2017 New Hampshire Envirothon - Wildlife Section

The information below is designed to assist you in preparing for the wildlife section of this year’s New Hampshire Envirothon. The wildlife section will evaluate your knowledge of general wildlife biology and basic wildlife management. You will also need to understand basic ecology and habitat management concepts and principles. In addition, you should become familiar with this year’s theme, Agriculture Soil and Water Conservation Stewardship, as it relates to wildlife.

The wildlife section test is composed of three sections. Section I is the wildlife identification section in which teams will be asked to identify wildlife found in New Hampshire through the use of pictures, calls, pelts, mounts or scat-track combinations. Section II is the vocabulary section in which teams are asked to identify ecological concepts and principles. Section III is the synthesis section in which teams are asked to put their knowledge of species habitat needs and wildlife biology/management techniques together and apply that knowledge to make decisions regarding real world scenarios in a series of multi-part essay questions. The test will be based upon the objectives listed below.

Objectives:

Section I

  1. Identify common New Hampshire wildlife listed on the attached species list. Be able to identify wildlife through pictures, calls, pelts, mounts, shells, or scat/ track combinations.

Section II

  1. Define and explain basic ecological concepts and terminology (i.e. limiting factor, carrying capacity, territory, home range, niche, extirpated, ecosystem, biotic, abiotic, etc.).

Section III

  1. Namephysical and behavioral adaptations of wildlife that enable them to survive winter and be able to cite examples. (i.e. migration, hibernation, changes in food, fur/feathers, home range, etc.)
  2. Describe ways famers and wildlife managers of agricultural lands can enhance habitat for wildlife.Understand some of the basic "tools" of wildlife managers (hunting, habitat manipulation, population census techniques, people management, etc.)
  3. Describe the flow of energy between the biotic and abiotic parts in an ecosystem.
  4. Explain why a landscapewould or would not be suitable for a species considering its habitat needs.
  5. List ways a land manager can improve the landscape for specific species by knowing their habitat requirements.
  6. Describe major factors that pose risks to wildlife.
  7. Explain how agricultural lands can benefit wildlife species.
  8. Name ways agricultural lands could be managed that would be detrimental to wildlife.

Study Aids and Questions

To aid in your studies, past tests are posted on the wildlife section’s webpage on the NH Envirothon website so that teams can become familiar with the types of questions that will be asked and the test format.

If advisors have questions regarding the above information, feel free to contact a representative of the wildlife section, Mary Goodyear, New Hampshire Fish and Game Dept., 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; 271-6649 or

References:

All references are located on the wildlife section’s webpage on the NH Envirothon website.

Wildlife Identification List:

Below are the lists of fish and wildlife species that you will be expected to know for the 2017 New Hampshire Envirothon. In addition to being able to correctly identify a species in Section I, it will be important to be familiar with the habitat requirements and natural histories of the species listed in order to answer some of the questions in Section III. (Note: You will not be expected to know scientific names).

Fish:

With the use of a dichotomous key (find the key on the wildlife page of the NH Envirothon website), be able to identify the following fishes of New Hampshire from pictures or drawings:

Sunfish Family (Centrarchidae)

Micropterus: Largemouth (salmoides) and Smallmouth (dolomieui) Bass

Lepomis: Redbreast (auritus), Pumpkinseed, (gibbosus), and Bluegill (macrochirus) Sunfish

Catfish Family (Ictaluridae)

Ictalurus: Brown (nebulosus) and Yellow (natalis) Bullhead

Sucker Family (Catostomidae)

Catostomus: White (commersoni) and Longnose (catostomus) Sucker

Creek Chubsucker (Erimyzonoblogus)

Perch Family (Percidae)

Yellow Perch (Percaflavescens)

Walleye (Stizostedionvitreum)Walleye (Stizostedionvitreum)

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Without the use of a key, be able to correctly identify the following species of amphibians/reptiles from shells, pictures, or vocalizations:

SalamandersTurtles

Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmusviridescens)Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapenecarolina)

Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodoncinereus)Snapping Turtle (Chelydraserpentina)

FrogsSnakes

Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor) Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)

Green Frog (Rana clamitans) Smooth green snake (Liochlorophisvernalis)

Birds:

Without the use of a key, be able to correctly identify the following species of birds from pictures, mounts or vocalizations (Note: bird pictures will be males in breeding plumage):

Game SpeciesShorebird

Mallard (Anasplatyrhynchos)Killdeer (Charadriusvociferus)

Wood Duck (Aixsponsa)Ring-billedGull (Larusdelawarensis)

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasaumbellus)American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

Wild Turkey (Melegrisgallopavo)Wading Bird

American Bittern (Botauruslentiginosus)

Great Blue Heron (Ardeaerodias)

Passerines

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Bobolink (Dolichonyxoryzivorus)

Common Raven (Corvuscorax)American Robin (Turdusmigrayorius)

American Crow (Corvusbrachryhynchos)Bluebird (Sialiasialis)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecileatricapillus) Blue Jay (Cyanocittacristata)

Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrusater) Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)

Raptors

American Kestrel (Falcosparverius)Bald Eagle (Haliaeetusleucocephalus)

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteojamaicensis)Barred Owl (Strixvaria)

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)Eastern Screech Owl (Megascopsasio)

Mammals:

Without the use of a key, be able to correctly identify the following species of mammals from study skins, pelts, mounts, pictures, and/or scat-track combinations:

Eastern Coyote (Canislatrans)Gray Squirrel (Sciuruscarolinensis)

Grey Fox (Urocyoncinereoargenteus)Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Red Fox (Vulpesvulpes)Muskrat (Ondatrazibethicus)

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Porcupine (Erethizondorsatum)Woodchuck (Marmota monax)

Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)House Mouse (Mus musculus)

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileusvirginianus)Norway Rat (Rattusnorvegicus)

Moose (Alcesalces)Bobcat (Felis Rufus)

Ermine/Weasel (Mustelaerminea)Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Mink (Mustela vison)Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus)

Fisher (Martespennanti)Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagusfloridanus)

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamiasstriatus)Little Brown Bat (Myotislucifugus)

Red Squirrel (Tamiascirushudsonicus)Big Brown Bat (Eptesicusfuscus)

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