Wildlife Terms and Concepts

Communities and Ecosystems Biotic Community All plant and animal populations living in a defined area Composition changes over time Due to plant succession and climate Interact with nonliving or abiotic resources Together they form an ecosystem Ecosystem Community of living things combined with nonliving things Sizes vary Communities and Ecosystems

Habitat Requirements Habitat Represents the physical and biological resources required by wildlife for survival and reproduction Requirements are species specific Change throughout the year Do not confuse habitat for habitat components Habitat Requirements

Focal Species Wildlife species that a habitat plan is about Determine habitat requirements Evaluate capability of area to provide those requirements Management practices can be detrimental to other species Focal Species

Species Richness and Diversity Type of organism whose members can freely interbreed with each other and are genetically similar Species richness Number of different species present in an area Species diversity Number of species present as well as distribution and abundance of those species Species Richness and Diversity

Involves an orderly change in species of plants occurring in a particular area Wildlife species associate with or more stages 6 Stages Bare Ground Annual Grasses and Forbs Perennial grasses and forbs Brushy cover composed primarily of shrubs Young Forest Mature Forest Plant Succession

Stage 1-Bare Ground

Stage 2-Annual Grasses and Forbs

Stage 3 Perennial Grasses and Forbs

Stage 4 Brushy Cover composed of Shrubs

Stage 5-Young Woods

Stage 6-Mature Woods

Plant Succession Stages Areas change Plant development Disturbances Fire Grazing Ice and wind storms Lighting Flooding Plant Succession Stages

Vertical Structure 3 Distinct layers of vegetation in Forest/Woodland Understory Diverse and include grasses, forbs, ferns, sedges, shrubs, and young trees. Midstory Primarily shrubs and trees more than 4.5 feet tall Overstory Trees in the canopy Vertical Structure

Layers are arranged in relation to each other is important to wildlife species Example: Bird may feed on understory but nest in the over story Structure may vary from area to area with type of forest Vertical Structure

Arrangement and Interspersion Successional stages or vegetation types are situated in relation to each other Managing the different areas within a landscape is interspersion More interspersion the greater the diversity of wildlife Arrangement and Interspersion

Edge Where two or more vegetation types or successional stages meet Fields meets a forest Young mixed wood stand meets a mature wood stand Change can be gradual or abrupt Hayfield meets mature woods (hard edge) 30 yr old forest meets a 60 yr old forest (soft edge) Increased edge means increased in interspersion Edge

Edge Benefits Non Benefits Types or stages present provide some habitat requirements Arrangement of types or stages is suitable and within the home range of focal species Specific vegetation types and successional stages for focal species are in proximity Increases species diversity Non Benefits May not provided habitat requirements for focal species Species may avoid edges due not being uniform Edge

Area Sensitive Species Species that need large unfragmented areas in certain successional stages Unfragmented area of at least 100 acres is minimum requirement Depends on the species Fragmentation Disruption of vegetation types either man- made or by natural processes Wildlife did not respond to this same way Area Sensitive Species

Home Range Home Range Seasonal home range Area in which an animal lives Smaller home range the higher quality habitat Larger home range the lower quality habitat Seasonal home range Animal moves from one seasonal home range to another Long migrations Require available habitats along route Take into consideration when planning for various species Home Range

Areas of suitable habitat or paths that do not restrict movement for animals to move from areas within home range or migration Examples Mule Deer Valleys between mountain ranges or overpasses across http://planetmichigan.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/ wildlife-corridors/ Corridor

Carrying Capacity Only so many animals can live in an area Number of animals that can exist in an area Biological carrying capacity Maximum number of animals, within a given species, an area can support before species is negatively affected Quantity and quality of food, cover, water, and space determines capacity Limiting factor Habitat requirement that is in shortest supply Varies season to season and year to year Carrying Capacity

Pond Dynamics Well Management consists of Pond Balance Properly stocking the right species Balanced harvest Proper fertilization Stable Water Level Aquatic Weed Control Pond Balance Balance between prey and predator fish is established and maintained Establish an adequate food chain for prey and controlling prey and predator species numbers through fishing http://movies.netflix.com/WiPlayer?movieid=702 08922&trkid=3325854 Pond Dynamics

Stream Habitat Stream Riparian Buffers Body of water moving in a definite pattern and following the course of least resistance to a lower elevation Erosion Water moves it carries materials that have been picked up Water flow is restricted creates more erosion Riparian Buffers Vegetated areas along streams and ponds Maintain streambanks stability Filters sediment from water moving Assist with water temperatures Stream Habitat

Pools and Riffles Pools Riffles Habitat features for various fish that inhabit streams Provide areas for fish to feed and find refuge Riffles Areas of spawning Pools and Riffles

Food Webs Network of interconnected food chains Step by step passage of material and energy through ecosystem Food Webs

Invasive Species Plants that are purposely or accidently introduced Some species limit original species Difficult to control or eradicate Impacts agriculture production, water resources, municipal capacity, and human health and safety Contribute to loss of habitat for native species Challenge for natural resource management Removal Fire, herbicide, mechanical removal, biological control Invasive Species