defining wildlife habitat and recognizing its importance

Defining Wildlife Habitat andRecognizing Its Importance

CONSIDER what you need to survive. You probably

think of food and water. You might also consider

shelter and space. These four items compose habitat

and are wildlife requirements. This unit focuses on

habitat and the importance of habitat in natural

resources.

Objective:

� Describe habitat, types of habitat, and habitat

management.

Key Terms:

�

Wildlife Habitat

Habitat for animal wildlife can be classified based on ecosystems that are in areas known as

biomes—large areas with distinct combinations of animals and plants.

TERRESTRIAL BIOMES

Several terrestrial biomes exist in the United States: tropical, temperate forest, grasslands

and savannas, tundra and taiga, and desert.

E-unit: Defining Wildlife Habitat and Recognizing Its Importance

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biomes

biotic pyramid

cover

desert

edge

estuary

featured species

home range

interspersion

metabolism

permafrost

savannas

space

species richness

stream

taiga

territory

tundra

Tropical Biome

Tropical areas are near the equator. Typically, they are in forests or grasslands with high

temperatures. Tropical forested areas have high rainfall and tend to have a wet season and a dry

season. Birds, insects, frogs, and many other small animals occupy the tops of the trees in such

areas. Tropical grassland areas tend to have abundant small grasses and forbs, despite low rain-

fall. These areas provide a good habitat for grazing animals, snakes, rodents, and lizards.

Temperate Forest Biome

The temperate forest biome covers much of the eastern and southern United States. In the

east, this biome consists of mixed hardwoods. Pine trees are the predominant tree species in

southern forests. The precipitation varies from moderate to heavy. Berries, acorns, fruit, and

cones are produced and serve as food for squirrels, deer, rabbits, and quail.

Grasslands and Savannas

Grasslands and savannas host

the predominant vegetation of

grass because the precipitation is

too low to support trees. As a

result, there are many grazing ani-

mals (e.g., deer, elk, and bison).

Savannas are areas similar to

grasslands with the addition of

widely spaced trees. They are

often transitional zones between

prairies and forests and are found

in Africa, Australia, and India.

Tundra and Taiga

Tundra and taiga are cold climates found in North America. Tundra is in the Arctic area or

at high elevations. It is characterized by low temperatures and permafrost—permanently

frozen ground. Many lichens, mosses, a few shrubs, and some grasses grow in tundra. In con-

trast, taiga areas have large conifer forests that can withstand low temperatures and heavy

loads of snow.

Desert

A desert is a sandy and dry area with little or no rain. Temperatures range from extremely

hot to extremely cold. The desert areas with more moisture support plant growth.


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FIGURE 1. This biome consists mainly of grass and wildflowers. (Courtesy,

Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA)

AQUATIC BIOMES

Aquatic biomes include lakes and ponds, streams, oceans and seas, and wetlands and estuar-

ies. They may involve freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water habitats.

Lakes and Ponds

Lakes and ponds are natural or

artificial reservoirs of the earth

that usually hold freshwater. The

water temperatures vary with the

surrounding climate and the

water source. In lakes and ponds,

algae, insects, and other small

creatures are sources of food for

fish, shellfish, and other aquatic

wildlife.

Streams

A stream is flowing water

that moves from a higher to a

lower elevation. Some of this water is from ground runoff or springs; other streams are

released by users. Creeks are small streams, and rivers are large streams.

Oceans and Seas

Oceans and seas are large bodies of saline or salty water that cover 71 percent of the planet

Earth. Seas are somewhat smaller than oceans. Most rivers and streams flow to oceans and seas.

Some organisms are adapted to the mix of fresh and saltwater as habitats.

Wetlands and Estuaries

Wetlands and estuaries have a big effect on land areas and serve as important habitats for

some wildlife species. Swamps and marshes are wetland areas along inland streams that provide

a habitat for many kinds of waterfowl. An estuary is the area where a stream flows into an

ocean; wildlife in these areas can tolerate freshwater and brackish water.

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS

Wildlife species have life requirements that must be met by their habitat for survival. Com-

ponents of habitat are food, water, cover, and space.

Food

All living organisms require food for nutrients to live, grow, and reproduce. A key compo-

nent of food is energy. The series of transfers of food energy from one organism to another is a


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FIGURE 2. An aquatic habitat and edges are created when a beaver makes a

dam and pond. (Courtesy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA)

biotic pyramid. The internal process by which an organism receives energy from food is

metabolism.

Water

Water is the basic need of life. Water’s chemical structure is H2O. With terrestrial habitats,

water determines what species of plants will grow. The plants impact which animals live in the

habitat. In aquatic habitats, there can be damaging pollutants (e.g., siltation, sewage, and other

pollutants). Some wildlife animal species receive most of their water through the food they

consume, but many need a watering area for drinking once or twice a day.

Cover

Cover is needed for most wildlife species and is sometimes referred to as “shelter.” Cover is

the vegetation or other material that provides safety in a habitat. Animals use cover for nesting,

resting, and protecting the pack, herd, etc. from predators and adverse weather.

Space

Space provides air, food, and

cover for wildlife species; it is the

area around an organism. Space

requirements vary with season,

animal, and habitat quality. The

space an animal normally uses for

living is home range. It is where

the animal obtains food, water,

and cover. Within a home range,

an animal may establish a terri-

tory—an area smaller than the

home range. For example, squir-

rels may only travel a few feet

around their den in a tree to

acquire food.

HABITAT MIX

Many animal wildlife species require more than one stage of succession in their habitat.

Interspersion

Interspersion, the mixture of lots of different stages within an area, supports a greater

variety of wildlife. The best way to measure the amount of interspersion is to use the inter-

spersion index principle. This involves counting the number of times a habitat changes from

east to west and north to south in aerial photographs. Without dispersal, animals have limited

access.


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FIGURE 3. Pheasants need food and shelter. (Courtesy, Natural Resources

Conservation Service, USDA)

Edge

Edge is a concept also known as ecotone. Edge is the area where two habitats meet. Habi-

tats with a large amount of edge provide more food, water, and cover for a variety of species

than areas of the same vegetation type. Edge quality is measured by the transition that occurs.

Edges with high contrast have more species of animal wildlife than those with low contrast.

For example, edge between Stage 2 and Stage 5 has higher contrast than edge between Stages 2

and 3.

HABITAT PRODUCTION

Habitat management influences the diversity of species attracted to the area. Most habitats

are managed for a featured species or for species richness.

Featured Species

The first basic goal of wildlife habitat management is to provide a habitat for a specific wild-

life species. A featured species is an animal type that will be promoted through an

improved habitat. For instance, the needs in shortest supply (e.g., water, food, or cover) are

provided. In selecting habitat management practices, the effects of practices on species other

than the featured species must be studied.

Species Richness

The second basic goal of wild-

life habitat management is to pro-

vide habitats for different wildlife

species. Species richness is

the number of different species

found within an area. The follow-

ing are part of the wildlife man-

agement plan to promote species

richness: a mixture of

successional stages is present;

unbroken block sizes are of 10 to

40 acres; the edges have high con-

trast; and a wide variety of vegeta-

tion layers is present within each

area containing only one

successional stage. Providing

some habitat for as many species

as possible promotes species rich-

ness.


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FIGURE 4. A conservationist discusses habitat management with a

landowner. (Courtesy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA)

Summary:

� A biome is a large area with a distinct combination of animals and plants. Terrestrialbiomes in the United States include tropical, temperate forest, grasslands and savan-nas, tundra and taiga, and desert. Aquatic biomes include lakes and ponds, streams,oceans and seas, and wetlands and estuaries.

Wildlife species require habitats consisting of food, water, cover, and space.

Many animal wildlife species require more than one stage of succession in theirhabitat. Interspersion supports a greater variety of wildlife. Habitats with a largeamount of edge provide more food, water, and cover for a variety of species thanareas of the same vegetation type.

Habitat management influences the diversity of species attracted to the area. The firstbasic goal of wildlife habitat management is to provide a habitat for a specific wildlifespecies. The second basic goal is to provide habitats for many different wildlife species.

Checking Your Knowledge:

� 1. What are some terrestrial biomes?

2. What are some aquatic biomes?

3. What does habitat provide for wildlife?

4. Why is habitat mix important?

5. What are two goals of habitat management?

Expanding Your Knowledge:

� Identify several wildlife species you would like to attract to your area (e.g., birds,deer, or fish). Conduct research to determine their habitat requirements. Thendevelop a plan that would promote that type of habitat.

Web Links:

� Biome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome

The World’s Biomes

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php

Management Practices for Enhancing Wildlife Habitat

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:nPoezsQuo6cJ:pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uh107.pdf+habitat+management&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=18&gl=us

Wildlife Habitat

http://www.hillsdalecounty.info/planningeduc0065.asp


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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:nPoezsQuo6cJ:pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uh107.pdf+habitat+management&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=18&gl=us

http://www.hillsdalecounty.info/planningeduc0065.asp

defining wildlife habitat and recognizing its importance

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