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Pennsylvania Envirothon 2007
 Wildlife Station
Essential Topics

I. Knowledge of Birds and Mammals
  a. Bird and mammal identification
  b. Natural history of birds and mammals
  c. Habitat/ecosystem types and associated wildlife
II. Understanding Wildlife Ecology
  a. Survival requirements of wildlife and how they are met
  b. Ecosystem dynamics:
  *Predator-prey relationships
*Energy flow-food chain, food web, food pyramid
*Succession
  c. Adaptations
  d. Population dynamics
III. Conservation and Management of Wildlife
  a. Pennsylvania Game Commission
  b. Hunting and Trapping regulations
  c. Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife code
  d. Wildlife Management
  e. Improving/managing habitat for wildlife
IV. Issues Involving Wildlife and Society
  a. Biodiversity
  b. Endangered and threatened species
    *What makes a species more prone to becoming endangered than other species?
    *Responsibility for upholding endangered species act
    *Terminology: for example, reintroduction, endangered, threatened, extirpated, and extinct
    *Endangered and threatened birds and mammals of PA
  c. Habitat loss and fragmentation
  d. Managing/planning for people and wildlife
  e. Non-native species; invasive species; introduced species
  f. Reintroduction of native species
  g. Current Issue - Alternative/Renewable Energy


Learning Objectives
*Correlated with the Academic Standards and Assessment Anchors for Environment and Ecology

Envirothon Students will be able to:
1. Knowledge of Wild Birds and Mammals
  a. Answer questions concerning the natural history of wild bird and mammal species and identify birds and mammals if given natural history information.
  b. Identify and be able to group animals that would be associated with specific ecosystems.
  c. Evaluate a specific habitat and select or list species most likely to live there.
  d. Describe various roles of birds and mammals in their ecosystems and be able to cite examples.
  e. Identify wildlife species from mounted specimens, pictures or silhouettes. (Species for items a - e are selected from the Wildlife Notes on List B in the Appendix.)
  f Identify wildlife species based on signs including: fur, hair, feathers, gnawings, rubbings, pellets, tracks*, skulls ♦ and scat. (tracks for *animals only and skulls for ♦ animals) - Wildlife species are selected from list C in the Appendix.
  g Identify birdcalls of bird species found on list A in the Appendix.
h. Describe ways habitat can be managed/imporved for specific birds and mammals.
   

*4.6 Ecosystems and their Interactions - 4.6.7.A, C, 10.A, and 12.C

*4.7 Threatened, Endangered, and Extinct Species - 4.7.7.A, C, 10.A, and C


2.
Understanding Wildlife Ecology
  a. Identify basic needs required by wildlife.
  b. Identify, describe, and explain specific anatomical, physiological and/or behavioral adaptations of wildlife to the environment and how they help the animal survive. (i.e. migration, hibernation, defense posturing, strong beak, webbed feet, etc.)
  c. Describe predator-prey relationships, discuss physical adaptations of predator vs. prey species, and be able to cite examples.
  d. Describe and be able to model food chains, food webs, trophic levels - be able to cite examples.
   

*4.6 Ecosystems and their Interactions - 4.6.7.A and 10.A

*4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species - 4.7.7.A, C, 10.A and C

  e. Describe factors that limit or enhance population growth.
  f. Define and explain terms associated with wildlife biology and wildlife populations. (i.e. natality, mortality, precocial, atricial, crepuscular, nocturnal, delayed implantation, carnivore, niche, herbivore, insectivore, omnivore, producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer,etc.).
  g. Define and explain basic ecological concepts and terminology (i.e. limiting factor, biological carrying capacity, cultural carrying capacity, territory, home range, population, community, succession).
   

*4.6 Ecosystems and their Interactions - 4.6.7.A and C

*4.7 Threatened, Endangered, and Extinct Species - 4.7.7.C and 10.C


3.
Conservation and Management of Wildlife 
  a. Describe the role of the Game Commission as the agency responsible for the protection, conservation, and management of wild birds and mammals of Pennsylvania.
  b. Identify the Game Commission as the agency responsible for hunting and trapping regulations and upholding the Game and Wildlife code in the state of Pennsylvania.
  c. Answer questions concerning hunting and trapping regulations - related to pages indicated in the Reference section of the Appendix.
  d. Classify birds and mammals as to Game and Wildlife Code classifications.
  e. Identify and describe methods that can be used to evaluate a habitat.
  g. Identify and describe methods that can be used to determine the abundance and distribution of wildlife.
  h. Identify and describe methods that can be used to determine the specific needs of a species.
  i. Describe methods used to manage and conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat.
j. Describe ways each person can help in the protection, conservation management and enhancement of wild bird and mammal populations.
   

*4.6 Ecosystems and their Interactions - 4.6.7.A, 10.A, C, and 12.C

*4.8 Humans and the Environment - 4.8.7.D, 10.C and D

*4.9 Environmental Laws and Regulations - 4.9.7.A and 10.A

 
4. Issues Involving Wildlife and Society
  a. Define biodiversity and provide examples of how biodiversity is important to people and wildlife.
  b. Identify and explain the major causes of loss of biodiversity inour state and worldwide.
  c. Explain the relationship of deer and deer management with biodiversity in our state.
   

*4.3 Environmental Health - 4.3.7.C and 10.C

*4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species - 4.7.7.A, C, 10.A, and 12.A and C

  d. Identify and explain the terms used in endangered and threatened species, for example: extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened, candidate species, and reintroduction
  e. Identify wild birds and mammals that are listed as endangered, extirpated, threatened or candidate species.  Know natural history and habitat requirements.  Describe the main causes that have led to the depleted populations and describe measures being taken to help their recovery.
  f. Identify and explain factors that have led to species becoming endangered and threatened.
  g. Identify and explain factors which can make a species more likely to become endangered and threatened.
  h. Identify and explain methods that are used to save an endangered or threatened species.
  i. Describe major causes of habitat loss in Pennsylvania and how habitat loss affects wildlife.
  j. Explain the role of the Endangered Species Act in helping to conserve endangered and threatened species.
   

*4.7 Threatened, Endangered , and Extinct Species - 4.7.7.B, C, 10.B and C, 12.B and C

*4.9 Environmental Laws and Regulations - 4.9.10.A

     
    Assessment Anchors
   

S11.A.3.2

S11.B.1.1

S11.B.2.1

S11.B.3.1

S11.C.2.2
 
**Advisors note, new items are shown by italicized words/letter.

Reference Materials List
The following references can be found on Envirothon Wildlife CD.
1.  Wildlife Note Series - see List B for Wildlife Notes needed  
2. Helping Wildlife: Working with Nature booklet - This booklet can be obtained by contacting your County's Envirothon Coordinator.  
3.  Envirothon Animal Tracks - see List C for Identification of Wildlife sign indicated by an asterisk *  
4. Envirothon Skull Reference Resource: compiled by PA Game Commission - see List C for Identification of Wildlife sign indicated by a diamond  ♦.  
5. Endangered and Threatened Species  
6.

2006-2007 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping regulations the following sections only: General Hunting Regulations; State Game Land Regulations;  Wildlife Classifications; Youth Hunts; and Fluorescent Orange.  (This can be found on the PGC web page at www.pgc.state.pa.us - click on Hunters and Trappers (left) then 2006-2007 Hunting and Trapping Digest.)

  
7. 2006-2007 Hunting and Trapping Annual  
8. 2006 Game Commission annual report found in the January 2007 Game News - the following sections only: "Maintain and improve populations for consumptive and non-consumptive recreation use and their many public values" and "Acquire, protect, maintain, and enhance an array of habitats on public and private land".  
9. Pennsylvania Envirothon Bird Song CD  
10. PGC Skull Envirothon resource - To view drawings of skulls go to Smithsonian Institute Zoology, North American Mammals website and search by species name.  
11. Biodiversity: PA Species, Ecosystems and Biodiversity  
12. Endangered Species  


LIST A: Identification of BIRD Calls, Songs, and Sounds
(Based on Pennsylvania Envirothon Bird Tape)
Mourning Dove 
Robin   
Northern Flicker   
Bluejay
Canada Goose
Red-Tailed Hawk   
Wood Duck
American Crow  
Cardinal 
House Sparrow
Black-Capped Chickadee
 Ring-Necked Pheasant
Wood Thrush
House Wren
Great-Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Screech Owl
American Woodcock
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-Winged Blackbird
Great Blue Heron
 Wild Turkey
Mallard
Meadowlark
Barn Owl
Kestrel
Common Nighthawk
Grouse
Eastern Towhee
Osprey
Bald Eagle

LIST B: Identification, Natural History, Wildlife Biology, and Habitat Evaluation based on the following Wildlife Notes:

Bats
Beaver
Black Bear
Blackbirds, Orioles, Cowbird &Starling
Bobcat
Canada Goose
Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmouse & Brown Creeper
Chimney Swifts, Purple Martin & Swallows
Common Nighthawk & Whip-poor-wills
Cottontail Rabbit
Crows and Ravens
Eagles and Osprey
Eastern Coyote

Elk

Finches and House Sparrow
Fisher
Foxes (Red and Gray)
Gray Catbird, Northern Mockinbird and Brown Thrasher

Hawks (Raptors)
Heron Family
Mallard
Mice and Voles
Minks and Muskrats
Northern Cardinal, Grosbeaks, Indigo Bunting & Dickcissel
Opossum
Otter (River)
Owls
Porcupine
Puddle Ducks

Raccoon
Ruffed Grouse
Shrews
Sparrows and Towhee
Squirrels
Tanagers
Thrushes

Tundra Swan
Vultures
Weasels
White-Tailed Deer
Wild Turkey
Wrens
Woodchuck
Woodcock

Woodpeckers
Wood Warblers

Most Wildlife Notes may be found on the PGC web site, www.pgc.state.pa.us, click on Wildlife (left hand), and then on Wildlife Notes (on right hand side of screen).
 
LIST C: Identification of WILDLIFE SIGN
SIGNS CAN INCLUDE: fur, hair, feathers, gnawings, rubbings, pellets, nests, scat, skulls  ♦, and tracks* (only *animals for tracks and only ♦ animals for skulls.)
Baltimore Oriole
Black Bear*♦
Beaver*♦
Black-Capped Chickadee
Bobcat*♦
Canada Goose
Cottontail Rabbit *♦
Coyote*♦
Crow
Eastern Bluebird (See Thrushes)
Elk*

House Sparrow
Fisher
Gray Fox*
Mallard
Mink*
Muskrat
Opossum*
Owl
Pheasant, Ring-Necked
Porcupine
Raccoon *♦

Red Fox*

River Otter*
Robin (See Thrushes)
Ruffed Grouse
Gray Squirrel*
Starling
Striped Skunk*

White-Tailed Deer*♦
Wild Turkey
Wood Duck
Woodchuck
Woodcock
Pennsylvania Game Commission
Website: www.pgc.state.pa.us
Northwest Region, PO Box 31, Franklin, PA 16323 814-432-3188
Southwest Region, 4820 Route 711, Bolivar, PA 15923 724-238-9523
Northcentral Region, PO Box 5038, Jersey Shore, PA 17740 570-398-4744
Southcentral Region, 8627 William Penn Highway, Huntingdon, PA 16652 814-643-1831
Northeast Region, PO Box 220, Dallas, PA 18612 570-675-1143
Southeast Region, 448 Snyder Road, Reading, PA 19605 610-926-3136
PA Game Commission Headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-787-6286
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