habitat and water

97% oceans, 2% glaciers, and <1% freshwater

distribution of water

water

essential for physiological processes in plants and animals

precipitation pattterns

shape vegetation communities

swamps, forests, savannas, and deserts

depend on moisture

water management

influences wildlife distributions and population dynamics

diverse ecosystems

water supports…

transparency, universal solvent, and high heat capacity

properties of water

transparency

water enables photosynthesis in aquatic systems

universal solvent

water dissolves and transports minerals

high heat capacity

water stabilizies temperature

enables survival under extreme temperatures

homeothermy and poikilothermy

high heat capacity is key to…

67%

mule deer is ___ body water

82%

pronghorn is __ body water

rapid productivity

inundation boosts nutrient availability which leads to…

habitat degredation

water can also spread pollutants which leads to…

aquatic food webs

transparency is the foundation of…

turbidity

cloudiness or haziness of water caused by suspended particles, which can affect water quality and aquatic life

reduces productivity

physical and geomorphic

water is a _____ force

valleys, canyons, and deltas

water can shape landscapes via erosion such as…

oxbows and billabongs

rivers cut new channels forming….

oxbows

provide vital waterfowl refuges

particle size

shapes riparian ecosystems and forests

clay

has the smallest particle size

sand, silt, and clay

types of particle sizes

specialized fauna

karst systems support…

karst systems

formed by limestone dissolution through slightly acidic groundwater

sinkholes, springs, caves, and disappearing streams

features of karst systems

aquifer recharge zones

karst systems provide crtical _____ and major groundwater reservoirs

pollution and sedimentation

karst systems are highly sensitive to…

Edwards Plateau, Ozark Highlands, and Florida aquifer systems

examples of karst systems

bats

use caves for roosting, hibernation, and maternity colonies

springs and seeps

maintain riparian vegeation and refugia during drought

glaciation

formed lakes and prairie plotholes

permafrost

retains surface water despite low precipitation

tundra

glaciation supports ____ ecosystems

caribou, muskox, and hares

species that live in tundra ecosystems

wetlands

sediment-rich deltas creates productive…

nile and mississippi rivers

examples of productive wetlands

Aswan Dam

reduced nutrient flow which caused sardine fishery collapse

natural reservoirs, wet and dry cycles

wetlands function as ____ because they cycle between _____ to enhance productivity

temporary wetlands from snowmelt

provide breeding protein for ducks

seasonal flooding

maintains high biological acitivity and supports complex food webs

flooded bottomland forests

_______ are highly productive

prolonged flooding

disrupts flood cycles which causes tree mortality and habitat loss

songbirds, shoebirds, and waterfowl

wetland management encourages moist-soil vegetation supporting…

wetland management

promotes vegetation diversity and sustainable wildlife habitat beyond grain plantings

geographic distributions and evolutionary isolation

water influences…

barrier and corridor

water acts as both ____ for dispersal

Wallace’s line

separates Asian and Astralasian fauna

rivers like Green River

limit mammal movement

rivers like Columbia river

allow crossings

swimming, rafting, or ice bridges

species cross water via…

isolation

promotes speciation and adaptive radiation

canada goose

hawaiian goose evolved from…

salinity tolerance

fish distributions are limited by…

estuary

semi-enclosed coastal water bodies where freshwater mixes with saltwater

transition zones

estuaries serve as ____ between riverine and marine systems

wetlands, tidal flats, and salt marshes

estuaries support extensive _____ vital to many species

biologically productive

estuaries are among the most ____ ecosystems on Earth

fish, crustaceans, and waterfowl

estuaries provide nursery and feeding habitas for…

pollution, dredging, sedimentation, and urban runoff

threats to estuaries

forested rivers

can facilitate or restrict animal movement

riparian zones

influence migration and species richness

riparian ecosystem

any area adjacent to water

rainshadow effects

mountains create dry zone leeward of prevailing winds

rainfall patterns

shape habitat availability and species distributions

dictate seasonal movement and resource use

reproduction and survival

annual variation in precipitation strongly affects…

rainfall and habitat water availability

species success is often tied to…

cottontail rabbits

rainfall affects early and late litter survival for _____

continuous nutrient input

estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems because of _____ from rivers and tidal action

ducks

wetland availability drives breeding success for…

bobwhites

population fluctuate with rainfall

linear relationship between rainfall and recruitment

california quail

re-nesting is limited to drought

reproduction is tied to soil moisture

wild turkys

subspecies distributions are linked to rainfall commonality for…

white-tailed deer and peccaries

drought reduces reproduction

recovery follows rainfall

physiology and behavior

wildlife evolved to manage variable water conditions through…

reproductive timing, migration, and water conservation mechanisms

types of phiological and behavorial adaptations

wet and dry years

types of reproductive timing

wet years

stimulate early reproduction and larger broods

dry years

delay or suppress reproduction

australian gray teal 

breed in response to rising water levels, not season

wildebeest

migrate following rainfall and new plant growth

australian gray teal and wildebeest

examples of species that have behavorial responses

metabolic water and efficient kidneys

kangaroo rats have _____ to survive without drinking water

specialized feathers

sandgrouse carry water to chicks in _____

excess salt

seabird salt glands remove ___ in water

snow depth and crusting

caribou energy costs are linked to _____

behavorial adjaustments

minimize energy loss in harsh winters

morphological traits

enhance movement efficiency on snow

extreme climatic events

alter habitat quality and species suvival

ecological shifts

droughts, floods, blizzards, and El Niño each drive…

drought

reduces habitat productivity, food, and reproduction

2011 Texas drought

caused Houston toad decline

floods

cause nest destruction, mortality, and vegetation loss

ungulate survival

deep, persistent snow limits…

deer and sheep

______ mortality increases with snow depth and duration

snow cover

affects goose nesting success and food access

El Niño

alters global precipitation and temperature patterns

dirupts marine and terrestrial food webs

water availability

directly determines wildlife habitat structure and function

hydrology, vegetation, succession, and climate cycles

water management must integrate…