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The Environment

Species Identification Part 1

Part 1: Definitions and Tips

What is a species?

A species can be defined as a group of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, behaviour and genetic structure and that produce fertile offspring under natural conditions.

How many species are there on Earth?

• Scientists do not know how many species live on earth!

• There are many estimates but the general range is 5-30 million species living on earth today though the extreme estimate is 100 million species.

•Currently, scientists have identified between 1.7 and 2 million individual species though there is no consensus on the exact number.

Species Identified?

• Insects are the most numerous of all species and account for over half of all identified species

• Scientists have identified over 300 000 species of beetles alone!

Identified Species:• Mammals 5490• Birds 9998• Reptiles 9084• Amphibians 6433• Fishes 31 300• Invertebrates 1 305 212• Plants 321 212• Other 51 563 (www.currentresults.com)

Hundreds to thousands of new species are discovered each year!

Smith's litter frog (Leptobrachium smithi), identified in 1999 Photo by: Milivoje Krvavac

Gumprecht's green pitviper (Trimeresurus gumprechti), identified in 2002, Photo by: Gernot Vogel

In 2006 alone, 16 969 new species were identified.

Types of species:

• Endemic species are species that normally live and thrive in an ecosystem

• Exotic species are those that migrate into or are introduced into an ecosystem deliberately or accidently by humans.

• Specialist Species: have a narrow niche, may only live in certain habitat, few food sources, narrow range of tolerance

• Generalist Species: broad niches, live in many habitats, many food sources, broad range of tolerance

• Indicator Species: indicates health of ecosystem, provides early warning system, sensitive to biotic, abiotic change

• Keystone Species: a species that is very important in maintaining ecosystem health, balance of entire ecosystem depends on actions of this species

• Learning the name of every species of plant, mammal, insect, bird, fungi that you come across is very difficult, if not impossible.

• However, many useful field guides are available to assist you in identifying the species you observed.

Tips for identifying species in the field:

• Take a picture if possible • Keep a field notebook to jot down/sketch

important characteristics of your observation i.e.: colour, habitat, size, shapes, sounds, flowers, etc.

• If the species you are observing is moving, you may only get a brief glimpse so record every characteristic you can

• Later, refer to your notes and use a field guide to help identify your observation.

Bird Identification• Remember the acronym GISS (General

Impression, Size, Shape) to make field notes• Colour, markings, striping, eye ring or eye

lines, colour of beak, legs, eyes, tail markings. Where did you observe it? Flight characteristics, sound.

• Relative size—sparrow, robin, crow?• Thin, bulky, long/short beak, forked tail,

narrow tail, upright, rounded, flat? Wing shape.

Black eye colour

Large beak

Red chest patch

White underbelly

Forked tail

Black feet

Robin sized

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Identifying Wildflowers:

Key characteristics of wildflowers

The Five Questions:

Flower Type1. Is the flower regular (radially symmetrical) or

irregular or are the flower parts indistinguishable?

Flower Type:

Radially Symmetrical Irregular

Indistinguishable

Flower Type:

2. If the flower is regular, how many petals or similar parts?

Four petals

Plant Type:

3. Is the plant a wildflower, shrub or vine?

4. If a wildflower, is it without leaves, or if it has leaves are they all at the base of the plant (basal), are they arranged singly on the stem (alternate) or are they opposite one another in pairs or whorls?

Wildflower:

Basal Leaves: Alternate:

Opposite or Whorled

Leaf Type:

5. Are the leaves entire (with even and unbroken margins) or are they toothed, lobed or divided?

Leaf Type:

Entire: Toothed:

Leaf Type:

Lobed: Divided:

Tree Identification• Leaves, needles– shape, colour, clusters• Flowers• Bark—colour, texture• Seeds, fruits, cones, • Branches—thorns, texture, buds,

arrangement• Habitat and range map, what trees

should be growing in the habitat