Wildlife Diversity: The Links of Life

Introduction

Welcome to Minnesota's Diverse Wildlife!

We all know the saying, "variety is the spice of life." Here in Minnesota, our variety, or diversity, of plant and animal life is great. Did you know that there are 242 kinds of birds, 81 kinds of animals, 140 kinds of fish, and 48 kinds of reptiles and amphibians living in Minnesota? We have even more insects, more than scientists have been able to identify, at least 145 kinds of butterflies alone. This rich diversity is the "links of life" to the abundance of Minnesota's wildlife.

Why should we care about preserving Minnesota's wildlife? Because we hold the keys to the future, it will be our responsibility to care for the earth. Plants and animals are valuable to us in so many ways. Plants produce the chemicals that become part of the air we breathe. Some plants and animals produce compounds that can be used in drugs for treating heart disease and cancer. We've also discovered that they can serve as an early-warning system: chemicals that have killed plants and animals can also be threats to human life.

The first step to preserving our world is to learn about the life around us. A wildlife biologist named Aldo Leopold wrote, "The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to keep all the pieces." In this book we'll explore the pieces-the links of life-and learn about what they need and how they grow. We know you will enjoy learning more about the world around you, so that you and Minnesota's wildlife continue to grow strong and healthy.


Sincerely,

Lauren Wemmer, M.S.    Stephan P. Carlson, Ph.D.


The 4-H Wildlife Biology Project gratefully acknowledges the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, and Metro Cluster MDHA clubs who generously granted supporting funds for the production of these materials.

Authors
Lauren Wemmer, M.S., Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Minnesota

Stephan P. Carlson, Ph.D., 4-H Youth Development Educator Center for 4-H Youth Development, College of Education, College of Natural Resources

Project Manager
Karen Burke, Educational Development system, University of Minnesota

Layout
Cheryl Lieder, Educational Development System, University of Minnesota

Illustrations and Cover Design
Nancie McCormish, Drawn by Design

The 4-H Wildlife Biology project also gratefully acknowledges the support of the following individuals, who contributed time and expertise to these materials:
Richard Byrne, Minnesota Extension Service, Center for 4-H Youth Development

Carrol Henderson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources- Nongame Wildlife

Steve Kittelson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources- Nongame Wildlife

Jim Kitts, Department of fisheries and Wildlife, University of Minnesota


HOME NEXT: Chapter 1: Wildlife Populations

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Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

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