Overview of Rangeland Animals & Habitat

Animals that Live on the Range Three Major Types of Animals: Livestock Wildlife Insects Jen Peterson University of Idaho Archive Jen Peterson Jen Peterson Jen Peterson Livestock includes species such as cattle, sheep, and horses. Range and pastures provide: 83% nutrients consumed by beef cattle 91% nutrients for sheep and goats 72% nutrients for horses and mules Wildlife: A great majority of mammals (84%) found in North America spend at least a portion of their life in rangeland ecosystems. Even 74% of birds in North America spend part of their life on Rangelands as do 58% of amphibians and 38% fishes (Hart, 1994). Insects act as herbivores, biological control agents, decomposers, pollinators, and predators, and they are major prey for reptiles, mammals, and birds inhabiting sagebrush communities, including sage-grouse chicks Jen Peterson

Humans and Animals Terminology can be confusing…. Wild animals exist in a natural state Domestic animals have become accustomed to human control and provision Feral animals are domesticated animals that have been allowed to revert to a wild state Wild animals or wildlife are animals whose behavior, physiological, and genetics is largely not influenced by humans. There is a huge variety of wildlife species that inhabit rangelands including elk, deer, rabbits, insects, reptiles, and birds. Domestic animals are those that have been strongly influence by their relationship with human. The behavior and breeding of these animals has been modified by humans creating new species from their wild ancestors. Domestic animals include cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, geese, chickens, dogs, cats and honey bees. Feral animals are those which were once domesticated but have severed their ties with humans and gone back to a “wild” lifestyle. Wild horses ,burros and pigs are a good example of feral animals on rangeland.

Food Herbivores – plants eaters Carnivores – meat eaters Presentation (.ppt) Food Herbivores – plants eaters Graze and browse vegetation Carnivores – meat eaters Search, hunt, and consume other animals Omnivores – eat plants and animals Eat meat and vegetation like roots, berries, seeds, and young shoots Herbivores eat vegetation. Can be grazers that eat mostly grass or browsers that eat forbs and shrubs. Carnivores eat primarily meat. This mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Omnivores often eat vegetation that is most nutritious – could be animal or plant material.

The “Cellulose Dichotomy” Presentation (.ppt) The “Cellulose Dichotomy” Cellulose is the most abundant source of energy on rangelands. Animals can be divided into: Concentrate Selectors – cannot digest cellulose Ruminants – specialized 4-part stomach with microbes to break down cellulose Hind-gut fermenters – enlarged cecum with microbes to break down cellulose Most abundant source of energy. Concentrate selectors: Humans, birds, bears and rodents Ruminants: These animals do not digest the cellulose, but have specialized microbes in their gut that can break down Ruminant animals get most of their protein from the microbial bodies. Hind-gut fermenters: horses, rabbits cellulose

Concentrate Selectors Presentation (.ppt) Concentrate Selectors Herbivores with limited ability to ferment and use cellulose Birds and mice Get energy from simple carbohydrates like sugars and starches Eat roots, berries, seeds, young shoots This strategy requires careful selection of the most nutritious plants and plant parts. USGS.gov Geoffrey Dabb Iowa State University

Concentrate Selectors Presentation (.ppt) Concentrate Selectors Carnivores cannot breakdown cellulose Wolves, coyotes, fox, mountain lions Get energy and nutrients from “pre-formed” compounds = meat Search, hunt, and consume other animals Derive protein and energy by digesting meat.

Concentrate Selectors Presentation (.ppt) Concentrate Selectors Omnivores – cannot breakdown cellulose Bears, pigs, and humans Get energy and nutrients from plants and animals Eat meat and vegetation like roots, berries, seeds, and young shoots Omnivores like humans, bears, and pigs eat a combination of vegetation and meat to gain the energy and nutrients necessary. nasa.gov

Presentation (.ppt) Ruminants Enlarged fermentation organ (reticulum & rumen) that houses microbes (mostly bacteria and protozoa) that break down cellulose (into Volatile Fatty Acids or VFAs) that can be used as energy by the ruminant Cows, sheep, deer, bison, elk, moose, pronghorn Ruminants gets their energy through a symbiotic relationship with microbes in their rumen. The microbes breaking bonds of cellulose (i.e., cell walls) and release compounds (i.e., VFAs) which can be used by the ruminant animal for energy. The ruminant animal also gets protein by digesting the microbial bodies after the microbes die and are passed through the digestive system.

Presentation (.ppt) Hind-gut fermentors Enlarged fermentation organ (cecum) that houses microbes (mostly bacteria and protozoa) that break down cellulose (into Volatile Fatty Acids or VFAs) that can be used as energy Horses, rabbits, and some rodents These animals, like ruminants, gain energy through a symbiotic relationship with microbes. But, the do not get the benefits of being able to digest the protein in microbes. In their system the microbes are house further down the digestive track than the true-stomach (where acid digestion takes place) and small intestines (where absorption occurs). These animals are less efficient at processing cellulose than ruminants.

What is a Habitat? The “home” of a species Presentation (.ppt) What is a Habitat? The “home” of a species Includes all biotic, climate, topographic, and edaphic (soil) factors that affect life How would you hear habitat used in a conversation? Often times you’ll hear discussion of destruction of habitat. What does this mean? What is being destroyed?

4 Basic Elements of a Habitat Presentation (.ppt) 4 Basic Elements of a Habitat Water Food Cover Space These 4 keys factors are interrelated. Habitat is a function of all 4

Presentation (.ppt) Food Energy requirements can come from starches, sugars, fats, and cellulose Nutrient requirements come mostly from protein and vitamins Mineral requirements come mostly from phosphorus and potassium In examining food resources for wildlife and livestock we often focus on energy, nutrients, and minerals.

Presentation (.ppt) Food – how much to eat The amount a food required by rangeland animals varies on the type of animal Concentrate selectors such as birds, bears, and mice will eat 0.25% of their body weight per day Ruminants such as bison, deer, cattle, and sheep will eat 2.5% of their body weight per day Hind-gut fermentors such as horses and rabbits will eat 3.0% of their body weight per day For example, a 1000 lb ruminant would require 25 pounds of forage per day. Hind-Gut fermentors are slightly less efficient and can eat greater quantities due to the morphology of their digestive system.

Presentation (.ppt) Water Water requirements vary for animals depending on the species, weather and climate Sheep: 1-1 ½ gallons once/2 days Goat: 1-1 ½ gallons once/2 days Donkeys: 3-4 gallons once/day Horses: 5-8 gallons once or twice/day Cattle and Bison: 8-10 gallons once/1-2 days Water requirements for animals depends on the digestive and physiological abilities of the animals. Some animals can drink very little water while others require significantly more water.

Water Moisture content of forage Presentation (.ppt) Water Moisture content of forage Immature forage has lots of water in it Immature grasses may be up to 75% water When grasses are high in moisture, the water requirements are often met by the amount taken in with foraging.

Cover Thermal Shade in summer Shelter from cold wind in winter Presentation (.ppt) Cover Thermal Shade in summer Shelter from cold wind in winter Animals require different types of cover. Taller cover is important for animals to regulate body temperatures

Cover Hiding - Protection from predators Presentation (.ppt) Cover Hiding - Protection from predators Vegetation as visual obstruction Lack of visual obstruction (i.e., pronghorn and prairie dogs) We describe this type of cover as vertical cover, or visual obstruction.

Space Breeding and nesting Home range Social intolerance Presentation (.ppt) Space Breeding and nesting Home range Social intolerance Disease transmission Some animals can have social intolerances.

Presentation (.ppt) Limiting Factors Basic requirements that limit the size, growth, and/or quality of an animal population When you are trying to improve habitat, you must first address the factor that is most limiting. If something is limiting, the quality of the habitat is decreased. Addressing limiting factors is often referred to as habitat restoration.

Limiting Factors Human impact on limiting factors Add limiting factors Presentation (.ppt) Limiting Factors Human impact on limiting factors Add limiting factors Remove limiting factors www.visitidaho.org Limiting factors include things like fences and roads, or other elements that lead to habitat fragmentation or destruction.

Presentation (.ppt) Animal Relationships Mutualism/Protocooperation: Both benefit from the association. Commensalism: One derives some benefit while the other is unaffected. Antagonism (i.e. predation/parasitism): One species benefits at the expense of another. Amensalism: One is adversely affected and the other is unaffected by the association. Competition: Occurs when both animals in an assoicationare harmed when they use the same resource (such as food or water) that is in limited supply. Neutralism: Two animals do interact or share the same habitat but do not affect each other.

Animal Relationships + Benefit - + Benefit - Harm 0 No Effect Harm Presentation (.ppt) Animal Relationships + Benefit 0 No Effect - Harm + Benefit Mutualism Commensalism Antagonism Neutralism Amensalism - Harm Competition

Finding Examples + Benefit - + Benefit - Harm 0 No Effect Harm Presentation (.ppt) Finding Examples + Benefit 0 No Effect - Harm + Benefit Mutualism Egret & Buffalo Commensalism Wolves & Raven Antagonism Cougar & Deer Commensalism Deer & Housefly Neutralism Bees & Butterly Deer & Elk Amensalism Disease from one species to another - Harm Antagonism Parasites Amensalism Deficate in Stream Competition Pronghorn & Deer Deer & Elk

Animal Relationships Mutualism/Protocooperation: Both benefit from the association. Commensalism: One derives some benefit while the other is unaffected. Antagonism (i.e. predation/parasitism): One species benefits at the expense of another. Amensalism: One is adversely affected and the other is unaffected by the association. Competition: Occurs when both animals in an assoicationare harmed when they use the same resource (such as food or water) that is in limited supply. Neutralism: Two animals do interact or share the same habitat but do not affect each other.