2018 New Hampshire Envirothon: Fish and Wildlife Test. 1. barred owl 13. Canada lynx. 2. bobolink 14. porcupine. 3. spring peeper 15.

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1 2018 New Hampshire Envirothon: Fish and Wildlife Test Score: Team #: Section I - Wildlife Identification (25 points - 1 point each) Calls Mammals 1. barred owl 13. Canada lynx 2. bobolink 14. porcupine 3. spring peeper 15. muskrat 4. killdeer 16. bobcat Fish 17. fisher 5. pumpkinseed 18. red fox 6. rainbow trout Birds 7. largemouth bass 19. eastern meadowlark 8. golden shiner 20. bobolink 21. American kestrel Amphibians/Reptiles 22. American woodcock 9. northern ringneck snake 23. Broad-winged hawk 10. bullfrog 24. great blue heron 11. spotted salamander 25. brown-headed cowbird 12. eastern box turtle

2 SECTION IIA Vocabulary (30 points) Write the letter of the matching definition in the blank provided. (2 points each) TEAM #: Niche A A. The role or function of an organism or species in an ecosystem. Vernal pool I B. The area or zone along the bank of a stream, river or other water body Eutrophication F C. An animal without a backbone Ecotone J D. The term applied to a species that no longer exists in part of its range Limiting factor H E. Plant or animal that has the ability to readily spread and displace native species Extirpated D F. A process in which water bodies receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth Invertebrate C G. The variety of life forms in a given area Watershed K H. Condition present in the environment that restricts the continued growth of a population Riparian B I. Seasonal, temporary puddles favored by amphibians for breeding Invasive species E J. Transition area between two adjacent ecological communities SECTION IIB Fill in the blanks (2 points each) K. Geographic and area bounded by hills that drains water to a shared water body. 1. A group of animal and plant species living together and having close interactions in a defined area is called a community. 2. Carrying capacity represents the number of individuals in a population that a habitat can support without it becoming degraded. 3. A green plant or bacterium that uses photosynthesis and constitutes the first trophic level in a food chain is a primary producer. 4. The orderly and gradual change in plant communities that takes place following a disturbance is called succession. 5. Animals most active during dawn and dusk are known as crepuscular.

3 Section III Concepts (45 points) Question 1 (10 points) Team #: The habitat for which of the following species is enhanced with the inclusion of agricultural fields? (yes or no) Moose no Red Fox yes Woodcock yes Turkey yes Muskrat no American Bittern no American Crow yes Eastern Coyote yes White-tailed Deer yes Eastern Box Turtle no Question 2 (5 points) Match the habitat with the species you would expect to find it in Farm pond with moderate dissolved oxygen G, I Old stone wall C, E Underneath a fallen tree which has begun decomposing E A beaver pond surrounded by woods G, H, I_ Nesting inside a man-made nest box F A. Walleye F. Bluebird B. American Kestrel G. Brown Bullhead C. Northern Ring-neck Snake H. Muskrat D. Bobolink I. Great blue heron E. Red-backed salamander J. Blue Jay

4 Section III Question 3 (10 points) Team #: Winter is the most stressful time of year for most wildlife in New Hampshire. The key hardships are lack of food and cold temperatures. Name five physical and/or behavioral adaptations of N.H. wildlife that helps enable them to survive winter and identify one species that benefits from that adaptation. (1 point each) Adaptation Species a. Migration birds b. Hibernation or torpor chipmunk, bat, woodchuck, opossum, frog, turtle, bear c. Grow a winter coat/ change coat color color change (hare, ermine) winter coat (mammals, birds) d. Store food for the winter squirrel, beaver, muskrat e. temporary plant community change deer (yarding); small mammals (yarding, subnivian space, softwood (subnivian); grouse, turkeys cover, etc. (softwood cover); birds, squirrels, bobcats (visiting feeders) Question 4 (10 Points) 4a. Name one way careful planning of crop harvest time can benefit wildlife? (2 points) Planning harvest times around nesting season, for example delaying harvesting, can benefit many wildlife species. 4b. How does wildlife benefit when a farmer does not completely harvest a crop and leaves some of it standing in the field? Leaving some crops unharvested can provide food and cover for wildlife. 4c. If deer are over-browsing the forest, what can land owners do to manage the problem? Open property to hunting 4d. Farmer Brown has 500 acres of open cropland, some of which is very wet. Assuming you re the wildlife biologist giving advice about what he could do to benefit wildlife, name three land management practices you would suggest? Establish field buffers; leave wet areas to go fallow; plant native grasses and forbs; reduce pesticide use; leave some grain un-harvested; delay crop harvests 4e. A land owner wants to increase the number of turkeys on her land. What are two actions she

5 could take to increase the population? Conduct a population census to establish baseline data of the turkey population; manage lands to promote oak and other seed-bearing trees; provide cover; limit hunting Section III Question 5 (10 pts) Team #: The biggest boon to wildlife in the United States came in 1937 when Congress passed the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Due to its success similar legislation was passed in 1950 to aid in the restoration of sport fish populations. Together, the two programs are referred to as the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program. 5a. Why was there a need to restore wildlife populations in 1937 when the Federal Aid in Wildlife Act was first passed by Congress? (2 points) Numbers of many wildlife species were dwindling or gone altogether because of unregulated hunting and loss of habitat. The act was designed to counteract the wildlife crisis by providing local funding for wildlife management research; the selection, restoration, rehabilitation and improvement of wildlife habitat. 5b. How is money raised through the WSFR program to benefit wildlife and sport fish populations? (2 points) Through an excise tax levied on the sale of sporting firearms and ammunition, archery equipment, fishing equipment, boat motors and motorboat fuel. 5c. What types of projects can be funded with WSFR funds? (2 points) Wildlife management research, species reintroductions, habitat restoration, public use/access, hunter education, boat access, aquatic resource education, Let s Go Fishing Program 5d. In what major way does a steady source of income over a period of years contribute to the success of projects and the management of species? (2 points) Enable long-term research, so projects and management are based on science, rather than guesswork 5e. Who, ultimately, pays for sport fish and wildlife restoration in the United States? (2 points) Consumptive users/sportsmen/hunters and anglers