Riparian Zone RetreatRiparian Zone Retreatand population and population

studiesstudiesBrandon CampbellBrandon Campbell

Honors Bio IIHonors Bio II

Period 5Period 5

NicheNicheWhite-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

The white-tailed deer can survive in various types of The white-tailed deer can survive in various types of terrestrial habitats such as big woods, thick terrestrial habitats such as big woods, thick underbrush, swamps, very desolate areas, and underbrush, swamps, very desolate areas, and farmland.farmland.

When the white-tail feeds in feeds early in the When the white-tail feeds in feeds early in the morning and in the evening then rests during the day. morning and in the evening then rests during the day. The White-tail feeds upon grass, various buds and The White-tail feeds upon grass, various buds and leaves off of trees such as maple, oak, and etc, apples, leaves off of trees such as maple, oak, and etc, apples, acorns, and a variety of shrubs.acorns, and a variety of shrubs.

Niche ContinuedNiche Continued White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

The predators that depend on the White-tail as The predators that depend on the White-tail as a food source are coyotes, mountain lions, a food source are coyotes, mountain lions, bears, wolves, and the jaguar (only in the bears, wolves, and the jaguar (only in the south). The White-tail is a very hard animal south). The White-tail is a very hard animal for them to catch because of its ability to run for them to catch because of its ability to run and bound into thick brush, they also have and bound into thick brush, they also have very good sense of smell, sight, and hearing very good sense of smell, sight, and hearing which helps them escape from predators which helps them escape from predators quickly.quickly.

Factors on the Birth Rate of the Factors on the Birth Rate of the White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed Deer

The White-tail reproduces from October to The White-tail reproduces from October to December, then gives birth during the spring December, then gives birth during the spring months.months.

The White-tail gives birth once a year and The White-tail gives birth once a year and when the doe gives birth she can have from 1 when the doe gives birth she can have from 1 to 3 fawns.to 3 fawns.

The gestation period of the white-tailed deer is The gestation period of the white-tailed deer is on average 6 ½ months.on average 6 ½ months.

Both bucks and does are ready to reproduce by Both bucks and does are ready to reproduce by 2 years old but they don’t stop reproduction 2 years old but they don’t stop reproduction until their death. until their death.

Factors of Birth Rate continuedFactors of Birth Rate continued

The does are very protective of their offspring. The does are very protective of their offspring. She will leave them in thick cover while she She will leave them in thick cover while she forages for food until they are 4 weeks old forages for food until they are 4 weeks old then she takes them with her. 8 to 10 weeks then she takes them with her. 8 to 10 weeks later the fawns are completely weaned off their later the fawns are completely weaned off their mothers milk. After one year the young males mothers milk. After one year the young males will leave their mothers and the females stick will leave their mothers and the females stick with their mothers for around 2 years.with their mothers for around 2 years.

Factors that affected the death rate Factors that affected the death rate of White-tailed Deerof White-tailed Deer

The white-tail can live on average 2 to 4 years.The white-tail can live on average 2 to 4 years. The maximum lifespan of the white-tail is The maximum lifespan of the white-tail is

around 20 years but they normally don’t live around 20 years but they normally don’t live past 10 years.past 10 years.

The white-tail provides food for large The white-tail provides food for large predators, they are also responsible for damage predators, they are also responsible for damage of trees during the winter months, and they are of trees during the winter months, and they are a main consumer of plant communities.a main consumer of plant communities.

Factors of Death Rate continuedFactors of Death Rate continued

The common tick affects the white-tail by The common tick affects the white-tail by sometimes giving them lime disease.sometimes giving them lime disease.

Over population causes the white-tail to do Over population causes the white-tail to do damage to various forest vegetation and causes damage to various forest vegetation and causes car accidents.car accidents.

Food ChainFood Chain

Primary ConsumerHerbivore

Rhododendron White-tailed Deer

ProducerAutotroph

Black Bear

Secondary ConsumerCarnivore

Bacteria

Decomposer

Food web of White-tailed Food web of White-tailed DeerDeer

Herbivore

Producer Omnivore

CarnivoreCarnivore

Producer

CarnivoreHerbivoreHerbivore

Omnivore

Producer

Population SamplingPopulation Sampling

One of the most common was of population One of the most common was of population sampling is radio tagging animals then later sampling is radio tagging animals then later finding them and counting the organisms.finding them and counting the organisms.

Stream Quality Data & Stream Quality Data & AnalysisAnalysis

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No. oforganisms

Class IClass IIClass III

The Graph represents a very The Graph represents a very healthy stream and ecosystem healthy stream and ecosystem surrounding the stream.surrounding the stream.

If you have a lot of Class I If you have a lot of Class I organism the stream is healthy organism the stream is healthy but if you have a lot of Class III but if you have a lot of Class III is polluted.is polluted.

Poor stream quality will drive Poor stream quality will drive the White-tail from that area the White-tail from that area since it needs water to drink.since it needs water to drink.

If there was a lot of Class III If there was a lot of Class III organism in the stream and the organism in the stream and the ecosystem would drive most of ecosystem would drive most of the animals away to an area the animals away to an area where the stream health is where the stream health is better.better.

Water Testing Data & Water Testing Data & AnalysisAnalysis

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Nitrate

Oxygen

pH Phosphates

StreamMarshMine

• The Ideal Dissolved Oxygen level is 6 -10 and the pH level is 6.5-7.5. The ideal levels for potash and nitrates is zero.•If the ideal levels for Powdermill is the same as above. If these levels change drastically it would kill off life in the stream and around it.•The white-tail lives near the streams and marshes of PA and survives by drinking clean water but if it was around a polluted stream the white-tail might die off or move away from that area in search of clean water.•If the water is too turbid the clingers and animals in the stream will die off and affect the predator and prey relationship. The ideal water temperature is cold because the colder water contains more oxygen.

Soil Testing & AnalysisSoil Testing & Analysis

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pH Potash

Phosphorus

Nitrogen

Riparian

School Site

• Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and pH are the three most important soil factors. Phosphorus is important to root growth. Plants need the soil’s pH level to be as neutral as possible.•The ideal range for pH level in soil is 7.5 to 8. The potash, nitrogen, and phosphorous levels should be around medium (10).•If the levels in the soil aren’t correct the plants will die of f and it would effect the riparian zone and the process of photosynthesis.

Positive and Negative Positive and Negative FactorsFactors

The 3 different type of water sources have a The 3 different type of water sources have a direct impact on the white-tail deer, poor water direct impact on the white-tail deer, poor water quality would kill off the population of deer.quality would kill off the population of deer.

If the soil levels aren’t good, it would kill off If the soil levels aren’t good, it would kill off the plant life which the white-tail depends on the plant life which the white-tail depends on as a source of food.as a source of food.

ConclusionConclusion

I learned that many animals and various other I learned that many animals and various other organisms are effected by stream pollution and organisms are effected by stream pollution and etc.etc.

I found how complex some of the food webs I found how complex some of the food webs of the riparian zone are and how much of the riparian zone are and how much organisms rely on each other.organisms rely on each other.

I’d like to do more research and work on the I’d like to do more research and work on the pollution of PA streams.pollution of PA streams.

Work CitedWork Cited

Moen, Ronald A. "Deer." Moen, Ronald A. "Deer." The New Book of Knowledge®The New Book of Knowledge®. . 2010. Grolier Online. 12 May 2010 2010. Grolier Online. 12 May 2010 <http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2007470-h>.<http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2007470-h>.

"Odocoileus virginianus." "Odocoileus virginianus." Animal Diversity WebAnimal Diversity Web. N.p., n.d. . N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2010. Web. 12 May 2010. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/inform<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Odocoileus_virginianus.html>.ation/Odocoileus_virginianus.html>.