Author: Tori Kinnard
Organisms Role in the Environment
3
Symbiosis
4
Succession
5
Endangered Species #1
6-7
Biodiversity
8
Biomass Pyramid vs. Pyramid of
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Numbers Endangered Species #2
10-11
Feeding Relationships
12
Fun Page
13
A habitat is the natural home of a plant or animal. For example, the habitat for an American beaver in the taiga is near water streams where trees like birches grow. The beavers use these trees to build their dams or "huts".
A niche is the role or function of an organism in an ecosystem. For example, the niche of a Grizzly Bear is the way they spread berries. When they eat the berries, they go through their system and are moved to a different location through their waste. Without this, the bears would have no berries to eat.
Mutualism – both organisms benefit - In the Taiga, lichen and trees are an example of mutualism. The lichen gets the nutrients from the dead matter on the tree, while the tree benefits from this by having the dead matter removed. Commensalism – one organism benefits and the other is not helped or harmed - Squirrels like to live in holes in trees, giving a home for the squirrels and not harming the tree.
Parasitism – when one organism is helped but the other is harmed - The winter tick, larger than an average tick, attaches itself to a moose, harming it.
What is primary succession? Primary succession is a process that occurs in places where there is no soil and only bare rock. One example is when volcanoes form new islands on bare rock exposed by glaciers melting.
What is secondary succession? Secondary succession a process that replaces an existing ecosystem that was disrupted by an event, like after a forest fire. Secondary succession is more likely in the taiga because there usually aren’t any places with bare rock or empty land.
Endangered Species: - The oldest documented crane was a Siberian Crane named Wolf who lived to be 83 years old. - During breeding season, these cranes tend to go on a vegetarian diet, even though they’re omnivores - In the past, these birds have actually been hunted for their flesh and game - The Siberian Crane has a unique red “mask” over it’s face and partially down its beak. - These birds only have white feathers when they’re older… When they’re younger their feathers are all black Siberian Cranes are omnivores that feed on roots, seeds, insects, fish, etc. They can usually escape most predators except for the large Golden eagles. If you’re looking at energy pyramid, or trophic levels as explained earlier, then the Siberian Crane would be a Secondary Consumer.
The Siberian Crane Since these cranes live in a place where it snows a lot, they have almost all white feathers to blend in with the snow. However, some of the cranes migrate in the winter to go to places that are less cold. They have long, thin beaks, which makes it easier for them to eat not only animals, but plants too. Their long necks also help them catch prey or reach into weeds and bushes for food. These cranes also have thick feathers, since the winters in the taiga can be harsh.
The International Crane Foundation estimates that there’s only about 3,600-4,000 of these birds left. Their plan of building strong cultural ties to ensure healthy populations is on track to making an impact on this endangered species.
Biodiversity is the variety of life in a habitat or ecosystem Why is biodiversity important? Biodiversity is important for our planets wellbeing. It’s crucial for ecosystems to have rich biodiversity in order to be healthy.
The most biodiverse country in the world is Brazil
The least biodiverse area in the world is the Arctic Biome.
A biomass pyramid is used to show the amount of living tissue in each level of the food chain. It it typically measured in grams, or the in the case of the example on the left, percentages.
A pyramid of numbers represents how many individuals are at each level of the food chain. There are some cases when this data won’t actually look like a pyramid, because there might be more organisms in different areas.
Endangered Species: The Canadian Lynx The Canadian Lynx is an endangered species of lynx found in the Taiga. They are carnivores and eat mainly hares, mice, squirrels, etc. Their main predators are cougars, wolves and coyotes. In an energy pyramid, these animals are in the Secondary Consumer level because they have carnivorous predators.
5 Fun Facts: - Lynx have amazing eyesight- they’re able to see up to 250 feet in front of them! -The black tuffs of hair at the top of their ears enhance their sense of hearing - Lynx usually like to hunt at night and never in a pack or group - The Canadian Lynx is thought to have ancestors that crossed the land bridge during a glacial period. - Lynx have long been hunted for their soft coats, which is the main reason why they’re endangered.
The estimated population of the Canadian Lynx is only about 40-70 in the world. The foundation The Defenders of Wildlife have a website where you can donate money to help save them, or even adopt an animal to protect. 97% of the funds go towards protecting these animals.
The Canadian Lynx has adapted many ways for living in the Taiga. For example, their thick fur keeps them warm in the freezing temperatures. They also have wide, padded paws that help them walk through snow. These lynx also have exceptional night vision making it easy to find prey in the dark. Their smaller bodies make them much more adapted to hunt their diet of hares. The lynx’s reflexes are also sharp, increasing their ability to catch prey.