Fauna of the Northern hardwood forest
Methods - To study the species of animals and their involvement in the hardwood forest,
softwood forest, and the marsh we had to watch for the different species in the each
ecosystem by using binoculars, a stealth camera and field guides to identify the animals.
The field guides also told us about the species’ habitats and their contribution to the
ecosystem as a whole. In the wetlands we referenced species identified within the stream
by the BMI-P group.
Results for the fauna of the Northern hardwood forest
In the hardwood forest the species of animals we discovered included a blue jay,
and an eastern chipmunk. Both of theses species contributed to the ecosystem as well as
depended on it to survive. The blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata, ranges from south Canada to
the Rocky Mountains and to the Gulf states. Its habitat is in Oak and Pine woods,
suburban gardens, groves, and towns.
Results for the fauna of the Hemlock forest
In the hemlock forest we observed a robin, Turdus migratorius, worms and mosquitoes.
In this ecosystem we also saw signs of a woodpecker.
Results for the fauna of the Shallow Emergent Marsh
In the marsh we observed animals both in the Centennial Brook and around it. We
observed a Grey Cheeked Thrush, a robin, and a Rusty Blackbird. The Grey Cheeked
Thrush lives in Boreal forest, woodlands, and tundra.
Crawfish, damsel flies, frogs, minnows, and benthic macro invertebrates were
also found in the ecosystems of Centennial Brook, although not in large numbers.
Hardwood conclusion
As expected, we saw a blue jay because they feed on berries and insects commonly found
a hardwood forest. Their contribution to the northern hardwood ecosystem is to help
spread the seeds of the oak, pine, maple, and other trees in the hardwood forest. By eating
the seeds of these trees they were supplied with food and they carried the seed to a
different location away from the parent plant, so it would not be competition. As well as
getting food from the trees in the hardwood, the blue jay also receives shelter. Their nests
are built in the protection of the pine and oak trees.
The eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus, is also and link in the ecosystem of the
hardwood. It is most commonly found nesting in rotting logs on forest edges and in
suburban areas. The chipmunk also eats fruits as well as grains, berries, seeds, nuts, and
mushrooms. Its predators are fox, owls, crows, and coyotes. The chipmunk acts in the
same way as the blue jay in spreading the seeds of the plants in the forest and receives
food and shelter from the vegetation.
More specifically we were able to determine, by examining the plant and soil
types in the area, what type of hardwood forest it was. We concluded that it was a
Northern hardwood forest and then we found what animals were excepted to inhabit that
type of forest. In our observations of the ecosystems in Centennial Woods we did not see
as many animals as we predicted. This is because Centennial Woods is surrounded by an
urban area and the woods are inhabited by many people and dogs each day. Because of
the bordering highways it limits the amount of deer, raccoons, and other animals that
usually are found in a healthy Northern Hardwood forest. In the hardwood forest while
we found blue jays and eastern chipmunks we should have also found traces of deer, oven
bird, white warbler, scarlet tanager, masked shrew, eastern cottontail, black bear, next,
salamander, frogs and the red bellied snakes. All these animal are very important links to
the whole hardwood ecosystem and without these species providing and gaining from the
Harwood forest it will not function as it should be. The lack of the species is the result of
people urbanizing the area around the woods and harming the ecosystems which are
important to both the species and humans.
Hemlock Conclusion
In the hemlock forest we found robins, mosquitoes, worms, and woodpeckers. Both the
woodpecker and the robin find shelter in the hemlock trees as well as finding food. The
robin feeds mainly on apple and berry trees, which help them, germinate. The
woodpecker regulates the insects in the hemlock forest and gains food. All these species
are very important to the ecosystem of the hemlock forest, though; there are many other
animals that should inhabit the forest. By researching the plants that grew in the hemlock
forest, such as the red elderberry, the blueberry, and the partridge berry we discovered
that they should be eaten by the grouse, pheasant, red fox, mourning doves, and turkeys.
Other animals that should be found in a hemlock forest are the hermit thrush, the redbreasted nuthatch, the saw-whet owl, the red squirrel, the deer mouse, and deer which use
the hemlock for coverage in the winter. All these animals were not found in the
Centennial hemlock forest and they are important to make that ecosystem healthy.
Marsh Conclusion
In a shallow emergent marsh we found frogs, minnows, BMI, crawfish, Grey checked
thrush, a robin, and a Rusty blackbird. The Thrush feeds on invertebrates, insects and
berries. It nests in dry grasses on the ground. The marsh supplies the thrush with food and
a save shelter to build its nest. By inhabiting the marsh it regulates the insects and helps
with the germination of the wetland shrubs. Grasshoppers as well as fruits and other
insects make up the Rusty Blackbirds diet. It dwells along marshes and swamps that are
sorrowed by agricultural field. Even though the bird with benefit from a forest fire, it will
suffer severally in the forest around its habitat is clear cut. The rusty black bird has
similar contributions as the thrush and the wetlands give the blackbird shelter food and
protection.
In other common marshes it is expected to be inhabited by beaver, mink, muskrats, red
winged blackbirds, garter snake, moose, and black bear. With these animals lacking in
the ecosystem it will not strive as it would with all the animals that provide and gain from
the marsh. In the BMI test, few dragonfly larvae were found which is not a very good
sign since they are intolerant to polluted water. Humans have dictated all these results.
Because of the urban areas and the storm water run off the ecosystems in Centennial
woods are not as healthy as they should be. These ecosystems not only provide for the
species dwelling in the forest but for humans themselves so we should all seek to
preserve ecosystems like Centennial Woods for future generations of tree, mammals,
amphibians and people.