Keystone Species Project by Idalis Anspach

Introduction: Grizzly bear (ursus arctos horribilis)

ianspach27_1_1 — 2024-10-17 17:40:10 UTC

Habitat: Temperate forests in North America
Niche: Woodlands, forests, alpine meadows, prairies
Habits: Active during both the day and night, but rest while the sun is up, have perfect senses, hibernate during the winter, omnivores that fish, gather, and hunt for rodents and game such as
- Caribou, elk, rabbits

Community Species

hsavino26_1_1 — 2024-10-17 17:47:56 UTC

Grizzly Bears do have symbiotic relationships, mainly during the spring. During fall, bears scavenge for fruits and plants to store them for after hibernation. Once the spring comes, bears have a symbiotic relationships with plants due to them eating the plants which allows them to gain energy. The bear further lays seeds for more plants to grow and reproduce.

hsavino26_1_1 — 2024-10-17 17:48:44 UTC

Ecosystem studies- Consumer or Producer?

hsavino26_1_1 — 2024-10-17 17:57:12 UTC

Bears are consumers, not producers. Bears eat other consumers such as birds and fish. They also eat producers like fruits and nuts. Since bears eat both producers and consumers, that makes them omnivores.

Ecosystem Studies: No bears in the ecosystem?

hsavino26_1_1 — 2024-10-17 18:02:14 UTC

Grizzly bears are a key species to their environment of the forest. Bears contribute to the herbivore population being under controlled, such as deers. If no bears are around to kill these deers, overgrazing may occur and the vegetation will deplete dramatically. The ecosystem without grizzly bears would struggle to survive and fufill their ecological niche.

Ecosystem studies: Domino Effect

hsavino26_1_1 — 2024-10-17 18:06:17 UTC

The domino effect for all ecosystems includes one species being removed which causes the depletion of all species, further leading to some species going extinct. To revive these animals is very hard and continues to affect other species. All species are truly important, no matter the size. That's why it's important for biodiversity to flourish.

Ecosystem Studies: Sustainable or not?

hsavino26_1_1 — 2024-10-17 18:13:41 UTC

Without grizzly bears being in the ecosystem, the environment will not be able to survive, further making it not sustainable. This will force the ecosystem to endure succession and the species to cope without the bear due to the disturbance of the bears going extinct.

Characteristics of Habitat

ianspach27_1_1 — 2024-10-17 19:37:15 UTC

Temperate Forests

Temperature
- Signifies the preparation for hibernation
Space
- 50 to 300 miles for females
- 200 to 500 miles for males
- Lower altitudes during spring, higher altitudes during winter
Seasonal change
- Physical changes between summer and winter
- Prepare for hibernation during fall
  - Hibernate through winter and early spring
  - Lose fat gained before hibernation during summer and fall

Population Studies:

hsavino26_1_1 — 2024-10-21 17:36:16 UTC

Trends in Population:

Grizzly bears population has been decreasing throughout the years since the 2000's. The decline of the whitebark pine tree and trout population decreasing affects the bear population because the bears eat the seeds of these trees and the fish.

Life Cycle/Maturity:

Grizzly bears have a life long span; they typically live till about 25 years old, but some can grow up to be 35. The stages of their life include dependent young, subadults, and adults. When bears are adults, they are about 4 years old and are considered mature.

R-selected or K-selected:

Grizzly bears are K-selected due to the species mothers being intensely devoted to taking care of their cubs.

Limiting Factors:

There are several limiting factors for grizzly bears such as shelter, social tolerances, food supply, and territoriality of the animal.

hsavino26_1_1 — 2024-10-21 17:37:10 UTC