Question

weather and whooping cranes ◆ pre - lab discussion the whooping crane is a tall white bird with red markings on its forehead and face. it is native to certain north american wetlands. in the twentieth century, population of this magnificent bird has decreased almost to the point of disappearing. in 1941, only 14 cranes were living. although about ten times as many cranes are now living, they are still at risk. about half of the cranes live in the wild. they breed in wood buffalo national park in canada and winter in arar national wildlife refuge in texas. scientists, working to save the whooping cranes, investigated what abiotic facto affect the birds. in this investigation, you will analyze the data from one such st 1. what do whooping cranes need to obtain from their habitat? 2. what abiotic factors might limit the population of whooping cranes?

Explanation:

1. For the first question, whooping cranes, like all living organisms, need basic resources from their habitat. These include food (such as small fish, insects, and crustaceans), water (for drinking and as part of their wetland habitat where they feed and breed), shelter (the wetland vegetation provides cover from predators and harsh weather), and space (adequate area to forage, nest, and raise their young).
2. Abiotic factors are non - living components of the environment. For whooping cranes, weather (extreme cold or heat can affect their survival, especially during migration and breeding seasons), water availability (changes in water levels in their wetland habitats can impact food sources and nesting sites), soil quality (in their breeding grounds, soil conditions can affect the growth of plants that support their food web), and natural disasters (such as floods, droughts, or wildfires that can destroy their habitats) could limit their population.

Answer:

1. Whooping cranes need food (e.g., small fish, insects), water, shelter (wetland vegetation), and space from their habitat.
2. Abiotic factors that might limit the population of whooping cranes include weather (extreme temperatures), water availability (changes in wetland water levels), soil quality (in breeding areas), and natural disasters (floods, droughts, wildfires).