habitat food and cover

scale and habitat components

wildlife management depends on understand the relationship between…

ecological systems

scale influences how we observe and manage _____

food and cover

essential habitat components that determine occupancy, reproduction, and survival

scale

the spatial or temporal dimension at which patterns and processes are observed

fine scale

daily foraging or nest selection

broad scale

migration corridors and climate influences

no single scale

______ fits all management problems

hierarchy theory

systems are structured by nested levels

upper levels constrain lower ones

lower levels provide mechanisms

network (graph) theory

focuses on connectivity and flow

animal movement and dispersal corridors

landscapes

can be seen as nodes and pathways where species interact

habitat management

goal is to manipulate habitat to influence species abundance and distribution

identifying limiting factors, manage succession through disturbance, protect high-quality habitat, and restore degraded sites

focus areas of habitat management

habitat

the combination of resources and environmental conditions that supports survival and reproduction

species-specific

food, cover, water, and space

essential components of habitat

specific food resources and types of cover

requirement for successful survival and reproduction

food

raw materials for maintenance and growth of animal tissues

metabolic processes, reproduction, and survival

food provides energy for…

season, species, and life stages

availability and requirement of food varies with…

limiting periods

occur when food is scarcest

late winter

deer and elk experience nutritional stress in ____ when browse quality declines

food quantity

total available biomass in edible food

food quality

nutritoinal value

energy, digestibility, and nutrients

population performance

food quality and quantity influence…

carbohydrates, proteins, and fats

nutritional composition of food

carbohydrates

primary source of energy

simple sugars and cellulose

types of carbohydrates

simple sugars

provide quick energy

cellulose

provide structural energy but low digestibility

fats

have >2x energy per gram than carbs

serve as energy reserves

proteins

essential for growth, tissue repair, and reproduction

macronutrients

essential for metabolism, bone/antler growth, and reproduction

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur

examples of macronutrients

micronutrients

trace elements vital for enzymatic functions

iron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine, selenium, and molybdenum

examples of micronutrients

limit populations

deficiences in micro- and macronutrients can ____ even when food quantity appears high

food digestibility

affected by plant chemistry

high concentrations of lignin and cellulose

factor that reduces digestibility of plant foods

food accessibility

the ability to reach food without high predation risk

risk vs reward in foraging

palatability

influences diet selection and foraging behavior

winter

food limitation is often in…

late summer drought

in souther U.S., ______ can create food stress

hibernation, migration, or fat storage

types of adaptive behaviors

reproduction

energy demand peaks during…

lactating females

for mammals, _____ have highest energy needs

nesting and migration

for birds, peak energy use is during _____

seasonal energy cycles

management for food requirements by life stage should provide diverse forage to meet…

plant and animal derived foods

types of wildlife foods

roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds

types of plant-derived foods

invertebrates and vertebrates

types of animal-derived foods

cellulose digestion

herbivores perform…

flexible diets

omnivores have…

high-protein prey

carnivores have…

specialists

have narrow dietary focus

snail kite, crossbills, and horned lizards

examples of specialists

generalists

have wide-ranging diets

raccoons, crows, and bears

examples of generalists

habitat change

specialists are more vulnerable to ______

population dynamics

food availability influences ____

trophic relationships

tie food management to entire ecosystems

food supply

habitat enhancement can improve _____

habitat manipulation

is more effective than artificial feeding for managing food resources

maintain early successional habitats, encourage native fruit- and nut-bearing species, manage grazing intensity, and apply prescribed burns to stimulate new growth

methods of managing food resources

cover

protection from weather, predators, and disturbance

thermal, escape, reproductive, travel, and brood

types of cover

thermal cover

temperature regulation

reduces energy expenditure in extreme heat or cold

escape cover

protection from predation

structure that provides concealment

reprooductive cover

safe sites for nesting, fawning, or denning

brood cover

provides foraging opportunities for young while offering protection

travel cover

safe movement between habitats

protection from cold and wind

cover requirements in winter

shade and cooler microclimates

cover requirements in summer

nesting and brood cover

cover requirements in spring

region-specific cover management

ensures survival through limiting seasons

edge habitats

can enhance or hinder wildlife use depending on species

main shrub layers and understory growth, use prescribed fire, and leave brush piles or downed logs

techniques for managing cover quality

waterfowl

require dense herbaceous cover for nesting and brood rearing

northern white-tailed deer

depend on coniferous deer yards during harsh winters

predation risk

abundant food without cover =

starvation risk

dense cover without food =

habitat suitability and population stability

balance between food and cover ensures…

food in habitat manipulation strategies

promote diverse native forage species

biodiversity in the plant community

vertical and horizontal structure

cover in habitat manipulation strategies enhance…

rotational burns, selective harvest, and planting

combine both food and cover in habitat manipulation via…

ruffed grouse

depend on aspen mosaics for food and cover

stable or increasing population densities, improved survival and reproduction rates, and increased habitat heterogeneity

indicators of effective management