AG-WL-4

 What are some important biological process to wildlife reproduction and survival?  What are the significance of each?

 Assimilation  Process of changing food substances  Growth  Process of increasing in size  Need balance of nutrients to sustain growth  Nutrient deficiency may cause disease, stunted maturity, and death  Repair  Replacement of worn or damaged parts

 The study of form, shape, and appearance  Anatomy helps determine how an animal survives in their environment

 Refers to how animals move  Swimming  Walking  Flying  Running

 Study of how the parts of an anatomy function  Systems include: Skeletal Digestive Respiratory Muscular Circulatory Nervous Excretory Reproductive

 Skeletal System  Consists of bones giving animals shape  Protects organs  Systems can be internal or external (exoskeleton) Vertebrates are animals with backbones

 Digestive System  Decomposes food  Two major types Ruminant Animals have stomach that is divided into four categories  Omasum  Reticulum  Rumen  Abomasum Monogastric Simple stomach with only one compartment

 Respiratory System  Animals take in oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide Land species have lungs Water species have gills

 Muscular System  Provides support and allows for movement  Attached to skeletal system

 Moves blood through an organism  Main organ is the heart  Works closely with the respiratory system

 Excretory System  Removes waste Urine Feces Perspiration

 Nervous System  Connects brain activity with muscles  Main part is the spinal cord

 Reproductive System  Enables organism to produce an offspring  Can be sexual or asexual Sexual Requires union of sperm and an egg Asexual Cloning exact offspring

 May occur internally or externally, depends on species.  Most large animals reproduce by internal mating.  Sexual union between male and female, known as copulation.  Once egg is fertilized by sperm, female carry young in their uterus (Gestation).  After parturition (birth) the young receive nourishment from its mother’s milk  Birds lay eggs and incubate them.  Fish, reptiles and amphibians lay eggs and that are externally fertilized.

 Reflects the current status of a wildlife population  Indicative of:  Habitat quality  Health factors  Behavioral conditions

 Used to estimate future declines or increases in the number of animals, and to recommend the appropriate management of the animal

 Embryonic Development  Fetal measurements: Use measurement devices to determine weeks/days to parturition  Candling: process by which a light source is utilized to illuminate the contents of an egg to determine fertility or maturation  Flotation: A fresh egg will sink. A partially developed embryo will float with the blunt end uppermost. A decomposing egg will float on its side.

 Morphological Features  Size and Weight of the animals.  Hind foot lengths.  Pelt Primeness  Development and wear of teeth  Development and wear of feathers  Development of Genitalia

 Genitalia  Secondary Sex Characteristics  Antler Development  Spur Development  Plumage Differences  Droppings  Courtship Behavior and Urination Postures

 Sex  Physical Characteristics (Body Size / Snout Length) Does Fawn Buck  Age  Antler Characteristics Ear Width Ear Length Number of Antler Points

 Hen – Female  Feathers on Crown of Head  Foot generally less than 4.5 inches  Droppings are curled  Beards and spurs are absent  Breast feathers are generally brown or buff-tipped  Jake – Juvenile Male  Gobbler (A.K.A – Tom) – Adult Male  Feathers to base of head  Beard is evident  Foot is greater than 4.5 inches  Droppings are J-shaped  Spur is present  Breast feathers are generally black tipped

 Determine Age by:  Spurs (Males) 1 year1/2” or less 2 years1/2” to 7/8” 3 years7/8” to 1” 4+ years1” +  Beards 1 year3 – 5 inches 2 years6 – 9 inches 3+ years10 inches +  Wings Juvenile: 9 th and 10 th primaries pointed and dark tipped, no barring near tip Irregular contour of tail feathers Adult: 9 th and 10 th primaries more rounded with white barring extending to tip Regular contour of tail feathers