Unit 3 - Demands on the  Forests


Lesson 3: Wildlife Management

                    Habitat: the place where a plant or animal lives naturally

                    Biodiversity: the variety of plant and animal life in a given region






A forest ecosystem provides an enormous number of habitats for numerous living organisms. In fact, forests provide essential habitat for most of earth's species.
Occupying one third of the earth's surface, forests have a greater biodiversity than any other type of terrestrial vegetation.
Biodiversity is more than an interesting assortment of species - it is a safety net.  The richer and more complete an ecosystem is, the better it can adapt to changes in the environment.
In Canada, two-thirds of all plants, animals, and microorganisms live in our forests.  To safeguard this diversity of species, extensive forests must be kept in their natural state.
The grizzly bear and caribou populations are already declining due to loss of protected wilderness areas.
      Counting how many caribou exist in a given area is a big part of fostering their conservation.

Mammal Counting


If the above video will not play, click here to view Mammal Counting.



When we think of a habitat, we tend to think of a large area. For example, an entire forest can be regarded as a habitat. However, it is important to also think on a smaller scale. Within a forest habitat, for example, there are a wide variety of smaller habitats. These "micro-habitats" are absolutely critical to maintaining the biodiversity of the forest. One of the most important micro-habitats in a forest is deadwood, which can be defined as dead or dying timber. With the passage of time, it becomes home for many organisms.

  • When a tree dies, it quickly becomes colonized by fungi.

  • Soon the beetles arrive to feed on the tree's cellulose. These beetles, in turn, provide a rich food source for birds, such as woodpeckers.

  • Holes in dead trees provide shelter and nesting cavities for many species, including birds, bats, and mammals.

Studies have demonstrated that the biodiversity within a forest is very dependent on the presence of this type of micro-habitat. In commercial forests, deadwood is often removed, which leads to a significant loss of biodiversity.