Components of Wildlife Habitats
The components of wildlife habitats may be multiple. However, for the purpose of understanding, major ones are, food, cover, water and space.
Food
Food resources vary from habitat to habitat. Accordingly, the selection of feed items whether it is a herbivore or a carnivore or omnivore also varies. Majority of he animals go for food items that have an easy access.
Food spectrum
Food spectrum is the range of food materials that are taken by the concerned wild animal species. Food spectrum varies from species to species. The different components in this food spectrum are available in large numbers in particular seasons or periods of the year. In a palatability gradient, the relished food materials rank high always.
Prey species needs to be abundant for the survival of the concerned wild animal species in a wildlife area. Similarly, the biodiversity of the concerned prey animal species needs to be more and hence, the predators may have the choice in selecting the type of wild animal species as the prey for it.
Carnivores mostly go for the ‘economic prey’.
Examples food spectrum:
- Tigers prefer gaur or sambar mostly rather than going for the prey species like mouse deer.
- Herbivores generally select materials of lower energy when compared to the carnivores. Hence, these species are prone to suffer from either qualitative food stress due to the lesser nutritional values of the feeds under consumption or from quantitative food stress that occurs due to shortage.
Cover
Cover gives protection of the wild animals species from the followings:
- Weather
- Severe summer
- Winter
- Predators
- Enemies
- Provides a better vantage point for the wild animal in a wide area Covers may be a natural one or an artificial one.
Types of Cover
There are many types of cover. Similarly, it may be a vegetal or non vegetal in nature. It is better to have simulation of natural one or if possible a natural one.
However, it is to be remembered that escape-cover may not be an essential one for wild animal species like the black buck.
Good grass growth by itself may have a better cover for them. Different types of vegetations make up these covers.
Usually caves and overhands act as non-vegetal covres. Other structures that also bears the cover value are:
- Burrows
- Old buildings
- Holes
- Abandoned buildings
- Drystream beds etc.
Ambush cover
Ambush cover is defined as the cover that is utilized by a predatory animal for ambushing its prey. This can be a vegetal or non-vegetal. Covers are interchangeable.
The ambush cover of one species may serve as escape cover for another species.
Breeding cover
Breeding cover is important to have a successful breeding potential of the concerned wild animal species.
- Tigers use caves nad overhands a cubbing places.
- Hard ground barasinha (deer) population of MP state needs tall grass as the breeding cover.
Roosting cover for birds
Birds need a safe area for the purpose of resting and the cover that provides facility for this purpose is called as the roosting cover.
- Acacia nilotica trees planted in the marshy regions of Bharatpur helps to provide a better roosting cover for birds.
- Large birds like vultures need tree cover that is well convenient for them to spread their wings and have a take-off in the air. It is to be understood that the raising directly to soaring height in one stroke is not possible from the ground level.
Loafing cover
Loafing cover is the one in which some wild animal species try to spend their time aimlessly and this may be a secluded place in a habitat.
The place offering shade in summer and providing adequate protection from the wind in winter can serve as a loafing cover.
Refuge cover
Refuge cover essentially means vegetation from which the wild animals can not be sent out during hunting. This is a sports related terminology.
For example, the jungle fowl can be hunted only in the open space.
Water
Water is highly a required item in a habitat of the wild animal species. When the water resources are poor in a habitat, then the quality of the concerned habitat is considered as a poor one from the conservation point of view.
Riparian vegetation along the stream banks may be considered linking places or corridors for the animal movement. Animals in desert regions generally depend on the succulent vegetation or metabolic water of the body.
Water bodies play a greater role in the disease transmission esp. in cases of contamination by grazing livestock that utilizes the water resources.
Space
Space is a must for any wild animal species. The availability of space is influenced by followings:
- Edges
- Ecotones
- Territory
- Interspersion
- Availability of mates
Mongamous species suffer a lot in breeding as the case with rhinos or Sarus cranes. The mates may not be adequate for these species in a given space some times.
The problem has happened with rhinos of Jaldapara in West Bengal. This problem is not an acute one in nature in case of polygamous species like spotted deer because one male can mate with three to four females.
The space should provide suitable niches for various wild animal species.
Factors pertaining to wildlife habitat
Welfare factors
Welfare factors are the factors that are related to the specific components of habitat like food, shelter and water. These factors help to enhance the population structure.
Decimating factors
Decimating factors are the factors like starvation, fire, epidemics and unhealthy competition.
Wetland habitats and the aviary species
Wetlands have the concerned wetland aviary species that have specialized legs and the legs are equipped with webs that help or facilitating for the better movement on mud or water logged surfaces.
The beaks vary in size and shape, so as to catch the prey species (mostly the fish) from water.
