Lab 3 - Ecomuseum / Animal Lab

Question 1

To what family do the American marten (Martes americana) & Fisher (Martes pennanti) belong to?

Answer 1

Mustelidae

Question 2

What are the main food choices of the marten?

Answer 2

The marten eats small mammals, carrion, insects, birds, and berries, among other foods.

Question 3

What animal can the Fisher prey upon that the marten (and most other species) cannot?

Answer 3

Porcupines

Question 4

List and describe 2 adaptations the Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) has as a predator:

Answer 4

• It’s flapping wings produce virtually no sound, which allows it to fly silently without being heard by its prey; this is because the wing tips are fringed.
• It’s pupils are large, allowing for great night vision.

Question 5

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus): Many deer do not get enough food during the winter months, what do deer rely on to make it through the winter?

Answer 5

Their fat reserves

Question 6

Browse is also a common animal sign. Compare and contrast the browsing of white tailed deer and rabbits. Explain why the browsing sign is different between the two.

Answer 6

Rabbits bite off the ends of twigs with their teeth. While deer beak off the ends, leaving frayed tips.

Question 7

Scats (droppings) are also common animal signs seen in a forest. How would you distinguish rabbit from deer scat (on dry food)?

Answer 7

Rabbit pellets are spherical. Deer pellets are pointed on one end and concave on the other. Deer pellets also tend to be larger ~3cm > ~1cm (on average).

Question 8

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo):
List 3 behavioural or physical traits make turkeys have evolved for courtship:

Answer 8

• emit powerful cries heard up to 1.5 km away to attract females
• display courting by fanning the tail and spreading of wings
• have extra skin (caruncle) growing from the top of their beaks down to their neck during courtship

Question 9

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes):
Foxes are usually considered nuisances as they are often accused of stealing chickens. However, they can be very useful to have around, why?

Answer 9

They control rodent population and are good seed dispensers because they defecate the seeds from the fruits and vegetables they eat.

Question 10

When animals leave tracks in the forest, the fine details are rarely present. So how would you distinguish the tracts between raccoons and red fox?

Answer 10

Raccoons have five slender toes, slightly bulbous on the ends, resembling small human hands and feet. Red foxes have 4 digits, the claws are prominent. There’s one lobe on the leading edge of the interdigital pad where a ridge of callus can be found.

Question 11

American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum):
If you are walking in a forest, describe a sign not found on the ground that may indicate a porcupine in that forest?

Answer 11

smell or gnawed bark high in a tree

Question 12

Raccoon (Procyon lator):
Why should you avoid getting close to a raccoon?

Answer 12

Raccoons often have rabies.

Question 13

How is the common crow useful?

Answer 13

Crows clean up carrion by eating it.

Question 14

How can the common crow be damaging?

Answer 14

They can damage crops by pulling out sprouts and seeds.

Question 15

List 4 physical features on can use to distinguish a crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) from a raven (Corvus corax):

Answer 15

• ravens are larger
• ravens have a thick, curved beak, while crows have thin, gently curved beaks
• ravens have curved wings, crows’ are blunt
  -ravens have a wedge-shaped tail (diamond), the crow’s is squared off

Question 16

Northern river otter (Lantra canadensis):
List 4 ways in which the river otter is adapted to an aquatic lifestyle:

Answer 16

• waterproof fur
• triple eyelids
• can hold their breath for 7 minutes
• webbed feet
• closable nostrils

Question 17

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou):
Compare caribou tracts with those of white tailed deer and moose. What is the major difference between the caribou and moose tracts compared to the deer?

Answer 17

Caribou and moose have dew claws, leave larger tracks (twice as big), with pad extending to near the front of the hoof, the subunguinis region is narrow. Deer leave heart-shaped tracks in which the pads occupy most of the clout and the subunguinis is very narrow.

Question 18

Artic fox (Alopex lagopus): The arctic fox is adapted to cold environments. Mammals have evolved various body plans to maintain a fairly constant body temperature regardless of the
temperature of their external environments.

Compare and contrast the Arctic and Desert fox. Point out the major difference between the two and explain how this feature is adaptive to these homeothermic animals in their respective
environments.

Answer 18

Artic foxes have shorter appendages and ears.
By the Allen Rule, animals in the northern climates have shorter appendages to better protect themselves against the cold.

Question 19

Coyote (Canis latrans):
Based on physical characteristics, how is the coyote different from a wolf?

Answer 19

• coyotes are smaller
• coyotes have a narrow pointed snout and wolves, a broad one

Question 20

Based on a behavioural trait, how do coyotes differ from wolves?

Answer 20

They are solitary, while wolves live in packs.

Question 21

Black bear (Ursus americanus):
Why are poachers interested in the black bear?

Answer 21

There is a false belief that their gall bladder and paws have medicinal and aphrodisiac properties.

Question 22

Briefly describe the different bear signs one can see on trees (aka: bear trees) :

Answer 22

• bark torn off on the lower trunk
• claw marks higher up on trunk
• ripped open downed logs
• broken off saplings on the tree

Question 23

Gray wolf (Canis lupus):
What would happen to deer and moose populations if the wolf were removed from the ecosystem?

Answer 23

They would explode in numbers.

Question 24

The overall track shape of the dog family (Canidae: fox, wolf, coyote) and the cat familiy (Felidae: bobcat, lynx) are fairly similar. What is one feature that you can use to differentiate the tracks of these two groups?

Answer 24

Canines have non-retractable claws, which appear in their tracks. Felines tracks rarely have claw marks.

Question 25

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - Status in Quebec: Vulnerable
State 5 reason for the decline in numbers of this species:

Answer 25

• poaching
• wind farms
• DDT contamination
• accidental trapping
• destruction of habitat

Question 26

Fish: Why are Minnows very good environmental indicator species?

Answer 26

An environmental indicator species reflects the condition of the environment around it. They’re often affected by an environmental change first, in their eosystem. Minnows indicate water quality. Abundance = good

Question 27

TREEFROGS:
What physical features allow them to easily climb trees and bushes?

Answer 27

their sticky fingers and long legs

Question 28

Why are frog’s eyes and nostrils at the top of their head?

Answer 28

So that they can see and breath while being mostly under water

Question 29

What do Salamanders secrete to avoid being eaten?

Answer 29

toxins (to taste bad)

Question 30

State 4 terrestrial adaptations of the **American toad

Answer 30

• less permeable skin
• have shorter legs
• move in short hops
• large bladder
• heavy body
• colour

Question 31

What are the bumps (ie. warts) found on a toad’s body and what is their function?

Answer 31

They are paretenoid glands which secrete toxins.

Question 32

Are there any venemous snakes native to Quebec?

Answer 32

No