Which of the following species is known as an edge species?

The whitetail deer is considered an edge species because it thrives in areas where different habitat types meet, such as the transition zones between forests and open fields. These edge environments provide both food and cover, which are essential for the deer’s survival and reproductive success. Whitetail deer have adapted well to diverse landscapes due to their ability to exploit various food sources, including shrubs and young trees that are often found in these border areas.

In contrast, while moose, black bears, and wild turkeys may also occupy overlapping habitats with edge characteristics, they do not specifically depend on these transitional zones as heavily as whitetail deer do. Moose tend to favor wetlands and dense forests, black bears require both forest cover and access to food sources that may not be exclusively in edge environments, and wild turkeys often need a mix of open ground and woodlands but are less tied to edge environments compared to the whitetail deer.