (4–5 ft.) long;
antlers 0.5–1.5 m (1.5–5 ft.) long; males up to 300 kg (660 lb.)
Range: Tundra and taiga in Alaska, most of Canada
BACK
BACTERIA
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Bacteria are found in all natural environments
and are responsible for most of the decomposition of dead
organisms.
Food: Detritus (decaying organic material) and wastes
ARCTIC FOX
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Arctic foxes are usually solitary, but not
extremely territorial. They depend on their sense of smell when
hunting in winter and can locate lemmings in burrows under the
snow.
Reproduction: Splits into two identical cells
Food: Lemmings, voles, ground squirrels, hares, ground-nesting
birds, fish, crabs, sea urchins, and carrion. As scavengers, they
will follow wolves and polar bears to clean up their prey.
Abiotic Impact: Rates for reproduction depend on temperature,
water, and nutrient levels.
Predator: Wolves, polar bears, brown bears, owls, falcons,
eagles, wolverines, lynx, and red foxes
Predator: Scuds and larval insects
Shelter: Arctic foxes dig dens in a bank or hillside. During the
winter they may burrow into snowbanks.
Reproduction: Breeding pairs are monogamous and breed once
a year. Females prepare a nest in a summer den that has
several entrances. Mating occurs in late winter, with a litter born
in April or May. Litter size can be up to 14 kits. The male
gathers food and protects the den during the first few days.
Both parents rear the kits.
Abiotic Impact: Foxes dig a lot around their dens. This
disturbance of the soil creates ideal habitat for grasses.
Human Impact: Humans hunt foxes for their fur.
Photo: Art Explosion
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
Photo: David M. Phillips, Visuals Unlimited
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
CARIBOU
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Caribou usually travel in large herds as they migrate
between summer and winter ranges. Migrations may cover 1000 km
(600 mi.). Summer migrations are usually led by pregnant cows,
moving toward calving grounds. During migrations, several bands may
join together and form herds of 10,000 animals.
Food: Caribou are browsers and grazers, eating lichen, moss, leaves of
shrubs and forbs, and grass. They will chew on dropped antlers as a
source of calcium. Caribou occasionally eat lemmings when they are
plentiful.
Predator: Wolves, bears, wolverines, and lynx. Golden eagles may
prey on very young calves. Flies and mosquitoes feed on blood.
BLACK FLY
Natural History: Adults emerge in the spring and swarm in
black clouds around most mammals in search of blood. They
may carry malaria-like diseases.
Food: Larvae are filter feeders found in streams and tundra
bogs. Adults feed on mammal blood.
Predator: Fish and birds
Reproduction: Black fly eggs and larvae can survive the winter
and emerge during the spring thaw. They reach their peak
numbers in midsummer.
Shelter: Caribou live in open and semiopen tundra and taiga. In the
winter they live in taiga conifer forests, where they have extra cover.
Summer ranges tend to be more open, windswept areas to avoid biting
flies.
Reproduction: Rut (mating season) is October to November. One calf
is born to a female, May to July. Calves are well developed at birth,
able to stand and run within several hours.
Abiotic Impact: Create well-worn trails during migrations
Human Impact: Traditional migration routes are easily disturbed by
roads and development. Hunting has weakened or eliminated many
southern herds.
Photo: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Photo: Dwight Kuhn
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
FRONT
COTTON GRASS
BROWN BEAR
Genus: Eriophorum
Genus: Ursus
Species: callitrix
Size: 20–100 cm (8–40 in.) tall
Range: Tundra, taiga, and wetlands in temperate to polar parts
of the Northern Hemisphere
Species: arctos
Size: 2.5 m (8 ft.) long; 140–375 kg (305–825 lb.)
Range: Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia,
Alberta, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
LABRADOR TEA
Genus: Ledum
Species: groenlandicum
Size: 2 m (3 ft.) tall
Range: Tundra and taiga in Alaska and Canada and northern
United States
LEAST WEASEL
Genus: Mustela
Species: nivalis
Size: 17–20 cm (6.7–8 in.) long; 37–50 g (1.3–1.8 oz.)
Range: Alaska, Canada, and the north-central and northeastern
United States
BACK
BROWN BEAR
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Bears roam their territory, moving to be near
food sources. During winter they semihibernate. They remain in
their dens, but can be easily roused. Despite their size, they
have a low metabolism rate that allows them to live on stored
body fat for a long time.
Food: Omnivores. Most of their diet is made up of plants,
sedges, roots, fruits, berries, fungi, insects, and shrubs, but
brown bears also eat rodents, rabbits, hares, foxes, minks,
weasels, fish, deer, elk, caribou, musk ox, and moose. They are
skilled at catching fish, especially migrating salmon.
Shelter: Open areas of the tundra, mountains, and coast that
offer areas of dense cover. In winter they stay in dens they dig
into well-drained slopes. Drifting snow piles up at entrances to
help insulate dens.
COTTON GRASS
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Cotton grass is shorter in the tundra. It grows
in clumps like grass, but it is a sedge.
Food: Produced through photosynthesis
Predator: Reindeer, caribou, elk, deer, rabbits, hares, birds, and
small rodents
Shelter: Open swamps and bogs in cold climates
Reproduction: Flowers are small cottony tufts that occur in
clusters.
Abiotic Impact: Productivity depends on light, water, and
temperature levels.
Human Impact: Because of the short growing season in the
arctic, cotton grass takes many years to recover from
disturbance by humans.
Reproduction: Females give birth during the winter to one to
four cubs (usually two) every 3 years. Cubs stay with the mother
for about 2 years.
Human Impact: Brown bears have been eliminated from much
of their territory by humans. They are hunted for sport and to
protect livestock.
Photo: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
Photo: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
LEAST WEASEL
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Because of their size, least weasels often
chase rodents into their burrows to catch them. They hunt day
and night, but stay within a range of about 0.8 hectares
(2 acres).
Food: Mainly rodents, including rabbits, hares, lemmings, voles,
shrews, and other small animals that don't hibernate during the
winter; may eat insects and amphibians during the summer
Predator: Larger weasels, domestic cats, snakes, lynx, and
bears
LABRADOR TEA
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Labrador tea has shallow roots and grows in
the short tundra summer. It can survive temperatures as low as
–36ºC (–33ºF). Labrador tea is a browse plant; tender shoots,
twigs, and leaves are eaten by wildlife. Member of the heath
family.
Food: Produced through photosynthesis
Predator: Rabbits, hares, and some small rodents eat tender
shoots, twigs, and leaves.
Shelter: Cold bogs
Shelter: Open tundra, meadows, and fields; brushy edges of
marshes and streams
Reproduction: White to creamy flowers 1 cm (0.4 in.) wide
grow in clusters at the ends of branches.
Reproduction: Females may breed several times in 1 year if
food is plentiful. A litter of 3–10 kits is born about a month after
mating and weaned in 4 weeks.
Abiotic Impact: Productivity depends on light, water, and
temperature levels.
Photo: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
Photos: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
Human Impact: Because of the short growing season in the
arctic, Labrador tea takes many years to recover from
disturbance by humans.
FRONT
LYNX
MOSQUITO
Genus: Lynx
Genus: Aedes
Species: canadensis
Size: 75–100 cm (2.5–3.5 ft.) long; 5–18 kg (11–40 lb.)
Range: Taiga and tundra in Alaska, Canada, and Rocky
Mountain areas of Montana and Wyoming
Species:
Size: Up to 1 cm (0.4 in.)
Range: Worldwide in moist areas
SNOWY OWL
Genus: Nyctea
Species: scandiaca
Size: 50–68 cm (20–27 in.) long
Range: Arctic region
WOLVERINE
Genus: Gulo
Species: gulo
Size: Up to 1 m (3.3 ft.) long; 25 cm (10 in.) tail; 70 kg (155 lb.)
Range: Alaska and northwestern Canada
BACK
MOSQUITO
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Mosquitoes flourish in poorly drained tundra
bogs. An irritant to both humans and wildlife, their bites cause
reactions ranging from stinging to severe allergic reactions.
They can carry malaria-like diseases.
Food: Females drink blood and plant nectar. Males drink only
plant nectar. Females are attracted to the blood of mammals.
Predator: Fish, frogs, and birds
Shelter: Larvae are found in quiet water.
Reproduction: Eggs survive over winter, and larvae are found in
water. Adults emerge in spring, with a peak in June and July.
LYNX
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Long ear tufts sharpen the lynx's hearing,
while its thick fur allows it to hunt silently in the snow. The large
feet aid in both walking on snow and swimming.
Food: Rabbits, hares, rodents, birds, fish, foxes, caribou, and
deer; carrion in the winter
Predator: Coyotes, mountain lions, and wolves. Flies and
mosquitoes feed on blood.
Shelter: Lynx live in conifer forests near rocky areas, bogs,
swamps, and tundra and on the arctic prairie.
Reproduction: Mate in February and March. A litter of one to
six kittens is born between April and June. Kittens stay with
their mother for about a year as she teaches them hunting
techniques.
Human Impact: Clearing of forests results in loss of lynx habitat
causing decreases in population size. Lynx are hunted for their
fur.
Photo: Erwin and Peggy Bauer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
Photos: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
WOLVERINE
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
SNOWY OWL
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Wolverines live in snowy regions and do not
hibernate. They attack animals, such as caribou, that are stuck
in deep snow. Hunting at night, they can travel as far as 30 km
(18 mi.) in search of food.
Natural History: Snowy owls rarely make noise except during
mating. They hunt silently in daytime. The feathers of the snowy
owl are white throughout the year.
Food: Small rodents, rabbits, hares, least weasels, musk ox,
caribou, eggs of ground-nesting birds, insects, and a few fruits
and berries
Predator: Wolves, foxes, and lynx
Predator: Bears and lynx
Shelter: Snowy regions with rocky outcrops
Food: Rodents, rabbits, hares, some birds, fish, and insects
Shelter: Usually sit on the ground or rooftops, never
in trees
Reproduction: Five to eight white eggs laid in an open nest on
the tundra. The nest is lined with feathers, mosses, and lichens.
Reproduction: Mate in summer. Females give birth the next
spring to two to five kits. Dens are in rocky crevices or
snowbanks. Kits stay with the mother through their first winter
and leave the following spring.
Human Impact: Humans hunt wolverines for their fur.
Photo: Erwin and Peggy Bauer, Animals Animals
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
Photo: Art Explosion
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
FRONT
REINDEER LICHEN
ARCTIC SEDGE
Genus: Cladonia
Genus: Carex
Species: rangiferina
Size: Up to 8 cm (3 in.) high
Species: anthoxanthea
Size: Up to 30 cm (1 ft.)
Range: Alaska, Canada, and northern United States
Range: Worldwide in tundra, taiga, wetlands, swamps, and bogs
SNOWSHOE HARE
ARCTIC WILLOW
Genus: Lepus
Genus: Salix
Species: americanus
Size: 38–52 cm (15–20 in.) long; 1–1.5 kg (2.2–3.3 lb.)
Range: Alaska, most of Canada, south to northern California
and New Mexico, and northeastern United States
Species: arctica
Size: 1–2 m (3–6.5 ft.) tall
Range: Tundra and taiga in Alaska and Canada
BACK
ARCTIC SEDGE
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
REINDEER LICHEN
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Sedges on the tundra are small and stunted
because of the short growing season.
Natural History: Reindeer lichen grows in great abundance in
Arctic regions and can cover immense pastures.
Food: Produced through photosynthesis
Food: Produced through photosynthesis
Predator: Deer, elk, caribou, reindeer, musk ox, bears, rabbits,
hares, small rodents, and ground-nesting birds
Predator: Caribou, reindeer, moose, musk ox, rabbits, hares,
and small rodents
Shelter: In and near bogs, swamps, ponds, streams, and
wetlands
Reproduction: Very slow growth, only about 3–5 cm (1–2 in.)
per year
Reproduction: Flowers of the sedge family are almost all
wind-pollinated.
Abiotic Impact: Productivity depends on light, water, and
temperature levels. The most rapid growth occurs during spring
and fall when humidity is high and temperatures are cool.
Abiotic Impact: Productivity depends on light, water, and
temperature levels.
Human Impact: In places with a short growing season, sedges
take many years to recover from disturbance by humans.
Photo: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
ARCTIC WILLOW
Human Impact: Because they grow so slowly, lichens take
many years to recover from disturbance by humans.
Photo: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: In the Arctic, willows grow as small, matted,
woody plants. Tender shoots, twigs, and leaves eaten by wildlife
are called browse. Member of the willow family.
Food: Produced through photosynthesis
Predator: Elk, caribou, musk ox, bears, rabbits, hares, rodents,
and ground-nesting birds
Shelter: Edges of tundra swamps, bogs, and streams
Reproduction: Male and female flowers are on separate trees.
Abiotic Impact: Productivity depends on light, water, and
temperature levels.
Human Impact: Because of the short growing season in the
arctic, this willow takes many years to recover from disturbance
by humans.
SNOWSHOE HARE
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Snowshoe hares usually stay within a territory of
about 10 hectares (25 acres). Populations fluctuate in a 9–10-year
cycle. These changes may have to do with population densities and
the stress this puts on reproduction rates. The population of the
lynx is closely linked to that of the snowshoe hare.
Food: Green vegetation, especially clover, grasses, mosses, lichens,
sedges, and forbs. In winter, snowshoe hares eat twigs and bark
from willows and evergreen leaves. They may also eat frozen meat.
Predator: Lynx, owls, golden eagles, bobcats, red foxes, arctic
foxes, bears, wolves, minks, weasels, and wolverines
Shelter: Snowshoe hares live in dense, brushy cover in the forest.
During the day they hide in thickets. They browse at night. Long
white hairs that grow on the hares during the winter help keep the
animals warm and camouflage them in snow.
Reproduction: Females may produce up to four litters each year,
with one to eight babies. Like all true hares, they are born with fur
and with their eyes open. Hares can run within an hour of birth and
can begin to leave the nest at about 3 weeks.
Photo: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
Photo: National Park Service
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
FRONT
WILLOW PTARMIGAN
ALPINE AZALEA
Genus: Lagopus
Genus: Loiseleuria
Species: lagopus
Size: 38 cm (15 in.) long
Species: procumbens
Size: Up to 15 cm (6 in.) tall
Range: Alaska and northern Canada
Range: Tundra and taiga in Alaska and Canada and alpine areas
south
BROWN LEMMING
MUSK OX
Genus: Lemmus
Genus: Ovibos
Species: sibiricus
Size: 12–17 cm (4.5–6.5 in.) long; 48–113 g (1.7–4 oz.)
Range: Tundra in Alaska and northwestern Canada
Species: moschatus
Size: 1 m (3.3 ft.) tall; 2 m (6.5 ft.) long; up to 400 kg (880 lb.)
Range: Northern Alaska and Northwest Territories
BACK
ALPINE AZALEA
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: The alpine azalea grows along the edges of
tundra swamps and bogs. It is a browse plant and a member of
the heath family. Azaleas growing on the tundra are very small
and compact.
Food: Produced through photosynthesis
Predator: Rabbits, hares, small rodents, and ground-nesting
birds
Shelter: Acidic and moist soils
Reproduction: Small bell-shaped flowers are pollinated by bees
and other insects.
Abiotic Impact: Productivity depends on light, water, and
temperature levels.
WILLOW PTARMIGAN
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: The plumage of the willow ptarmigan changes
from brown to white between summer and winter. As
ptarmigans molt feathers throughout the year, different colors
and patterns appear, camouflaging the birds through the
changing seasons.
Food: Mainly willows, but also the leaves, buds, and berries of
tundra plants; sedges; and insects
Predator: Lynx, foxes, wolves, wolverines, and minks
Shelter: A ground-nesting bird, the ptarmigan stays mainly on
the tundra, but will retreat to willow and pine forests for cover. It
burrows into snow to sleep.
Human Impact: Because of the short growing season in the
arctic, the alpine azalea takes many years to recover from
disturbance by humans.
Reproduction: Seven to ten red eggs with black spots are laid
in a shallow nest scraped out in the tundra. Both males and
females remain with the nest, and both assist in rearing the
brood.
Photo: Jim Zipp, Photo Researchers, Inc.
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
Photo: Jeffrey A. Spendelow, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
MUSK OX
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Herds usually consist of a bull, several
females, calves, and immature males. Musk ox are agile and
surefooted like goats, but their primary means of defense is to
form an outward-facing circle with calves in the center. Horns
are used to defend and ward off predators. Excellent swimmers,
musk ox will wade into water to escape predators.
Food: Willows, tundra grasses, shrubs, mosses, lichens, and
forbs
Predator: Wolves, wolverines, and bears
Shelter: Musk ox travel in herds across the tundra, near lakes,
and in riverbeds in search of food.
Reproduction: Females bear one calf a year. The calf is up and
following its mother around within a day.
Abiotic Impact: Wool shed during the summer catches on
brush and shrubs. This wool is often used as nesting material by
other animals.
Human Impact: Musk ox are sometimes hunted for sport and in
their defense rings are easy to shoot. They are now protected. A
few herds are semidomesticated and raised for their wool.
Photo: Art Explosion
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California
BROWN LEMMING
ECOSCENARIO: ARCTIC NWR
Natural History: Population size is related to food resources.
When food is abundant, numbers increase rapidly, resulting in
crowding. Even when lemmings are densely packed, they are
not sociable animals and will fight with each other. Population
booms follow a 3–4-year cycle and are linked to population
booms of some predatory birds.
Food: Grasses, sedges, mosses, lichens, and leaves in the
summer; bark and twigs in the winter
Predator: Owls, ravens, hawks, weasels, minks, lynx, arctic
foxes, wolves, wolverines, and bears
Shelter: Lemmings live in wet tundra areas, along
streambeds, and in meadows. They dig several tunnels to
underground chambers that are lined with fur. In winter, they
tunnel through snow. Aboveground nests are woven balls of
dried grasses about 20 cm (8 in.) in diameter.
Reproduction: Females may have one to three litters per year
of 1–13 babies.
Photo: Tom McHugh, Photo Researchers, Inc.
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California