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Wildlife Exam 2
Exam 2
103
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 2
05/03/2015

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Term
Latent Heat of Water
Definition
Heat necessary to raise 1 gram of water 1°C. Relatively high compared to other elements. Cause stability in temp of environment and animals.
Term
Lotic
Definition
Streams, rivers, primarily moving water.
Term
Lentic
Definition
Lakes, ponds, primarily stagnant water.
Term
Water Inputs
Definition
Rainfall, Groundwater, Runoff.
Term
Water Outputs
Definition
Evaporation, Transpiration, Respiration.
Term
Water Quality Factors
Definition
Sediment: Photosynthesis amount.
Temp: Growth and disease freq.
Nutrients: Need a balance.
Term
Oligotrophic
Definition
Low nutrients
Term
Eutrophic
Definition
High nutrient levels.
Term
Water & Distribution
Definition
Corridor: Can link aquatic animals to other areas.
Barrier: Can isolate non aquatic animals.
Island: Can isolate and change species.
Term
Water & Behavior
Definition
Determines migration patterns, range, general habitat.
Term
Physiological Water Adaptations
Definition
Metabolic Water: Gaining water from food, being more efficient.
Saltwater: Special salt extracting structures.
Term
Water Challenges
Definition
Floods, Drought, Deep snow.
Term
Water Pollution
Definition
Oil Spills, eutrophication/O2 Depletion, bioaccumulation
Term
Soil Types
Definition
Demand on percent clay, sand, and silt. Certain types ideal for certain species to grow, burrow, and live in.
Term
Soil Quality
Definition
Nutrients, moisture holding capacity, overall composition.
Term
Major Water Concerns
Definition
Desertification and erosion.
Term
Animal Impacts on Soil
Definition
Burrows, sediment storage, roosts.
Term
Allopatric Species
Definition
Species who distributions don't overlap. They will not interact.
Term
Sympatric Species
Definition
Species who distributions do overlap. They will interact.
Term
Neutralism
Definition
Occur in the same area, but do not affect each others success in any way. Ex: bat(0) and mouse(0)
Term
Commensalism
Definition
Live together and don't harm each other but one species gains something. Ex: Oxpecker(+) and Rhino (0)
Term
Predation
Definition
One species gains at the detriment to the other species (death). Ex: Lion(+) and wildebeest(-).
Term
Parasitism
Definition
One species gains at the detriment to the other species (not always death). Ex: Lamprey (+) and trout (-).
Term
Mutualism
Definition
Both species help each other. Both adapted to need each other. Ex: Ants (+) and acacia (+).
Term
Cooperation
Definition
Two species help each other, but don't need each other to survive. Ex: Badgers(+) and Coyotes(+).
Term
Competition
Definition
Both species have less resources available. Equally detrimental to both. Ex: Hyena(-) and Lion(-).
Term
Competitive Exclusion Principle
Definition
The probability that two or more species may coexist is inversely proportional to their amount of niche overlap. More competition = less likely to coexist.
Term
Responses to Competition
Definition
Numerical Consequences: Decrease in reproduction and survival density distribution.
Functional Changes: Either morphological or behavioral changes.
Term
Character Displacement
Definition
Evolution of physical differences to allow exploitation of different resources. Ex: Different finches living on one island.
Term
Interference Competition
Definition
Direct displacement of competitors through aggression. Greater ferocity, numbers, or size.
Term
Exploitation Competition
Definition
One species makes more efficient use of a common resource. Ex: selecting different foods in one habitat, occupation of different areas in same season, access to different foods vertically.
Term
Jackal Vs Foxes Case Study
Definition
Competing Jackals: Many food sources, so behavioral changes between species more possible to develope. Couldn't evolve to different sizes because too much competition.
Competing Foxes: Few food sources, can change morphological to have different requirements cause not a lot of competition.
Term
Intraguild Predation
Definition
Killing and eating potential competitors.
Term
Coyote/GrayFox/Bobcat Study Methods
Definition
Food habits: Scat frequency and size..
Distribution: Foot holds, camera traps, cage traps, telemetry.
Activity Patterns: Camera Traps, Telemetry.
Mortality: Telemetry, crime scene investigation, dissection, location.
Term
Coyote/GrayFox/Bobcat Findings
Definition
Food: Fox diverse, coyote diverse, bobcat mostly meat.
Covertype: Fox brushy prefered, coyote open prefered, bobcat mostly open some brush.
Activity: Fox active at night most, coyote/bobcat more active at day.
Term
Coyote/Fox/Bobcat Conclusions
Definition
Gray fox behavior somewhat different to avoid competition. Intraguild predation high thus regulated by interference competition.
Term
Reasons for Population Estimates
Definition
Too few? Need to start restrictions.
Too many? Cultural carrying capacity.
Enough? Maintaining sustainable harvest.
Health of Pop? Trends appearing call for action.
Term
Population Count Biases
Definition
Conditions: Weather, accessibility, density, vegetation/topography
Observer Effect: Variability in observer experience and errors in sample size.
Timing: Season, hour of day.
Animal Behavior: Differential observability between genders, variations in distribution, different "catchability" or shyness/camouflage.
Term
Ideal Population Estimation
Definition
Systematic (controlled/consistent), statistically reliable (accounts for biases), and repeatable.
Term
Types of Pop Estimates
Definition
Census: Most precise, exact complete count.
Estimate: Educated guess with idea of how right or wrong.
Index: Least precise, quick scan for general abundance.
Term
Cost of Pop Estimate
Definition
Equipment, tech, intensity, manpower, duration, accessibility, precision required.
Term
Mark-Recapture Estimate
Definition
N=Total # of individuals in population at sampling.
M=# of individuals marked in 1st sample.
C=Total # of individuals captured in 2nd sample.
R=# of marked individuals in 2nd sample. (Recaptures)
Formula: N/M=C/R or N=(C×M)/R
Term
Mark-Recapture Assumptions
Definition
Equal catchability among animals, no marks lost, no immigration or emigration, and and marking does not affect catchability.
Term
Direct Indices of Abundance
Definition
Passive: Find scats, tracks, and observations.
Attractive/Reactive: Bait stations, trapping survey, howling.
Term
Grassland Types
Definition
Tropical: Consistent temp. Very seasonal large rainfall amounts and very dry seasons. Ex: Savannah.
Temperate: Seasonal temps, variable rainfall but fairly consistently available.
Tundra: Seasonal temps, but generally colder. Mostly dry, small rainy season.
Term
Grassland Species
Definition
More variability than immediately apparent. Variability of water drives migration patterns.
Term
Grassland Fires
Definition
Prevents shrub/tree growth, minimal actual damage to grass plants(most roots underground, fast regrowth). Forces availability of more nutritious new growth for grazers. Does cause direct and indirect animal death.
Term
Grassland Species Interactions
Definition
Sparse landscape means interactions have less flexibility and are specific to be successful. Ex: Bison flatten grass, prairie dogs see predators better, ferrets more likely to survive.
Term
Domestic Livestock Grazing
Definition
Grazing is a natural process, but livestock create prolonged heavy pressure. Some exotics planted to prevent erosion, but now replacing natives.
Term
Over Grazing Effects
Definition
Non-edible shrubs/brush dominate as edibles over grazed changing species composition. Thus changing ground cover conditions increasing soil erosion. Thus less water retained and desertification occurs.
Term
Livestock Vs Wildlife Grazing Competition
Definition
Both graze the same foods creating unnatural competition conditions. Domestics have our help to survive so more successful.
Term
Grassland Management Types
Definition
Change Fencing: Smart fences allow movement of wildlife, still restrict livestock. Strategic placement and timed movement to match migration patterns.
Maximum Yield: Determine sustainable grazing amounts (duration, amount, area).
Alternative Species: Harvest/domesticated native species.
Term
Pristine Forest
Definition
Untouched before industrial revolution. Not really around anymore.
Term
US Forest History
Definition
1600-1890: Thought an inexhaustible resource. Concern begins when pacific reached.
1891: Congress designates 1st Federal Forest Reserve.
1900s: Dept. of Agriculture (Teddy/Pinchot) sets up 1st national forests increasing protected land 8x. First forestry college stuff.
1950: Post WWII boom pushed for "multiple use management" conservation, not preservation. More science!
1976: National Forest Management Act.
Term
Forest Ownership in US
Definition
Southeast: 73% Private owned but mostly corps.
West: Only 21% privately owned. More managed.
Massachusetts: 85% private owned but mostly private people, not corps.
Term
Forest Succession
Definition
Ecological replacement of one plant community with another. Natural change overtime. Cleared>grass>shrubs>low trees>high trees.
Term
Silviculture
Definition
Regeneration, tending, and harvesting of the forest. Tree based agriculture.
Term
Sustained Yield Management
Definition
Maintaining a constant supply over time. Based on growth/seeding patterns of ecosystem.
Term
Rotation Time
Definition
Number of years between the time a tree or stand is cut and the time it is replaced. (Can be cut again).
Term
Uneven-Aged Management
Definition
Selective cutting to maintain range if tree ages. Difficult and slow.
Term
Even-Aged Management
Definition
Clear cutting. Can mimic natural clearing events (fire, storm) but high intensity can cause fragmentation of habitat.
Term
Snags and Deadwoods
Definition
Snags are dead standing trees and Deadwoods are downed woody debris. Both important to wildlife for hiding, young, and food.
Term
Complete VS Wildlife Clear Cutting
Definition
Complete leaves nothing and does not consider wildlife.
Wildlife leaves young trees, snags, and deadwood that benefits animals and is unusable anyway.
Term
Forest Fires
Definition
A natural part of forest ecosystems. Longleaf pine needs it to knock out competition. Endangered warble species need jack pine, jack pine needs fire to spread seeds.
Term
Tree Size Classes
Definition
Seedlings: <1" Diameter at Breast Height (dbh)
Sapling: 1-5" dbh
Pole (firewood): 5-9" dbh
Sawtimber (boards): >9" dbh
Term
Farming Impacts
Definition
Habitat loss of forests, wetlands, other cover for farming.
Pesticide and fertilizer use changing species/nutrient composition.
Fall plowing clears winter cover/food and increase susceptibility to wind erosion and siltation of wetlands.
Term
Farmland Restoration
Definition
Field Borders of vegetation.
Conservation tillage where only roots cut and dead tops prevent wind erosion.
Preserve wetlands.
Use native grass species and revised grazing regimes/mowing schedules.
Term
Conservation Reserve Program
Definition
Government paid farmers for every 10 acres they didn't farm and left untouched for 10 years. An investment for farmers but good if farming too expensive anyway. Success led to Farm Security and Rural Investment Act.
Term
Types of Biodiversity
Definition
Ecosystem, community, species, and genetic.
Term
Conservation Genetics
Definition
Provides an understanding of evolutionary processes and identifies levels of genetic diversity.
Term
Genetics Techniques
Definition
Sample Collection: Organs, blood, hair scat.
Sample Analysis: Enzymes, mitochondrial DNA, Nuclear DNA & RNA, and PCR.
Term
Genetics Among Species
Definition
Answers questions about multiple species. Ex: How are Raccoon, black bear, panda and red panda related?
Term
Genetics Within a Species
Definition
Determining why populations of the same species differ. Usually due to geographical history Ex: Bananaquit pops on different islands.
Term
Genetics Among Individuals
Definition
Determines how diverse gene pool is among individuals, how close individuals related. Ex: Gray wolf offspring dispersal amount determination.
Term
Animal Home Range
Definition
Area an individual animal uses for obtaining resources. Food, mates, young raising. Bigger size and tropic level determines bigger size of home range.
Term
Movement Patterns
Definition
Range Residency: Permanente occupations cause resources year round and distributed regularly.
Migration: Annual movement, relatively long distances, resulting from seasonal change in resource abundance/distribution.
Nomads: Unpredictable resources over time/distribution results in large scale movements.
Term
Territoriality
Definition
Defense of a geographic area either direct (fighting) or indirect (displays, marks).
Resource based or mating and so seasonal and varies greatly between species.
Term
Mating Systems
Definition
Monogamy: 1 male and 1 female for extended period. Ex: Canada goose.
Polygyny: 1 male and many females. Ex: Elk
Polyandry: 1 female and many males. Ex: Spotted Sandpiper
Promiscuity: Mate with whoever is around. Ex: Humpback whale.
Term
Group Sizes
Definition
Solitary: Alone except for mating or female with young. Ex: Leopard.
Pairs: Monogamous or shared homerange. Ex: Red Fox.
Groups: Any amount more than 2 individuals. Use despotism or hierarchy.
Term
Evaporative Heat Loss
Definition
When heat is transfered from the animal to the environment via evaporation of water from body surface. In birds use panting over mucus membranes in head to cool.
Term
Adaptive Heterothermy
Definition
Allowing body temp to rise during the day and then release heat at night during rest when temp lowers. Or by returning to a burrow/cool area.
Term
Behavioral Heat Reduction
Definition
Timing of Activity, Use of Microclimates, Body Orientation.
Term
Pelage, Plumage, & Horn Heat Transfer
Definition
Pelage can insulate against temp change, but prevent evaporation. Color also can reflect heat if light, absorb if dark. Highly vascular horns can facilitate heat disipation.
Term
Wildlife Water Development "Guzzler"
Definition
Most common precipitation catchment used to supply water for wildlife. Collect water and store it for access to wildlife in drought times.
Term
Generalist Predator
Definition
Most common, capture a wide variety of prey and take based on availability not relative abundance. Ex: Coyote
Term
Specialist Predators
Definition
Can capture other prey, but persist only certain prey. Ex: Canada lynx pop directly dependent on snowshoe hare pop.
Term
Prey Vulnerability Factors
Definition
Age (elderly and fawns), physical condition (injured or sick), environmental conditions (harsh winter), activity (susceptible while foraging), and group size (more = safer).
Term
Predator Control Problems
Definition
Increasing undesirable populations, secondary affects not predicted, and cascade affects.
Term
Bottom-Up Predator Regulation
Definition
Regulating the food source so that the eater is forced to be less abundant.
Term
Top-Down Predator Regulation
Definition
The reduction of top predators to increase their prey neighbors.
Term
Sequel Segregation
Definition
The sexes use different habitats or select similar habitats in different places. Ex: Male speed whales migrate to higher latitudes while females stay in tropical areas with young.
Term
Dispersal
Definition
Natal dispersal is the movement of an animal from the home range to the home range it first reproduces in. Breeding dispersal is movement to new home range between breeding events. A permanent or long term movement from one home range to another.
Term
Migration
Definition
A critical, repeated phase in a life cycle that has major impacts on the physiology and behavior of individuals.
Term
Dispersal Stages
Definition
Emigration (leaving current home range), transfer (moving through unfamiliar territory), and immigration (settlement into a new home range).
Term
Antipredator Behavior
Definition
Vigilance, use of refuges, grouping.
Term
Benefits to Group Living
Definition
Protection, pooled resources, better environment (huddling), mating.
Term
Habitat as Species Specific
Definition
Each species has a unique set of physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations that are suited to a particular suite of conditions and resources.
Term
Ecological Trap
Definition
An area with cues to an animal that it provides habitat resources, but where animals have relatively low rates of survival, reproduction, or both.
Term
Habitat Conservation Areas (HCAs)
Definition
Patches of forest designated to be maintained for northern spotted owl survival based on home ranges of 20 pairs.
Term
Agencies/Organizations for Conservation Planning
Definition
US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, US Army corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Mgmt, Department of Defense, and National Parks Service.
Term
Safe Harbor Agreements
Definition
Voluntary arrangements between the USFWS or NMFS and cooperating non federal landowners to promote management for threatened and endangered species.
Term
Conservation Planning Process
Definition
State Goals and Objective
Identify and Assign Task
Conduct Tasks
Evaluate Results
Modify Plan
Restart cyle.
Term
Monitoring in Conservation
Definition
Provides the details needed to successfully evaluate the management plan whether desired goals and objectives are achieved.
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