The Great Lakes Lowland

Question 1

Georgian Bay

Answer 1

World biosphere reserve, worlds largest freshwater archipelago (collection of islands).

Question 2

Which snakes are found in georgian bay?

Answer 2

eastern fox snake and hog nosed snake

Question 3

There are more species in the GL lowland than in the Ottawa SL lowland, why is this?

Answer 3

It is warmer near the great lakes, The shores of the great lakes creates greater diversity, forest fragmentation in the Ottawa SL lowland decreases population

Question 4

Point Traverse in Prince Edward County is important for what reason?

Answer 4

Important for migrating songbirds

Question 5

How did zebra mussels arrive int he Great Lakes?

Answer 5

From ships that came from europe, as they grew on the underside of the ships.

Question 6

Sandbanks provincial park is known for this type of habitat

Answer 6

Sand dunes which are around the shoreline, left behind by the glacial lake iroquois

Question 7

What is internationally special about Sandbanks provincial park?

Answer 7

It is the world’s largest fresh-water baymouth sand barrier dune formation

Question 8

In Presqu’ile provincial park, what is a tombolo?

Answer 8

when sand gets deposited through currents and over time it connects an island to the mainland

Question 9

What habitats are found in Presqu’ile?

Answer 9

Alvars, Large Cattail marshes

Question 10

What is a cull?

Answer 10

Cull is when hunters drive the deer into one area and are all hunted (or as many as possible)

Question 11

What grows along the shorelines and provides food for invertebrates?

Answer 11

Algae grows and provides food for invertebrates which then are food for migrating birds

Question 12

What nests on Owen Point?

Answer 12

Terns

Question 13

High bluff island is an important nesting site for what birds?

Answer 13

Gulls, Herons, and double-crested cormorants

Question 14

What disease or health problem is commonly found in gulls?

Answer 14

Botulism which is caused by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum and causes symptoms like limp neck

Question 15

How do zebra mussels contribute to Bioaccumulation?

Answer 15

They carry the bacteria and are an invasive species which are eaten by Round Gobies (also an invasive species) and is then eaten by gulls

Question 16

What predatory bird can be commonly found on Wolfe Island?

Answer 16

Bald eagles

Question 17

Is Wolfe Island a hilly or flat habitat?

Answer 17

Flat, and gives habitat for meadow vole, snowy owls, Short-eared owl (crepuscular hunters)

Question 18

On Wolfe Island how are some birds killed by human interference?

Answer 18

Wind turbines kill birds like horned larks and tree swallows

Question 19

Most of Amherst Island is being used for what?

Answer 19

Farming - gives habitat for meadow voles, ravens, rough legged hawk

Question 20

What trees are predominant at Owl Woods nature reserve?

Answer 20

There is a plantation of Jack pine and owls nest in them

Question 21

Martin Edwards Reserve is important for what?

Answer 21

Migrating Shore birds

Question 22

What is significant about Manitoulin Island?

Answer 22

It is the largest freshwater island in the world (almost 3000km sq)

Question 23

Where are the larges Alvars found?

Answer 23

In the bruce peninsula and Manitoulin island

Question 24

What form of limestone is known to be found by the bruce peninsula and Manitoulin island?

Answer 24

Dolostone

Question 25

Bruce Peninsula is full of plants that are part of what habitat?

Answer 25

Alvars - Fringed Gentian (indicator of alvar)

Question 26

What behaviours does a Fringed Gentian exhibit?`

Answer 26

On a cloudy day they close and on a sunny day they open (due to pollination and protecting the floral parts)

Question 27

What is another common Alvar plant?

Answer 27

Ram’s Head Lady’s slipper

Question 28

The bruce peninsula is home to many globally rare plants, what are some of them?

Answer 28

Lakeside Daisy (great lake endemic), Dwarf Iris (great lake endemic)

Question 29

What is Sea rocket?

Answer 29

A maritime plant that is a disjunct population in Manitoulin Island

Question 30

There are massive sand dunes on Manitoulin Island which is home to these great lakes endemics

Answer 30

Pitcher’s thistles and Hill’s thistle

Question 31

Along the Lake huron shoreline there are large sand deposits which are home to what birds?

Answer 31

Piping Plover chicks and Gulls (which are predators to the chicks)

Question 32

There are many fens on the Bruce peninsula, how?

Answer 32

They receive nutrients from flowing ground water and it is warmer

Question 33

What kind of plants grow in the Bruce peninsula fens?

Answer 33

Pitcher plants, many northern plants (calciphillics) and are subarctic disjuncts such as butterwort, 44 species of orchids, yellow Lady’s slippers, Showy Lady’s slippers, Calypso (bruce specialty), Alaska rein orchid (disjunct and a glacial relict)

Question 34

50 species of ferns grow in the bruce peninsula, why is this?

Answer 34

Ferns like maidenhair spleenwort love calcium

Question 35

The remarkable diversity of plants in the bruce peninsula gives rise to what name?

Answer 35

The Garden of North america

Question 36

Why are conditions in the bruce peninsula so good?

Answer 36

Warmer climates and water that moderates, calcium in the soil, diversity of habitats

Question 37

The great bodies of water provide what for the surrounding habitats?

Answer 37

Longer growing seasons, moderate winter, and more moisture

Question 38

The massassauga rattlesnake is endangered because?

Answer 38

It is prone to getting hit by cars as it suns itself on the road.