Wildlife

Question 1

5 main types of wildlife on ranges

Answer 1

1. mammals (84%)
2. birds (74%)
3. Herps (58%)
4. Fish (38%)
5. Insects

Question 2

Wild Defn

Answer 2

animals existing in natural state

Question 3

Domestic Defn

Answer 3

accustomed to human control/provision

Question 4

Feral Defn

Answer 4

domesticated animals that have reverted to wild state

Question 5

Habitat Defn

Answer 5

the “home” of a species

made up of:
biotic components
climatic
chemical (soil ph)
edaphic (soil texture, structure)

Question 6

4 basic elements (and limiting factors) of a habitat (all work together)

Answer 6

1. food
2. water
3. cover
4. space

Question 7

Food element of habitat can include

Answer 7

energy (starches, fats, cellulose)
nutrients (proteins, vitamins)
minerals (potassium, phosphorus)

*not the same for all

Question 8

Water element of habitat

Answer 8

requirements vary depending on species, climate

• often augmented on ranges

Question 9

Cover element of habitat

Answer 9

shade
shelter
visual obstruction

Question 10

Space element of habitat

Answer 10

breeding
home range/social intolerance

*connected to disease transmission (ex: bighorn sheep and cattle)

Question 11

Herbivores…

Answer 11

cannot digest cellulose

get energy from simple carbs (sugars/starches)

eat roots, berries, seeds, young shoots etc.

Question 12

2 types of herbivores are:

Answer 12

1. Ruminants
   (cow, deer, elk, bison)
   have 4 part stomach w/ microbes to break down cellulose

2.5% body weight in food daily

2. Hind-Gut Fermentors
   (horse, rabbit)
   have enlarged caecum w/ microbes that break down cellulose bonds

3% body weight daily

Question 13

Why is it important to know what kind of herbivore is on a range?

Answer 13

helps us know how much forage they will require daily to sustain

Question 14

Carnivores…

Answer 14

cannot break down cellulose
energy comes from performed compounds (meat)
search/hunt/consumer other animals

Question 15

Ominvores…

Answer 15

cannot break down cellulose
energy from plants and animals

Ex: bears, dogs

Question 16

What is a limiting factor?

Answer 16

basic requirement that limits size, growth, quality of a population (ex: food, water, space, cover)

Question 17

Habitat Restoration vs. Ecological Restoration

Answer 17

matter of scale

Habitat resto: restoring 4 main requirements for individual species

Eco resto: outcome focused on function/connectivity for multiple species

Question 18

Things to think about with multiple use in a wildlife framework…

Answer 18

1. how do you rank species? mgmt for one may compromise another
2. there are known and unknown effects

focus on ecosystem mgmt, habitat, function

Question 19

Animal Interactions/Relationships: Mutualism

Answer 19

+ + (both benefit)

ex. cattle egrets/bison

Question 20

Animal Interactions/Relationships: Neutralism

Answer 20

0 0 (neither benefit/harm)

ex: mason bees, pronghorns

Question 21

Animal Interactions/Relationships: Competition

Answer 21

• • (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

Question 22

Animal Interactions/Relationships: Commensalism

Answer 22

+ 0 (one good, one neutral)

ex: ravens, wolves

Question 23

Animal Interactions/Relationships: Antagonism

Answer 23

+ - (one good, one bad)

ex: ticks, elk

Question 24

Animal Interactions/Relationships: Amensalism

Answer 24

0 - (one neutral, one bad)

ex: dom sheep, bighorn sheep

Question 25

Range Mgmt Positive Impacts on Wildlife include:

Answer 25

1. forage quality
2. water quality maintenance
3. habitat quality
4. some species may see increased population size with increased cover/food availability

Question 26

Livestock as ecosystem engineers provide/modify…

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Negative Impacts on Wildlife include:

Answer 27

1. hinder nesting sites
2. decreased water quality
3. reduced cover from predators
4. disease transmissions
5. depredation w/ ecological repurcussions