Ecology

**Ecology** (from Greek: οἶκος, "house", or "environment"; -λογία, "study of") is the scientific analysis and study of interactions among organisms and their environment. Topics of interest to ecologists include the diversity, distribution, amount (biomass), and number (population) of particular organisms, as well as cooperation and competition between organisms, both within and among ecosystems and even smaller biomes. **Ecosystems** are composed of dynamically interacting parts including organisms, the communities they make up, and the non-living components of their environment. A **biome** is a community of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the environment they exist in.  "Biome" is a broader term than "habitat"; any biome can comprise a variety of habitats.

The world of Shelter 2 has a rich ecology, with each of the four maps functioning as a whole ecosystem, and showcasing smaller biomes within. The cycles of life and the changing seasons are represented in the abundance or shortage of prey and predators[1] in these biomes. On the hardest difficulties (survival mode, with hazards on from the Mountains DLC), it is important for the mother lynx to become a part of her environment. She must move her cubs[2] with the prey, knowing how to avoid areas hit hardest by winters chill, and areas of plenty with summers bounty. Each map, and each biome, offers unique rewards, and unique challenges, at different times of year. While it is possible (and satisfyingly challenging) to raise a generation of cubs in a single biome, it is usually preferable to move the cubs from biome to biome within one or two environments (maps) in a generation.

## Valley (Main/Big Tree/Den) Map

### Environment Overview

#### Terrain

A northern valley, shaped by the movement of glaciers. The elevation climbs significantly in the north-eastern corner and decreases in the south-western corner. There are many rock formations, presumably glacial deposits. Bodies of water are few, almost all are in the north-western corner near the Tundra Pass, and a few ponds in the Birch and Boreal forests.

#### Fauna

Prey

* Rabbits
* Voles
* Pheasants
* Frogs
* Eggs
	+ Waterfowl (Ground, Near Water)
	+ Owl (Up in Trees)

Predators

* Foxes
* Eagles
* Bears?

#### Dangers & Challenges

* Forest Fires
* The Lonesome Fog
* Predators - Danger: Low/Medium
* Starvation Risk - Low

### Biomes

#### Grassland

Terrain

* Shallow hills and open plains, wide-spaced rock deposits.

Flora

* Sparse, rocky pine thickets, tall grasses, summer wildflowers.

Fauna

* Prey
	+ Rabbits (Common Year-Round. Bountiful in Spring/Summer)
	+ Voles (Common Year-Round: Bountiful in Spring/Fall)
	+ Owl Eggs (Uncommon in Spring)
* Predators
	+ Eagles (Common Year Round)
	+ Foxes (Uncommon Year Round)

Challenges

* Winter famine can be more deadly, due to lack of larger prey and stamina expenditure from chasing prey in the open field. Eagle attacks are common, due to lack of underbrush. This also serves as an advantage however, as it makes rescuing cubs less problematic. Foxes are a common threat on the edges of the grassland where it is more wooded.

#### Foothills

Terrain

* Rocky with steep altitude changes. Glacial alpine hills.

Flora

* Coniferous sub-alpine forest. The northern, higher elevations (presumably just below the tree line) are studded with Krummholz-form trees. The southern, lower elevation slopes are lusher.

Fauna

* Prey
	+ Rabbits (Common Year Round, Bountiful in Summer/Fall)
	+ Voles (Common Year Round, Bountiful in Spring/Fall)
	+ Pheasants (Common Year Round)
* Predators
	+ (No Data)

Challenges

* Prey can be scarce at the highest elevations of this biome in winter, but populations of rabbits and voles remain stable year-round in the lower hills.

#### Boreal Forest

Terrain

* Rough and rocky, with many shallow ravines and hills.

Flora

Fauna

* Prey
	+ Rabbits
	+ Voles
	+ Pheasants

* Predators
	+ Foxes

Challenges

* Fox attacks are common, and deadly. Rescue attempts are difficult with dense underbrush, rocks, and uneven terrain. Foxes are especially well camouflaged in autumn and early spring in this biome. Lightning strikes can cause brush fire here. Due to the frequency of autumn storms, and the foxes seasonal camouflage in its native territory, this biome is especially dangerous in the fall.

#### Birch Forest

Terrain

* Rough and rocky, with many shallow ravines and hills.

Flora

* Thick underbrush and bushes between birch and pine. A young forest.

Fauna

* Prey
	+ Rabbits (Common Year Round)
	+ Voles (Common Year Round. Bountiful in Spring/Fall)
	+ Pheasant (Uncommon Year Round?)
	+ Waterfowl Eggs (Rare Year Round?)

* Predators
	+ Foxes (Common Year Round)

Challenges

* Fox attacks are common, and deadly. Rescue attempts are difficult with dense underbrush, rocks, and uneven terrain. Foxes are especially well camouflaged in autumn and early spring in this biome. Lightning strikes can cause brush fire here. Due to the frequency of autumn storms, and the foxes seasonal camouflage in its native territory, this biome is especially dangerous in the fall.

#### Marshland

Terrain

* Mostly flat and open, with shallow stagnant pools of water.

Flora

* Weeping birch, thick underbrush of reeds and sedges.

Fauna

* Prey
	+ Rabbits (Uncommon Year Round, Common in Spring/Summer)
	+ Voles (Uncommon Year Round, Common Summer)
	+ Frogs (Bountiful in Spring/Summer)
	+ Waterfowl Eggs (Bountiful in Spring/Summer)

* Predators
	+ Foxes (Uncommon Year Round)
	+ Eagles (Rare Year Round?)

Challenges

* Food is scarce in winter, and survival here during this season is not recommended. However, it is an incredibly bountiful area for food in the spring and summer, allowing kits to thrive and adolescents to survive. Foxes can be an issue here, especially in the fall and spring as they will be well camouflaged, however, rescue attempts are often successful, as the terrain is mostly flat and open.

## Lake (Three Trees)

**Terrain**

* Varies.When you first enter the Lake area you arrive in a grassy meadow but the more you venture out there are mostly forests all over the place.In Lake area there is a small island you can find rose near the center of the small island.The rose is a collectible.You can find a eagle feather in a den like cave.

**Prey**

* Water deer
* Voles
* Rabbits
* Owl eggs
* Pheasant

**Predators**

* Foxes (Rare year around?)
* Eagles (Uncommon year around)

**Challenges**

* Food is plentiful here there are mostly rabbits and voles . Deer can be found but are uncommon.Foxes are rare here but be always wary of your surroundings.The Lonesome Fog can be a problem when the lonesome fog comes the sky will become red brownish and the music will change.One of your cubs might be scarred and freeze on the spot then you must carry the cub to safety.You can ether run out of the lake area and return after the lonesome fog disappears . When you find yourself unable to run away from the lonesome fog stay completely stay still or lay down and call your cubs without stopping in till the lonesome fog passes.If one of your cubs wonders away consider that cub dead.If you wander too far away from a frozen cub you will hear barking that means a wolf or a dog has killed your cub.

### Tundra (Arctic, WIP)

**Terrain**

* Varies. When you first enter the Tundra you arrive in a snowy field with plateaus and shrubberies all over the place. This also applies to the north area of the Tundra. However, in the very center, there is a glacier, a small stream, and a mammoth carcass with a tusk in the pond. The tusk is a collectible. The area limits to the west with a lake that does not freeze in colder months. There is also a sabertooth cat den and a skull to the southeast of the Tundra.

**Flora**

**Fauna**

 Prey

* Moles/Lemmings/Voles

* Chamois (Or generalized, Deer)

* Rabbits
* Nests

Predators

* Polar Bears
* Wolves
* Foxes

Challenges

* Food is hard to find and at any time you can get attacked by Predators and all of them are located in the Tundra. Survival during this season is heavily not recommended, especially if your cubs are still young. Again, prey is very hard to find and if you do manage to catch any, it's likely first you'll run in with wolves, foxes, or bears. The Tundra is one of the most difficult areas in the game.

## Mountain (DLC)

Notes

This page is still being worked on, so some parts are not complete

Challenges: Mist? (This is yet to have a name)

In the mist, it covers the whole area. Unlike it's cousin, the lonesome fog, the mist is blue. To survive, you have to stand completely still, because if you dont, this could be fatal to one of your Cubs. Though, it is extremely rare and you probably won't encounter it on your first few visits to the mountains. It is not really a challenge, it is technically a bug where the game tries to spawn lonesome fog, but tries when the player isn't in the right area or just the game spawned it too far away.

It is unknown to if it is actually a feature, but it can happen.

Forest fire: as said before, you hear thunder and see lightning. There will be an orange haze acting as a short warning. Do not sprint until you know that your Cubs will be safe if you do. Otherwise, walk. Avoid being too slow, because one of your Cubs will die. If you touch the fire, you will black out, and when you wake the fire will be gone but a cub had died. In the mountains, to escape you will need to stand in water, or enter a clearing without trees or completely surrounded by rock. Though, the mountains is tight with small grass and shrubs, so it is difficult to achieve this. This makes the mountains the hardest place to survive a wildfire in. But remember, the fire will leave when a cub dies, or it will be extinguished by rain. Fires are most common in autumn.

Predators:

Bear

Foxes

hawk/eagle

Prey: rabbit, vole, pheasant (sometimes), deer?

I would not recommend visiting the mountains during autumn because there are prey spawning issues at this time. I more suggest going there when it is summer. I also do not suggest winter because food is scarce. But, keep in mind that there is always a small food shortage every once in a while in the mountains.

Flora???

Fauna???