>> A HABITAT IS WHERE YOU LIVE.

BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO THRIVE IN YOUR HABITAT, THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU NEED.

FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE.

SCIENTISTS ARE HERE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AND YOUR QUESTIONS, ALL ABOUT HABITATS.

STAY TUNED.

"D4K" IS NEXT.

>> HELLO, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB.

>>> EVERYTHING IN NATURE -- PLANTS, ANIMALS, EVEN HUMAN BEINGS, LIVE IN A HABITAT.

AND EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE HAS A JOB TO DO IN THAT HABITAT.

AND IF EVERYBODY DOESN'T DO THEIR JOB, THEN THAT HABITAT CAN FALL APART.

IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THAT EVERYTHING PLAYS, YO CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES A HABITAT WORK, AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE IN NATURE.

IF ANIMALS HAD BUSINESS CARDS, IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY LIVE AND WHAT THEIR ROLE IN NATURE IS.

>> VEGETATION REMOVAL SPECIALIST.

SWAMP CITY, USA.

IF MY FEET ARE WET, I'M NOT THROUGH YET.

>> MEET BLACK BEAR.

>> BLACK BEAR.

BERRY PICKER.

U.S.

NATIONAL FOREST.

NEVER GRIPE WHEN THEY'RE RIPE.

>> EVERY WILD ANIMAL HAS A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE AND A SPECIAL JOB TO DO THERE.

THE PLACE AN ANIMAL LIVES, THE CREATURE'S ADDRESS, IS CALLED ITS HABITAT.

AND THE JOB AN ANIMAL HAS IS CALLED ITS NICHE.

A HABITAT IS MADE UP OF FOUR THINGS THAT ALL ANIMALS NEED.

FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, AND SPACE.

WHEN AN ANIMAL LIVES IN A PLACE THAT HAS THE RIGHT AMOUNTS OF ALL THESE THINGS, THEN IT'S LIVING IN A HEALTHY HABITAT.

FOOD.

WATER.

SHELTER.

AND SPACE.

THE FIRST THREE ARE PRETTY EASY TO UNDERSTAND, RIGHT?

WHAT ABOUT SPACE?

EVEN PEOPLE NEED SPACE.

BUT SOME OF US REQUIRE MORE THAN OTHERS.

IT'S THE SAME WITH WILDANIMALS.

A SPIDER WOULD ONLY NEED A SMALL AREA TO BUILD A WEB.

MAYBE IN YOUR BACK YARD.

BUT WHAT ABOUT A COUGAR?

TOO MANY ANIMALS IN THE SAME SPACE IS NOT A GOOD IDEA EITHER.

THEY MAY EAT ALL THE FOOD, OR PASS ON DISEASES TO EACH OTHER.

SO SPACE IS AS IMPORTANT TO WILDLIFE AS FOOD, WATER, AND SHELTER IN CREATING THE PERFECT HABITAT.

IF THERE'S LOTS OF SPACE, DIFFERENT KINDS OF ANIMALS CAN LIVE IN THE SAME HABITAT.

HERE'S THE TRICKY PART -- THEY NEED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT NICHE OR JOB THERE.

YOU SEE, IF THOSE ANIMALS NEED THE EXACT SAME FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, AND SPACE AND THEY HAVE THE SAME JOB, ONE WOULD OUTCOMPETE THE OTHER, BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH DOING THE SAME THING.

NATURE DOESN'T LIKE TO WASTE TALENT, SO IT DOESN'T ALLOW TWO ANIMALS DOING THE SAME JOB TO LIVE IN THE SAME PLACE.

FOR EXAMPLE, SOME HAWK AND OWLS OCCUPY THE SAME TYPE OF HABITAT, BUT THEY DO HAVE DIFFERENT JOBS, BECAUSE ONE WORKS THE NIGHT SHIFT, WHILE THE OTHER, THE DAY SHIFT.

LOTS OF ANIMALS CAN SHARE GOOD HABITAT IF THEY DO DIFFERENT THINGS THERE.

SOME EAT PLANTS.

SOME EAT ANIMALS.

SOME LIVE IN THE GROUND.

SOME LIVE IN TREES.

WELL, YOU GET THE IDEA.

AND NOT ONLY DO THEY ALL LIVE TOGETHER, THEY ALL DEPEND ON EACH OTHER.

AS USUAL, NATURE KNOWS BEST, WHICH IS WHY ANIMALS LIVE IN SPECIFIC HABITATS WITH SPECIFIC NICHES, ALL OVER THE PLANET.

AND JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT HABITATS AND NICHES ARE TWO SCIENTISTS.

SARA FOCHT IS A WILDLIFE EDUCATOR WITH THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND JOINING SUS RORY, REGIONAL WILDLIFE MANAGER FOR THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME.

OF COURSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

GIVE US A CALL TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-973-9800.

OR EMAIL US AT D4K@IDAHOPTV.ORG.

AND REMEMBER, WHEN YOU SEND IN A QUESTION YOUR CLASS WILL BE ENTERED INTO OUR CHANCE TO WIN A FREE D.V.D.

PLAYER AND OTHER PRIZES.

LET'S GO TO OUR FIRST QUESTIONS.

WE'VE GOT A CALLER ON THE LINE.

FROM MRS.

SCHWEITZER'S CLASS.

I'M SORRY, WE LOST YOU.

JAIRKS ARE YOU THERE?

NO.

CALL RIGHT BACK.

I APOLOGIZE.

LET'S GO TO OUR FIRST EMAIL QUESTION FROM THE SAME CLASS, A QUESTION FROM ANDREW.

IS THERE AN ANIMAL WITH MORE THAN ONE HABITAT?

>> WELL, THERE ARE LOTS OF ANIMALS WITH MORE THAN ONE HABITAT.

A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE A BIRD THAT MIGRATES.

WE HAVE LOTS OF BIRDS THAT MIGRATE HERE IN THE SUMMER AND MOVE HERE IN IDAHO IN THE SUMMER.

AND THEN IN THE WINTER THEY MIGRATE TO THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, OR EVEN SOUTH AMERICA.

AND THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT HABITAT DOWN THERE.

THEY LAY THEIR EGG AND RAISE THEIR YOUNG.

SO THAT WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF AN ANIMAL THAT HAS TWO VERY DIFFERENT HABITATS, AND THEY NEED THEM BOTH.

>> DO ANIMALS' HABITATS GET BIGGER, WILL THAT HURT THE ECOSYSTEM?

>> DOES IT GET BIGGER OR SMALLER THROUGH TIME?

>> I THINK IT DOES VARY SEASONALLY.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT HURTS THE ECOSYSTEM, IT'S JUST A CHANGE.

AND IT MAY BE A BENEFIT TO THAT PARTICULAR SPECIES, BUT THAT MAY BE A DETRIMENT TO ANOTHER SPECIES THAT USE AS DIFFERENT HABITAT THAT'S SHRINKING.

>> ISABEL WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF HABITATS ARE IN IDAHO.

>> OH, WOW.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT KIND OF HABITATS.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE IMPORTANT ONES THAT I CAN THINK OF, SAGEBRUSH HABITAT, THAT'S A BIG ONE IN SOUTHERN IDAHO.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPECIES, OVER 200 SPECIES DEPEND SAGEBRUSH.

THAT WOULD BE A VERY IMPORTANT HABITAT HERE IN IDAHO.

WE HAVE CONIFER FORESTS, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR OWLS AND LARGE GAME, THEY LIKE TO HIDE THERE.

LET'S SEE.

RIPARIAN HABITATS ARE ANY SORT OF WATER HABITAT.

THAT COULD BE ANY KIND OF WATER, IT COULD BE A STREAM, A LAKE, A POND, AND THOSE HABITATS ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ALL ANIMALS NEED FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, AND SPACE.

WATER, WE NEED THAT ONE.

RIPARIAN IS A STRANGE WORD, BUT IT'S JUST ANOTHER WORD TO SAY "WATER."

AND CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHER IMPORTANT -- >> HIGH MOUNTAIN HABITATS USED BY MOUNTAIN GOATS.

SOME PRETTY DENSE FOREST CANYONLANDS IN THE DESERT.

A HUGE VARIETY IN IDAHO.

>> LET'S TRY CHEYENNE.

I'M HAVING FUN WITH THE PHONE.

HERE WE GO.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YES.

>> THERE WE GO.

CHEYENNE IN MIDDLETON, GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTION.

>> Caller: HAVE YOU EVER SAVED ANY ANIMALS FROM A FIRE?

>> WELL, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, CHEYENNE.

REMARKABLY, ANIMALS FOR THE MOST PART ARE VERY GOOD AT ESCAPING FIRE.

SOMETIMES THE FIRES ARE VERY BIG AND MOVE VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE OF WIND, AND THEY CAN GET TRAPPED AND BURNT, BUT MOST OF THE TIME THEY HAVE ENOUGH WARNING AND THEY DO OK.

THERE ARE SPECIES UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CAN'T TRAVEL FAST ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE FIRE, AND THEY END UP GETTING BURNED.

SO THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE TRY TO MINIMIZE ALL HUMAN-CAUSED FIRE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET JAKE IN HERE AGAIN.

GO AHEAD, WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANIMALS THAT CAN SURVIVE IN ALL HABITAT?

>> YOU MEAN -- I THINK HE MEANS ONE ANIMAL IN ALL HABITAT?

>> IS THERE ONE ANIMAL -- >> THE ONLY ONE I CAN THINK OF, MAYBE JON CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT'S NOT ONE ANIMAL, BUT A GROUP, AND THAT'S INSECTS.

I THINK INSECTS ARE ALMOST IN EVERY HABITAT.

IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT INSECTS.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD ANSWER.

>> COCKROACHES SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE SPECIFIC SPECIES OF ANIMAL -- I DON'T THINK SO.

BECAUSE INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS HAVE PARTICULAR NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE MET FOR THE WAY THEY'RE DESIGNED, AND THE WAY THEY LIVE.

AND SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A MAMMAL THAT COULD LIVE UNDER WATER EXTENSIVELY LIKE A FISH.

AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A FISH THAT WOULD DO VERY WELL ON LAND FOR VERY LONG.

SO -- BUT THE MOST DIVERSE GROUP WOULD DEFINITELY BE INSECTS.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET CALEB FROM DONNELLY.

GO AHEAD, CALEB.

DID WE LOSE YOU?

ARE YOU THERE?

[DIAL TONE] HIS QUESTION WAS, WHAT CHANGE OF HABITAT -- WILL A CHANGE OF HABITAT RESULT IN EXTINCTION?

>> A CHANGE OF HABITAT, IF IT'S GREAT ENOUGH, OR A LOSS OF HABITAT CERTAINLY COULD CAUSE EXTINCTION.

LOSS OF HABITAT ST.

NUMBER ONE FACTOR IN WHY ANIMALS GO INSTINCT.

SO IF THERE'S A BIG ENOUGH CHANGE OR COMPLETELY LOST, SURE.

>> GABBY FROM JENNIFER HUNT'S CLASS AT CYNTHIA MANN ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT KIND OF HABITAT IS THE SMALLEST?

>> SARA, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT.

>> I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT THE SMALLEST HABITAT IS, ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER, I DID A PROGRAM THE OTHER DAY ON SPIDERS.

SPIDERS HAVE A PRETTY SMALL HOIK, BUT I BET THERE ARE EVEN SMALLER INSECTS THAT -- MY ROOMMATE'S DOG HAS EAR MIGHTS, AND THOSE LIVE INSIDE MY ROOMMATE'S DOG'S EAR, AND THAT'S A HABITAT, THAT'S A PRETTY SMALL SPACE.

>> SO YOU CAN GET DOWN TO AEMEBAS.

MARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT DO OWLS NEED IN THEIR HABITAT?

>> WELL, I THINK OWLS, THEY NEED ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT -- THEY NEED TO HAVE FOOD, AND FOR MOST OWLS THEY'RE LOOK AT SMALL MAMMALS TO EAT.

MICE, LITTLE RODENTS, THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME ACCESS TO WATER.

THEY NEED SHELTER, AND THAT'S -- NO SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER, A PLACE TO LIVE, AND I GUESS ALSO SHELTER THAT PROVIDES COVER FROM OTHER ANIMALS THAT MIGHT TRY TO GET THEM.

>> FROM MRS.

INFORMING'S SECOND GRADE -- FOG'S SECOND GRADE CLASS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ANIMALS WHEN THEIR HABITAT WERE BURNED FROM ALL THE FIRES LAST YEAR, AND HOW CAN WE HELP REBUD IT?

>> WHEN THE HABITAT AND FIRES HERE IN IDAHO LAST YEAR WERE BURNED, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE HABITAT IS GONE FOR THOSE ANIMALS.

SO THEY HAVE TO MOVE SOMEPLACE ELSE, AND THAT HABITAT NEEDS TO REGROW.

AND IT WILL REGROW, IT MAY TAKE A LONG TIME.

SOMETIMES FIRES CREATE BETTER HABITAT FOR DIFFERENT ANIMALS.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE A FOREST, A DEEP, DENSE FOREST, DARK FOREST, IT WOULDN'T BE SO GREAT FOR ELK, BUT AFTER A FIRE THE GRASSES GROW, AND THEN THE ELK LOVE IT.

SO SOMETIMES A FIRE CAN ACTUALLY HELP THE HABITAT.

BUT IT WILL REPLENISH, IT JUST TAKES TIME.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET JACK IN MIDDLETON.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YES.

>> GOOD.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: DO BIRDS LIVE IN THE DESERT?

>> DO BIRDS LIVE IN THE DESERT?

>> JACK, WE HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF BIRDS THAT LIVE IN THE DESERT.

WE HAVE BIRDS THAT NEST IN THE SAGEBRUSH, AND BIRDS THAT NEST ON THE GROUND.

WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE QUITE THE RIETY OF SPECIES IN THE DESERT AS WE DO IN SOME OF OUR DENSER RIPARIAN-TYPE HABITATS WHERE THERE'S MORE MOISTURE, BUT WE DO HAVE A WIDE VARIETY THAT LIVE IN THE DESERT.

>> LET'S GO TO OLIVIA IN BOISE.

>> Caller: YES?

>> GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: WHAT KIND OF HABITAT DO -- >> WHAT KIND OF HABITAT DO BUTTER FLIES NEED?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> WELL, BUTTERFLIES OF COURSE NEED NECTAR FROM FLOWERS, SO THAT'S THE KIND OF FOOD THEY NEED.

AND THAT CAN COME FROM A FLOWER, IT COULD COME FROM A TREE, IT CAN COME FROM ANY TYPE OF FLOWER.

THEY GO NEED WATER, TOO.

-- THEY DO NEED WATER, TOO.

>> A NICE GARDEN WITH LOTS OF PRETTY FLOWERS.

>> WE HAVE A HUMMINGBIRD AND BUTTERFLY GARDEN AT THE NATURE CENTER, AND WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF BUTTERFLIES THERE IN THE SUMMER.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GO TO RYAN IN CALDWELL.

RYAN?

>> Caller: UM, HI.

WHAT IS AN EAGLE'S NICHE?

>> WHAT IS THE EAGLE'S JOB?

>> WELL, RYAN, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF EAGLES.

IN IDAHO WE HAVE GOLDEN EAGLES AND WE HAVE BALD EAGLES, AND THE BALD EAGLES ARE PRIMARILY FISH-EATERS.

SO THEY'LL PERCH IN TREES, NEST IN TREES, AND THEY'LL FLY OVER THE WATER AND REACH IN WITH THEIR TALONS AND PICK OUT FISH, AND TAKE THE FISH BACK AND EAT THEM.

GOLDEN EAGLES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE FOUND IN THE DESERT AND IN THE CANYONS WHERE THEY NEST UP ON THE ROCKS IN CLIFFING, AND THEY'LL EAT SMALL ANIMALS, LIKE JACKRABBITS AND SOMETIMES SOME OF THE LARGER BIRDS.

AND SO THEY HAVE MORE OF A DESERT AND CANYON TYPE OF NICHE IN IDAHO.

>> FROM SUSAN IN MERIDIAN, CAMERON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DOES EXHAUST DESTROY HABITAT?

I GUESS POLLUTION, AIR POLLUTION, CAN THAT DESTROY A HABITAT?

>> WELL, I CERTAINLY SUPPOSE IF THERE'S ENOUGH EXHAUST THAT COD HURT SOME OF THE ELEMENTS IN A HABITAT.

ON A GLOBAL SCALE, EXHAUST IS -- HAS BEEN -- SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IT CONTRIBUTES TO GLOBAL WARMING, AND GLOBAL WARMING CERTAINLY CAN CHANGE HABITATS.

MAYBE MORE QUICKLY THAN THEY WOULD NORMALLY.

>> IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S ALSO A CONTRIBUTOR TO ACID RAIN, WHICH CHANGES THE P.H.

OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ALSO HAS IMPACTS ON HABITAT.

>> CAMERON WOULD LIKE TO ASK, ARE ELK LOSING THEIR HABITAT?

>> YES, IN SOME PLACES THEY ARE.

HABITAT FOR ELK AND OTHER SPECIES FACES A VARIETY OF THREATS.

SOMETIMES ELK ARE IMPACTED WHEN WE HAVE FIRES GO THROUGH, PARTICULARLY ON WINTER RANGE, WHERE ELK NEED TO SPEND THE WINTER IN SMALLER SPACE IF THAT HABITAT GETS BURNED, THEY -- OR DEFINITELY AT A HIGHER RISK OF DYING OF STARVATION IN THE WINTER.

WE HAVE OTHER THREATS, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSES FOR PEOPLE IN THE ELKS' FAVORITE HABITAT, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THREATS OF WEED SPECIES THAT TAKE OVER THE NATURAL FOODS THAT ELK SEEK OUT.

AND THOSE WEED SPECIES DON'T PROVIDE FOOD FOR ELK.

>> SHAUN FROM THE BUSH MAGNET SCHOOL IN IDAHO FALLS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF PREYING MANTISES LIVE IN ALL HABITATS.

>> NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DO.

I'VE SEEN SOME IN MY GARDEN, BUT -- THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T LIVE IN THE OCEAN, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY LIVE IN THE DESERT.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY LIVE UP IN THE ICE AND SNOW AND THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS, EITHER.

>> SO THEY HAVE THEIR NICHE.

>> THEY DO.

>> HANNAH FROM MRS.

McCOY'S THIRD GRADE CLASS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY DO DEER AND ELK NOT HAVE SHARP TEETH?

>> WELL -- > -- I THINK THAT HAS TODO WITH THE WAY THEY EAT.

AND BOTH OF THEM, THEY HAVE INCISORS IN THE FRONT OF THEIR LOWER JAW JUST LIKE PEOPLE DO, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TEETH ON THE TOP AND THEY PINCH THEIR TEETH AGAINST THE TOP OF THEIR MOUTH, AND THEN THEY TWIST TO BREAK OFF THE GRASSES OR THE PLANTS, OR THE STICKS, PART OF THE SHRUBS.

AND THEN THEY PULL THOSE TO THE BACK OF THEIR MOUTH AND THEY HAVE MOLARS QUITE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO, A LITTLE SHARPER, AND A LITTLE DIFFERENT ANGLE, AND THEY GRIND THEM BACK AND FORTH.

AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY EAT.

>> LET'S GO TO MOLLY.

ARE YOU THERE, MOLLY?

[DIAL TONE] MOLLY ASKED, CAN INSECTS SURVIVE FIRE?

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT, MOLLY.

>> BOY, I SUPPOSE IF THE FIRE IS INTENSE ENOUGH, NO.

BUT I HAVE SEEN INSECTS RIGHT AFTER THE FIRE.

I USED TO FIGHT FIRE WITH THE FOREST SERVICE, AND AS I'M STEPPING IN THE HOT ASHES YOU SEE IES AND INSECTS.

I WOULD SAY SOME DO, AND SOME PROBABLY DON'T.

>> AND SOME MAY FLY OFF AND COME BACK.

>> RIGHT.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET HUNTER.

HUNTER, ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> YOU'RE CALLING FROM MIDDLETON?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> GREAT.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: HAVE YOU EVER -- >> HAVE OUR GUESTS SLEPT IN A BEAR DEN?

>> Caller: YES.

>> ACTUALLY, I HAVE TAKEN A NAP NEXT TO A BEAR DEN, AND, YEAH, I HAVE BEEN TO BEAR DENS IN THE WINTER WHEN BEAR WERE HIBERNATING.

AND I HAVE BEEN TO BEAR DENS IN THE SUMMER AFTER THE BEARS HAVE LEFT.

>> WOULD YO LIKE TO SLEEP IN A BEAR DEN?

>> Caller: NO.

>> OK, THANK FOR CALLING.

LET'S TRY STEWART IN CALLED WE.

WE -- CALDWELL.

>> Caller: I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT IS A CAMILLE I DON'T KNOW NICHE -- CHAMELION NICHE AND HABITAT?

>> BOY, I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF BEN MOSELEY THEM, ACTUALLY.

WE DON'T HAVE THEM IN IDAHO.

JON, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING?

>> I THINK THEY LIVE IN THE SUBTROPICS, AND TYPICALLY IN A SUBTROPICAL FOREST TYPE ENVIRONMENT, AND THEY EAT INSECTS.

PRIMARILY.

>> OK.

ISIAH FROM CLEAR WATER VALLEY ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY DO ANIMALS TRAVEL SO FAR?

WHY DO SOME ANIMALS DON'T STAY IN ONE AREA?

>> WELL, SOME ANIMALS TRAVEL A LONG WAY BECAUSE IN THEIR HABITAT THAT THEY'RE IN, THEY LOSE A COMPONENT.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, OUR EXAMPLE EARLIER WAS MIGRATORY BIRDS.

IN THE WINTER BIRDS LOSE THEIR FOOD SOURCE, INSECTS, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE THE MOUNTAIN BLUEBI, OUR STATE BIRD, EATS INSECTS.

AND THE INSECTS MAKE THEIR EGGS OR THEY HIBERNATE OR DIE IN THE WINTER, SO THEY LOSE THEIR FOOD SOURCE.

SO THEY HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO FIND A NEW HABITAT.

SO THAT'S ONE REASON WHY ANIMALS CAN TRAVEL SO FAR.

AND THAT CAN BE TRUE FOR PRONG HORN TRAVEL WAWS THEY NEED WINTER RANGE, SO SOMETHING IN THEIR HABITAT CHANGES BECAUSE OF THE SEASONS, AND THEY TRAVEL A LONG WAY TO FIND ALL THE COMPONENTS.

>> COLTON IN IDAHO FALL WAS LIKE T KNOW, HOW HIGH CAN A BOBCAT JUMP?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GUESS.

BETWEEN 10-15 FEET.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD JUMP.

>> HIGHER THAN I CAN JUMP.

>> AND HE'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, DO BIG HORN SHEEP FIGHT?

>> WELL, PROBABLY NOT THE WAY HUMANS FIGHT, BUT, YEAH, THEY HAVE A LITTLE CONTEST IN THE FALL, TYPICALLY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, WHERE THE BOY BOYS LIKE TO FIGHT OVER WHO GETS A DATE WITH THE PRETTIEST GIRL.

THAT'S WHEN YOU SEE THEM BUTTING HEADS, TO SEE WHO IS THE TOUGHEST BOY.

>> HOW DOES O WIN THAT FIGHT?

>> WHOEVER HAS THE BIGGEST HEADACHE LOSES, I THINK.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET JOSIE IN CALDWELL.

>> Caller: HI.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> UH-HUH.

>> Caller: ARE SOME HABITATS BEING DESTROYED BY OIL DRILLERS?

>> ARE SOME HABITATS BEING DESTROYED BY OIL DRILLING?

>> WELL, THERE ARE SOME HABITATS THAT -- I'M THINKING OF ONE IN WYOMING, ACTUALLY, THAT SEEMS TO BE FRAGMENTED BY OIL RIGS, I GUESS, WHERE THEY PUT THE DRILL DOWN INTO THE EARTH.

AND WHEN I SAY FRAGMENTED, I MEAN A HABITAT COULD BE LARGE AND SOLID SO THE ANIMAL CAN MOVE IN THAT HABITAT, AND FRAGMENTED IS SORT NF PIECES SO THE ANIMALS CAN'T MOVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE WITHIN THE HABITAT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT OIL DRILLING CAN FRAGMENT A HABITAT, CERTAINLY.

>> LET'S GO TO -- VIA EMAIL, A QUESTION FROM MRS.

DILLWORTH'S SECOND GRADE CLASS, NADA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE DO BEARS BUILD THEIR DENS?

WHERE WOULD THEY BE?

>> WELL, DIFFERENT BEARS BUILD A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF DENS.

SOME BEARS DEN UP ENTRIES OFF THE GROUND, SOME WILL DEN IN A HOLLOW LOG.

MOST OFTEN THEY'LL FIND A HOLE, AN EXISTING HOLE, MAYBE UNDER A TREE OR JUST IN THE HILLSIDE, AND THEY'LL MAKE IT BIGGER.

BIG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO CRAWL IN.

WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN STAY DRY DURING THE COURSE OF THE WINTER, AND THE HOLE IS DEEP ENOUGH THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO GET TOO COLD FOR THEM WHILE THEY'RE HIBERNATING.

>> FROM HORIZON ELEMENTARY IN BOISE, WHAT'S THE HOTTEST HABITAT?

THE DE?ERT.

>> BOY, THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

IN IDAHO CERTAINLY THE HOTTEST HABITAT IS PROBABLY THE SNAKE RIVER PLAIN DESERT.

BUT IN THE WORLD, VOLCANOS, AN AREA WHERE THERE'S A VOLCANO CAN BE PRETTY HOT, AND THERE ARE ORGANISMS THAT LIVE RIGHT THERE.

>> LET'S GO TO NATHAN IN CALDWELL.

>> HI.

MY NAME -- >> Caller: MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NICHE?

>> WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT NICHE?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> THAT WOULD BE MINE, THERE, NATHAN!

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> THAT'S A DIFFICULT ONE TO ANSWER, CAUSE I THINK EACH INDIVIDUAL ORGANISM, EACH INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE A STAKE THINKING THEIR PARTICULAR NICHE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

AND FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE, I GUESS THERE'S A LOT OF PERSONAL OPINION ON WHAT YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NICHE, WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT KIND OF ANIMAL.

SO A TOUGH QUESTION FOR ME TO ANSWER.

>> FROM STEVEN AT HILLCREST ELEMENTARY IN AMERICAN FALLS, DO WASPS HELP THE WHOLE PLANET OR JUST THEIR OWN HABITAT?

I PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE WASPS.

IT'S JUST A PERSONAL THING.

BUT WHERE ARE WASPS IN THE WHOLE EARTH'S HABITAT?

>> THEY PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN POLLINATION IN SOME AREAS, AND POLLINATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY HUMANS, BECAUSE WE GET OVER 60% OF OUR FOOD THAT NEEDS POLLINATED BY INSECT OR A BAT OR BIRD OR SOMETHING.

SO I'M NOT SAYING WASPS DO ALL THAT WORK BY THEMSELVES, BUT IN SOME PLACES THEY NEED TO POLLINATE THINGS FOR US TO EAT.

SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

>> OK.

HOW ABOUT WILL BE LET'S GO TO JACOB.

>> Caller: HI.

>> HI.

GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: DO PENGUINS LIVE IN ALASKA?

>> DO PENGUINS LIVE IN ALASKA?

>> VERY EXCELLENT QUESTION, BUT NO.

I'M AFRAID THEY DON'T.

ACTUALLY, PENGUINS ALL LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE FROM ALASKA.

>> DO POLAR BEARS ONLY LIVE IN THE NORTH?

>> SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE CARTOONS WHERE THE POLAR BEARS AND THE PENGUINS ARE HANGING OUT ON THE ICE TOGETHER.

IT DON'T REALLY HAPPEN THATWAY.

POLARS ARE IN THE NORTH, PENGUINS ARE IN THE SOUTH.

>> EACH HAS A NICHE AND YOU DON'T WANT THE BEARS EATING ALL THE PENGUINS.

>> RIGHT.

>> OK.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GO TO MATTHEW IN CALDWELL.

MATTHEW, ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GO AHEAD.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: WOULD ANOTHER ANIMAL TAKE ANOTHER ANOTHER ANIMAL'S HAB DISPAT MAKE IT ITS OWN?

>> WELL, YEAH.

I THINK THAT DOES HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

JON MENTIONED EARLIER WHEN WE HAVE NONNATIVE SPECIES THAT COME IN, WHETHER THAT BE A PLANT OR AN ANIMAL, THEY COME IN TO AN AREA AND TAKE OVER AND SORT OF TAKE OVER THE HABITAT AND THE NICHE OF PLANTS THAT WERE NATIVE HERE OR THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE A PROBLEM.

SO, YEAH, SHURKS I GUESS AN ANIMAL COULD MOVE IN AND TAKE OVER SOMEONE ELSE'S HABITAT OR NICHE.

>> WE'RE JUST ABOUT RUN OUT OF TIME.

I'M GOING TO LET HUNTER AND CAROLINE, ANYBODY ELSE ON OUR PHONE LINES TO GO AHEAD AND STAY THERE.

WE'LL BE TAPING OUR WEB-ONLY PROGRAM RIGHT AFTER TH SHOW.

IF YOU'RE ON OUR PHONE LINES, STAY ON THE PHONE AND WE'LL CATCH YOUR QUESTIONS AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT WEB-ONLY PROGRAM.

I WANT TO SAY, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME SCIENTIST AND STUDY HABITAT AND NICHES?

>> WELL, I JUST ALWAYS HAD A FASCINATION WITH WILDLIFE FROM THE TIME I WAS A KID.

AS I WAS GROWING UP I LEARNED THAT, YOU KNOW, IF I STUDIED REAL HARD IN SCHOOL AND GOT GOOD GRADES, MAYBE I COULD BE A SCIENTIST.

AND STUDY WILDLIFE.

AND ACTUALLY GET PAID FOR IT.

SO IT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> YOU'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> KIND OF THE SAME REASON.

I JUST -- THAT'S WHAT I LIKE THE MOST TO DO, IS LOOK OUTSIDE AND BE IN NATURE, AND LEARN ABOUT ANIMALS.

SO I FIXED I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE THAT BE MY JOB.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

WE'VE GOT LOTS MORE INFORMATION.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THAT WEB-ONLY SHOW, IT WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE SHORTLY AFTER WE FINISH TAPING IT.

CHECK IT OUT AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

THERE'S LOTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HABITATS, LINKS AND INFORMATION, GLOSS RIS, READING LISTS.

OUR NEXT BROADCAST SHOW WILL BE ON ROBOTS.

THAT IS NOVEMBER 18th.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BLOG.

THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON "D4K."

Captioning performed by LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com