Skip to main content

The Temperate Deciduous Forest: Keystone Species


Alyssa Nucci 
AP Biology-4
The Temperate Deciduous Forest:
Keystone Species

       Keystone species are organisms within an ecosystem in which other species largely depend upon, furthermore upholding the sustainability of the ecosystem. In the Temperate Deciduous Forest biome,   a keystone species is the white-tailed deer. This is because their feeding activity can affect many plants and animals in the surrounding environment. White-tailed deer thrive best in forests with biodiversity. In the spring and summer seasons, these deer eat grasses, wildflowers, mushrooms, and woody plant leaves. As fall begins, the deer gravitate towards acorns, fallen fruits, and crops. In winter, deer eat woody vegetation such as twigs, bark, and foliage.

         Deer are preyed upon by wolves, coyotes, bears, bobcats, and humans. As prey, their carcasses can sustain other organisms in their environment such as eagles, ravens, crows, etc. Deer can affect the ecosystem's food chain as well. They are the primary prey of wolves, and as a result, wolf populations are directly dependent upon the deer population. When deer numbers are low or environment conditions are to the deer's advantage, wolves have a harder time hunting these deer, furthermore impacting wolves' prey. Deer also affect wildlife by spreading disease and parasites. Research shows that organisms such as moose have significantly been affected by the parasites carried by these deer.
ProvostJodie, Jodie, et al. “Ecological Impact of White-Tailed Deer on Our Forests.” MyMinnesotaWoods, 26 Sept. 2017, www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/2017/09/ecological-impact-of-white-tailed-deer-on-our-forests/.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Temperate Deciduous Forest: K-Selected and R-Selected Species

Alyssa Nucci  AP Biology-4 The Temperate Deciduous Forest:  K-Selected and R-Selected Species         K-selected species are species whose populations fluctuate at or near the carrying capacity of the environment. K-selected species have relatively stable populations and produce low numbers of offspring, therefore are density dependent. These species are characterized by long gestation periods, slow maturation, and long life spans. K-selected species tend to live in stable biological communities like forests. Examples of K-selected species include the American black bear, red fox, and white-tailed deer.         R-selected species are species whose populations are defined by their biotic potential, meaning their maximum reproductive capacity. These species produce high numbers of offspring, require short gestation periods, mature quickly, and have short life spans. R-selected species ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Temperate Deciduous Forest: Population Growth

Alyssa Nucci AP-Biology The Temperate Deciduous Forest:  Population Growth  Exponential Growth:         Exponential growth is growth where the rate increases faster than the growing total number or size. This type of growth occurs when a population is increasing without any limiting factors. An exponential graph rises in a "J" curve from the lower left to the upper right. In the Temperate Deciduous Forest, an example of an organism of exponential growth is bacteria. In this biome, the medium provides the nutrients necessary for bacteria's growth. There are four stages to the exponential growth of these bacteria. Once bacteria enter the ecosystem, there is a period of time called the lag phase, where the population size remains constant. Next comes the log phase, where cell numbers increase in an exponential growth pattern. This phase continues until nutrients are expended, causing the cell growth rate to sl...
Post a Comment
Read more