Wildlife Flashcards
5 main types of wildlife on ranges
- mammals (84%)
- birds (74%)
- Herps (58%)
- Fish (38%)
- Insects
Wild Defn
animals existing in natural state
Domestic Defn
accustomed to human control/provision
Feral Defn
domesticated animals that have reverted to wild state
Habitat Defn
the “home” of a species
made up of:
biotic components
climatic
chemical (soil ph)
edaphic (soil texture, structure)
4 basic elements (and limiting factors) of a habitat (all work together)
- food
- water
- cover
- space
Food element of habitat can include
energy (starches, fats, cellulose)
nutrients (proteins, vitamins)
minerals (potassium, phosphorus)
*not the same for all
Water element of habitat
requirements vary depending on species, climate
- often augmented on ranges
Cover element of habitat
shade
shelter
visual obstruction
Space element of habitat
breeding
home range/social intolerance
*connected to disease transmission (ex: bighorn sheep and cattle)
Herbivores…
cannot digest cellulose
get energy from simple carbs (sugars/starches)
eat roots, berries, seeds, young shoots etc.
2 types of herbivores are:
- Ruminants
(cow, deer, elk, bison)
have 4 part stomach w/ microbes to break down cellulose
2.5% body weight in food daily
- Hind-Gut Fermentors
(horse, rabbit)
have enlarged caecum w/ microbes that break down cellulose bonds
3% body weight daily
Why is it important to know what kind of herbivore is on a range?
helps us know how much forage they will require daily to sustain
Carnivores…
cannot break down cellulose
energy comes from performed compounds (meat)
search/hunt/consumer other animals
Ominvores…
cannot break down cellulose
energy from plants and animals
Ex: bears, dogs
What is a limiting factor?
basic requirement that limits size, growth, quality of a population (ex: food, water, space, cover)
Habitat Restoration vs. Ecological Restoration
matter of scale
Habitat resto: restoring 4 main requirements for individual species
Eco resto: outcome focused on function/connectivity for multiple species
Things to think about with multiple use in a wildlife framework…
- how do you rank species? mgmt for one may compromise another
- there are known and unknown effects
focus on ecosystem mgmt, habitat, function
Animal Interactions/Relationships: Mutualism
+ + (both benefit)
ex. cattle egrets/bison
Animal Interactions/Relationships: Neutralism
0 0 (neither benefit/harm)
ex: mason bees, pronghorns
Animal Interactions/Relationships: Competition
- (both negative)
ex: coyotes, wolves
*occurs when:
1. both species are using same resource
2. resource is in short supply
3. one species loses fitness
Animal Interactions/Relationships: Commensalism
+ 0 (one good, one neutral)
ex: ravens, wolves
Animal Interactions/Relationships: Antagonism
+ - (one good, one bad)
ex: ticks, elk
Animal Interactions/Relationships: Amensalism
0 - (one neutral, one bad)
ex: dom sheep, bighorn sheep
Range Mgmt Positive Impacts on Wildlife include:
- forage quality
- water quality maintenance
- habitat quality
- some species may see increased population size with increased cover/food availability
Livestock as ecosystem engineers provide/modify…
variable vegetative structure/patterns that might appeal to diverse species
ex: cattle/deer, moderate grazing can help deer select forbs (preferred)
seasonal sheep cattle grazing in fall may provide more nutritious plants in summer for mule deer.
Negative Impacts on Wildlife include:
- hinder nesting sites
- decreased water quality
- reduced cover from predators
- disease transmissions
- depredation w/ ecological repurcussions
