Biodiversity in a Changing World 2009
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Envirothon Study Guide Biodiversity in a Changing World 2009 1 This Study GuideEnvirothon is to be Study used Guide to help - Forestry Envirothon teams prepare for the Ontario Envirothon Program. Preface This report was written by Angela Gillespie, Denise Derrick, Jessica Danard and Tamara Tucker, in partial fulfillment of the Credit for Product II course in the third year of the Ecosystem Management Technology Program 2008 at Sir Sandford Fleming College. This study guide was written for Kristina Quinlan of the Ontario Forestry Association, submitted as a deliverable of the project. This study guide contains background information on biodiversity in a changing world, case studies, activities, references and information as to how the current issue affects the core topics of forestry, aquatics, soil and wildlife. Also included is an Ontario Mammals Identification Guide, an Ontario Bird Identification Guide, an Ontario Winter Tree Identification Key and a Soils of Canada Classification booklet. The objective of this study guide is to provide Ontario Envirothon participants with information on the 2009 special topic: biodiversity in a changing world. Activities and case studies are highlighted throughout the study guide to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the current and future threats to biodiversity in Ontario. We would like to thank our faculty advisor, Sara Kelly, for her guidance and input throughout the course of the project. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Kristina for her support as our mentor during this process. Sincere thanks also go to Don McLeod who provided our team with the valuable resource of his personal collection of wildlife photographs. We sincerely hope that this study guide will be of value to Ontario Envirothon Students in the future. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions, comments or concerns. Angela Gillespie, Denise Derrick, Jessica Danard and Tamara Tucker iii Table of Contents Preface……………………………………………………………………………………iii List of Appendices………………………………………………………………………..vi List of Tables and Figures……………………………………………………………….vii Introduction to Biodiversity……………………………………………………………….1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………..…1 The Value of Biodiversity…………………………………………………………2 Threats to Biodiversity…………………………………………………………….3 Global Change and Biodiversity…………………………………………………..4 Solutions to Increase Biodiversity………………………………………………...5 Biodiversity Case Study…………………………………………………………...6 Project Paradise……………………………………………………………6 Activity: Estimating Biodiversity in Your Area…………………………………..8 Questions for Discussion ………………………………………………………..11 Aquatic Biodiversity……………………………………………………………………..12 Introduction to Aquatic Ecosystems……………………………………………..12 What is Aquatic Diversity?....................................................................................12 What Causes Change in Aquatic Biodiversity?.....................................................13 Measuring Aquatic Biodiversity…………………………………………………13 Lakes and Ponds…………………………………………………………………14 Streams and Rivers………………………………………………………………15 Wetlands…………………………………………………………………………17 Invasive Species…………………………………………………………………19 Aquatic Case Studies…………………………………………………………….21 Purple loosestrife in Ontario’s Wetlands…………………………………..21 Activity: Benthic Macroinvertebrate Collection…………………………………23 Questions for Discussion………………………………………………………...24 Forestry Biodiversity…………………………………………………………………….25 Introduction to Forests…………………………………………………………...25 Threats to Biodiversity in Ontario’s Forests……………………………………..26 Non-Native Species……………………………………………………………...27 Role of Trees in a Given Ecosystem……………………………………………..28 Affects of Forest Management on Biodiversity………………………………….29 Biodiversity in Various Forest Regions………………………………………….31 Forestry Case Studies…………………………………………………………….32 Asian Longhorn Beetle…………………………………………………..32 Butternut Canker………………………………………………………....33 Activity: Measuring Biodiversity in Forests……………………………………..34 Questions for Discussion………………………………………………………...36 iv Soil Biodiversity…………………………………………………………………………37 Introduction to Soil………………………………………………………………37 Soil Formation and Variability…………………………………………………..38 Biodiversity within Soil………………………………………………………….39 Soils Role in Terrestrial Biodiversity……………………………………………41 Soil Biodiversity in a Changing World…………………………………………..42 Soil Case Studies………………………………………………………………...44 Biodiversity in the Soil: The Ground Beetle………………………….…44 Bioremediation………………………………………………………..…45 Activity: Measuring Soil Biodiversity…………………...………………………46 Questions for Discussion…………………………………...……………………48 Wildlife Biodiversity…………………………………………………………………….49 Wildlife Biodiversity Across Ontario………………………………………………..49 Role of Species and Limited Biodiversity…………………………………………...50 Alien or Invasive Species and Biodiversity………………………………………….52 Wildlife Management and Biodiversity……………………………………………...54 Extirpation and Extinction…………………………………………………………...55 Case Study…………………………………………………………………………...60 The Nutria………………………………………………………………………..60 Activity: Wildlife Tracking………………………………………………………….61 Questions for Discussion…………………………………………………………….62 Biodiversity Across Ontario……………………………………………………………..63 Organizations involved in Monitoring and Increasing Biodiversity……………………..66 Websites for Biodiversity Organizations………………………………………………...69 Glossary………………………………………………………………………………….70 References………………………………………………………………………………..73 v List of Appendices Appendix A: Benthic Macroinvertebrate Index………………………………………..A-1 Appendix B: Fish Identification………………………………………………………...B-1 Appendix C: Winter Tree Identification Key…………………………………………..C-1 Appendix D: Canadian Soil Classification……………………….…………………….D-1 Appendix E: Ontario Mammal Tracking and Identification Guide…………...………..E-1 Appendix F: Ontario Bird Identification Guide………………………………………...F-1 vi List of Figures Figure 1: A typical marsh ecosystem in Ontario………………………………………….1 Figure 2: Biodiversity allows Ontario residents to enjoy time on the lake………………..2 Figure 3: Zebra Mussel……………………………………………………………………3 Figure 4: Volunteers re-planting native vegetation……………………………………….5 Figure 5: Cootes Paradise, Hamilton, Ontario…………………………………………….6 Figure 6: Species-Area Curve……………………………………………………………10 Figure 7: Lake Huron…………………………………………………………………….12 Figure 8: Stream-side construction site…………………………………………………..13 Figure 9: Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring……………………………………......13 Figure 10: Cross Section of a Lake Ecosystem………………………………………….14 Figure 11: Walleye………………………………………………………………………15 Figure 12: A Stream Ecosystem…………………………………………………………15 Figure 13: Fish swimming upstream to spawning grounds……………………………...16 Figure 14: Brook Trout…………………………………………………………………..16 Figure 15: A Swamp Ecosystem…………………………………………………………17 Figure 16: A Marsh Ecosystem…………………………………………………………..18 Figure 17: A Bog Ecosystem…………………………………………………………….18 Figure 18: A Fen Ecosystem……………………………………………………………..18 Figure 19: Blanding’s Turtle …………………………………………………………….18 Figure 20: Blanding’s Turtle Range……………………………………………………..19 Figure 21: Common cattail………………………………………………………………19 Figure 22: Purple Loosestrife………………………………………………………….....21 Figure 23: Removal of Purple loosestrife………………………………………………..21 Figure 24: Predators of Purple loosestrife……………………………………………….22 Figure 25: Map of Forest Regions in Ontario……………………………………………25 Figure 26: Ecozones of Ontario………………………………………………………….26 Figure 27: Norway Maple Leaf………………………………………………………….27 Figure 28: European Buckthorn Leaf……………………………………………………27 Figure 29: Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Longhorned Beetle…………………………..28 Figure 30: Example of a Forest Fire……………………………………………………..29 Figure 31: Example of Sustainable Forestry Practices…………………………………..30 Figure 32: Picture of feeding galleries, exit holes and frass in a tree infested with Asian Longhorned Beetles……………………………………………………………………...32 Figure 33: Butternut with Butternut canker and range of trees with Butternut canker…..33 Figure 34: Soil texture triangle ………………………………………………………….37 Figure 35: Soil Profiles of Ontario……………………………………………………….39 Figure 36: Feeding interactions between the classes of organisms found within a soil community……………………………………………………………………………….39 Figure 37: Relationships between soil food web, plants, organic matter, and birds and mammals…………………………………………………………………………………42 Figure 38: Snapping turtle laying eggs in soil…………………………………………...42 Figure 39: Diagram of relationships of soil biota and plants with global change……….43 Figure 40: Image of a Beach Dune Tiger Beetle.………………………………………..44 Figure 41: Berlese-Tullgren funnel…………………………………………………........46 vii Figure 42: Map of Ontario displaying Terrestrial Ecosystems…………………………..49 Figure 43: Bar graph exhibiting the relationship between carnivore and herbivore species and how it relates to biodiversity………………………………………………………...51 Figure 44: Image depicting a healthy food web that would be found in a coniferous forest ecosystem.………………………………………………………………………………..51 Figure 45: Mature Brown-headed Cowbird……………………………………………...52 Figure 46: Young Brown-headed Cowbird gaping for food in the nest of a host……….52 Figures 47: Logos for MNR and CWS……………………..……………………………55 Figure 48: Species at Risk in Ontario……………………………………………………56 Figure 49: The Eastern Elk………………………………………………………………58 Figure 50: The Tiger Salamander………………………………………………………..59 Figure 51: Current range of the Tiger Salamander………………………………………59 Figure 52: Nutria ………………………………………………………………………...60 Figure 53: An enclosed area shows the different between areas affected by Nutria and protected………………………………………………………………………………….60