Answer Key Texas Animal Diversity
1. Compare the desert biome to the grassland biome. In what way(s) are they different? In what way(s) are they similar?
Answer: Both biomes are fairly dry. They differ in the “degree of dryness.” That is, deserts experience less precipitation than grasslands. Also, deserts experience hotter days (especially in the summer) and often colder nights (especially in the winter) than those experienced in the grasslands. Grasslands have greater numbers of species than deserts.
2. Read the descriptions of each biome. Which biomes are most likely found within the state of Texas? Describe the climate and precipitation pattern for each biome you selected.
Answer: Temperate deciduous forest (much of the mid-west and eastern U.S.): Cold winter; warm-hot summer; 750 – 1500 mm precipitation/ yr. (wet) Desert (much of the southwestern United States): Hot summer; cool winter (cold at night); 250 mm precipitation/ yr. (dry) Grassland (much of the Great Plains and adjacent regions): Hot summer; cold winter; 500 – 900 mm precipitation/ yr. (dry – moderate)
3. Identify the three biomes found across Texas.
Answer: Eastern temperate forest, Great Plains, North American desert.
4. Study the descriptions of each biome found within Texas including physical factors (if provided) along with the animals and vegetation. Can you infer a precipitation trend across Texas that explains why the animals found in eastern Texas are so different from those found in western Texas? Explain.
Answer: Much more precipitation falls across East Texas than West Texas. While no precipitation data is provided for the Great Plains and desert biomes, the presence of cacti in the desert indicate much less precipitation than the amounts that fall in the eastern temperate forest.
5. How is the deer partially responsible for keeping the grasslands (Great Plains) relatively free of trees?
Answer: Deer eat the young trees, thus inhibiting their growth.
6. What form of natural protection do red and grey squirrels have in the deciduous forest?
Answer: Grey and red squirrels blend in with the tree bark on which they live.
7. How is an animal at the top of the food chain most likely classified?
Answer: Secondary consumer, carnivore, or omnivore
8. The video introduces several classifications including consumer, producer, herbivore, etc. Which classification never applies to any animal?
Answer: Producer
9. Write a four sentence summary of two land based animals. Devote one sentence to each of the following: a description of the animal, whether it is a primary or secondary consumer, its habitat and the region in which the animal lives (the western desert biome, the central Great Plains biome or the eastern temperate forest biome).
Answer: “Badger: The badger is a stocky animal with a bushy tail and a comical walk. It is a secondary consumer as it eats other animals such as small mammals. The badger lives in open country such as prairies and plains. This makes the Great Plains biome its natural home.” “Eastern Red Bat: The Eastern Red Bat is a brightly colored, medium sized bat that is among the first to emerge at sunset. They are secondary consumers as they live on a diet of moths. The red bat lives along the edges of pastures, crop lands, or near deciduous trees. They are found in extreme west Texas, therefore we may infer they live in the desert biome, however from their description they appear to also live in the Great Plains and even in the temperate forest biomes.”
10. Find two animals that are primary consumers (herbivores). Select at least one animal that is a large animal, that is, larger than you are!
Answer: Possible answers include: Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Coues’ Rice Rat, Desert Cottontail, Texas kangaroo rat, Palo Duro mouse, Pronghorn (antelope), elk, Mountain Sheep. The last three are also considered large animals.
11. Click on the link to classification. This link takes you to all species with the word “Texas” in their taxon name or classification. How many species are identified by this database as having Texas in their name? Click on a few to explore the database further and the information cataloged for each species.
Answer: 48
12. Click on “pictures – wild animal” to link to photographs contained within the database that meet our “Texas” criteria. Study the photographs to search for animals that highlight an animal’s ability to use camouflage. Camouflage is the ability of an animal to blend in with its surroundings, thus protecting it from its natural predators. Locate two photographs that illustrate camouflage, name the animal, and describe the camouflage illustrated in the photograph.
Answer: Answers will vary. Sample answers include: “The Greater Earless Lizard. Its coloring matches the rocks on and around which it lives.” “The White Tailed Deer. Its coloring matches the prairie environment in which it lives.”
13. Cite an example of an herbivore that is pictured during the game.
Answer: Answers may include gorillas, deer, and elk.
14. Cite an example of a carnivore that is pictured during the game.
Answer: Answers may include eagles or large cat.
15. Why do you suppose the zoo is particularly interested in the study of this species?
Answer: The ocelot is an endangered species and has been on the endangered list for over 35 years. Once widespread across Texas, the ocelot is now found only in a few small areas.
16. From the description, within what biome(s) does the ocelot live?
Answer: The Great Plains and possibly the temperate forest.
17. What type of animal is placed in the ocelot trap in order to trap the ocelot?
Answer: A live chicken
18. Would an ocelot make a good house pet?
Answer: No! It would spray urine all over the place in order to mark its territory. It is also about twice the size of a typical house cat and could cause harm if it attacked.
19. Are the sandbars along rivers only important to the Least Tern? Explain.
Answer: No. The Piping Plover also depend upon them.
20. What actions, if taken would help to preserve the Least Tern’s habitat?
Answer: Designating additional habitats to be preserved and changing how the Missouri River is managed.
 

Study Questions Texas Animal Diversity
1. Compare the desert biome to the grassland biome. In what way(s) are they different? In what way(s) are they similar?



2. Read the descriptions of each biome. Which biomes are most likely found within the state of Texas? Describe the climate and precipitation pattern for each biome you selected.



3. Identify the three biomes found across Texas.



4. Study the descriptions of each biome found within Texas including physical factors (if provided) along with the animals and vegetation. Can you infer a precipitation trend across Texas that explains why the animals found in eastern Texas are so different from those found in western Texas? Explain.



5. How is the deer partially responsible for keeping the grasslands (Great Plains) relatively free of trees?



6. What form of natural protection do red and grey squirrels have in the deciduous forest?



7. How is an animal at the top of the food chain most likely classified?



8. The video introduces several classifications including consumer, producer, herbivore, etc. Which classification never applies to any animal?



9. Write a four sentence summary of two land based animals. Devote one sentence to each of the following: a description of the animal, whether it is a primary or secondary consumer, its habitat and the region in which the animal lives (the western desert biome, the central Great Plains biome or the eastern temperate forest biome).



10. Find two animals that are primary consumers (herbivores). Select at least one animal that is a large animal, that is, larger than you are!



11. Click on the link to classification. This link takes you to all species with the word “Texas” in their taxon name or classification. How many species are identified by this database as having Texas in their name? Click on a few to explore the database further and the information cataloged for each species.



12. Click on “pictures – wild animal” to link to photographs contained within the database that meet our “Texas” criteria. Study the photographs to search for animals that highlight an animal’s ability to use camouflage. Camouflage is the ability of an animal to blend in with its surroundings, thus protecting it from its natural predators. Locate two photographs that illustrate camouflage, name the animal, and describe the camouflage illustrated in the photograph.



13. Cite an example of an herbivore that is pictured during the game.



14. Cite an example of a carnivore that is pictured during the game.



15. Why do you suppose the zoo is particularly interested in the study of this species?



16. From the description, within what biome(s) does the ocelot live?



17. What type of animal is placed in the ocelot trap in order to trap the ocelot?



18. Would an ocelot make a good house pet?



19. Are the sandbars along rivers only important to the Least Tern? Explain.



20. What actions, if taken would help to preserve the Least Tern’s habitat?



 

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