Lecture 15 Flashcards
T/F: there are lots of fungi in the hardwood forest (decomposers, mycorrhizae) that have symbiotic relationships with trees
True
Why is there little regeneration in the hardwood forest?
Shade
Why are calciphilic plants found along the Petawawa River?
River flows through a geological fault; sea covered the separated land and brought in limestone, which was left in crevices
Why can calciphilic plants (e.g. poison ivy) be found along the Barron Canyon?
It’s a fault + a branch of the Petawawa River
What does the growth of xanthoria (sunburst lichen) in the Barron Canyon indicate?
Presence of calcium
What is talus?
Rock/debris at the base of cliffs, often from rock breaking down. Colonized by lichens.
This tree with large leaves can be found in the Barron Canyon (hint: seeds have ‘sails’ on them)
Basswood
This bird nests on cliff faces and uses overhanging rock as shelter.
Barn Swallow
Why have the populations of birds that eat flying insects declined?
- Decreased insect population
- Fewer nesting sites
This cliff-nesting bird is still found in the Barron Canyon:
Eastern Phoebe
Subarctic crustaceans are found along the Barron Canyon - they’re an example of a…
…glacial relict
What kind of rock is found along the north shore of Cedar Lake? What is the area called?
Limestone (Brent Limestone Cliff)
How was the Brent Crater created?
Meteorite hit the ground
Features of Brent Crater
- Lakes in its basin
- Only limestone in the area is in the crater
- Calciphilic plants (e.g. bulbet ferns) grow on limestone/exposed rock
Species found in/around Cedar Lake:
- Arctic Sculpin (fish)
- Eastern White Cedar
- White-tailed Deer
How do Lakes Gilmour and Tecumseh differ from others in Algonquin?
Lie on top of limestone
What does the browse line refer to?
Trees missing their lower leaves/branches; indicates presence of deer (as they probably ate the leaves)
T/F: Deer were always present in Algonquin Park
F: introduced in 1800s, became abundant in 1900s
Why did deer expand northwards into Algonquin?
- Habitat loss due to logging
- Lack of gray wolves in Algonquin; wolves were shot/snared/poisoned w/strychnine
Eastern wolves are found in Algonquin. Where are they limited to?
southern ON
How did coyotes end up in Algonquin?
Spread from western N. America
When are wolves most active?
At night
3 studies on Algonquin’s wolves:
- Pimlott (1958-65)
- Theberge (1980s, 90s)
- Patterson (2000-2010, present)
What did DNA analysis reveal about eastern wolves?
They’re a distinct species from gray wolves
