Describe the niches of at least 3 species of wildlife that m

Describe the niches of at least 3 species of wildlife that might be found in Michigan.

Solution

The forest landscape of Michigan represents wide variety of species. The land is mostly occupied by red wood trees and shaded land is dominated by ferns. The trees support wide species of wild life. The fallen logs in the forest support Salamanders, snakes, flying squirrels, small insects and several invertebrates.

The downy and hairy woodpeckers live on dying and dead standing trees known as snags. The hairy woodpeckers require larger snags than down woodpeckers. The trees provide food for insects and shelter. The hairy woodpeckers feed on large insects. These small differences in habitats are observed between downy and hairy woodpeckers. Each type of woodpecker occupies a different niche and exhibits different functional role in the forest ecosystem.

Two types of forests are abudant. Coniferous forests are habitat for Red squirrels that feed on large pine cones. The deciduous forests are habitat of grey squirrels. These feed on acorns and beechnuts.

Amphibians like redbacked and spotted salamanders live in moist, mature deciduous forest floors and at dead and decaying logs. Red shouldered hawks are found extensively in deciduous forest types and use lowland for nesting.

Several types of birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, squirrels, black bears and various types of fungi and mushrooms live in different ecological niches in the Michigan forests.