29. Snowshoe hare population
The snowshoe hare is one of the northern mammals that go through periodic cycles of changes in their populations. Over a period of years, their population will increase in numbers and then suddenly crash to very low numbers, only to rise again. Snowshoe hare tend to cycle about once every ten years. The snowshoe hare cycle is one of the best known and fur trappers and traders working in northern Canada first described it. In 1865, traders with the Hudsons Bay Company were flooded by hare pelts brought in by trappers. But, by 1870, only a few hare pelts trickled in. This pattern of high and low abundance of hare pelts repeated itself over and over, roughly every ten years.
Snowshoe hares are a dominant herbivore in northern forest ecosystems. In Alaska and western Canada, their populations cycle over 8 to 11 years. The difference in densities and abundance during the cycle are extreme. Densities as high as 4,000 hares per square kilometer have been estimated at the peak of the cycle. These populations can crash to densities of less than one hare per square kilometer within a period of one year. The populations slowly increase to peak densities over the next 6 to 13 years. The densities during peak years, however, are not always the same.
Just what is it that drives the snowshoe hare cycle? This question has puzzled people living in northern areas and scientists for many years. On a broad scale, it may be the 22- year sunspot cycle and its effects on boreal forest weather patterns or forest fires. On a smaller scale, the cycles may be affected by over browsing the food supply, predators, shock disease due to stress, parasites, or a combination of these. The primary theory pertaining to the snowshoe hare population cycle describes the mechanics as a combination of predators and browse availability. During the peak of their cycle, hares eat a large proportion of the shrubs available in their area. They can also kill many of the shrubs in their area by chewing through the outer layer of bark. Over-browsing of shrubs results in a food-shortage that causes malnourishment, starvation, and reduced reproduction. This leads to the start of the population crash or decline. Also, as food supplies decrease, the health of hares declines and makes many individuals more vulnerable to predators and disease. In the western Yukon, scientists believe that the hare cycle is caused by changes in food supply and predation. The declines and increases in the population of hares were influenced by the reproductive rates of adult hares and the survival rates of all ages of hares.
孩子的独立教育
五一劳动节(The Holiday of Labors Day)
缤纷校园生活(Colourful school life)
我心幕中的英雄(The Hero in My Heart)
我的故乡(MY NATIVE TOWN)
中考英语作文范文:我的笔友
2015中考英语作文亮点句型
中考英语作文范文:如何提高记忆力?
中考英语写作练习1-3:命题作文并根据英文提示写作
永远的朋友(forever friend)
减肥之法(The Way of Losing Weight)
中考英语写作练习9:写意见信
通知-NOTICE
中考英语作文范文:英语学习计划
中考英语考前必备--利弊型作文写作模板
坚持就是胜利(Success Belongs to the Persevering)
跟随你的脚步(Following Your Steps)
中考英语写作练习10-12:对话型作文
中考英语写作指导:(二)记叙文及范文点评
孔子(Confucius)
中考英语写作练习7:写邀请函
中考英语作文范文:我将来的计划
对中国旅游业的新建议(A new recommendation of Chinese tourism)
我的表不走了(My Watch Doesn’t Work)
中考英语作文范文:做自己
2015中考英语作文万能句型(一)
2015年中考英语备考:四步轻松搞定中考英语书面表达
中考英语写作指导:(五)应用文及范文点评
中考英语写作指导:(一)写作概述和指导
玩电脑游戏的利与弊
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |