...Holly Regan SCI/275 August 10, 2014 Stacy Murphy Balancing Ecosystems Glimmerville City Council, It has been brought to my attention that the city of Glimmerville is now faced with the same invasive grass carp population issues as the city of Sparksville. The problem with the grass carp is once they have been introduced they kill off the native species of our local waters. The purpose for the introduction of the grass carp is to remove the overabundance of indigenous aquatic plant life in particular habitats that have taken over due to fertilizer deposits making it to our community waterways thus, making survival hard for other inhabitants. In order to receive the optimal amount of benefits that the grass carp species has to offer, it must be released into a secure environment with no possibility of escape into other waterways. This species has found its way into many reservoirs, lakes, streams, and rivers in our community intentionally and/or by accident; either way it involves some degree of human error. Because the grass carp is native to Asia, it has no natural predators in North America. Another major factor which adds to this problem is their life expectancy is quite a long time and weigh up to 100 pounds, maybe more. The large-mouth bass and a few other species of fish will eat them if they are small enough. Some of the challenges faced in restoring the ecosystem in Sparksville were (a) the farmers grew the food for the community and the agricultural economy...
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...environmental pollution has increased. Some species have changed their original habitat invading native species environment, resulting to competition for the limited resources. Human activities have played major role in introduction of the invasive species to an ecosystem, the alien species have unique adaptations that enable them to survive in new environment (Richardson, 2010). Bio diversification is under threat due to species invasion into ecosystem, the native plants have continued to be extinct and part of this phenomena has been attributed...
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...In “Infernal Paradise” Kingsolver argues that human culture is destroying the environment, especially in Hawaii. She claims that the story of Hawaii is one of “unceasing invasion,” which is indeed irrefutable. The true question is when did the invasion start? In her essay Kingsolver praises endemic species, but are they not invasive as well? Kingsolver acknowledges that life on Hawaii arrived “through powerful stamina or spectacular accident.”; that birds and the wind brought along with them seeds to the barren island, and time promoted them to the status of “native and endemic.” Kingsolver also admits human arrived in the same way,“through powerful stamina and spectacular accident”, and over time they began to call themselves Hawaiians as...
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...INTRODUCTION An invasive species is a species of any kind which is not native to an ecosystem and causes it harm.Species that grow and reproduce quickly, and spread aggressively, with potential to cause harm, are given the label of “invasive”. An invasive species doesn't need to originate from a different country, but just a different ecosystem.Invasive species are primarily spread by human activities, often unintentionally. People, and the goods we use, travel around the world very quickly, and they often carry uninvited species with them. However sometimes a new species has been introduced into an ecosystem intentionally. This report we set out and analyse the impact of the Burmese python to the Everglades in Florida. The arrival of the...
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...Lantana is a very invasive, poisonous species of plant that spreads very quickly. The scientific name for lantana is Lantana camara. Lantana originated from South America, Central America and Mexico, and was first introduced to Australia in 1841 in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens being brought to Australia as an ornamental plant. It quickly spread and became one of Australia’s worst weeds and a weed of national significance. This is why it is now illegal in all states and territories of Australia to buy or sell any variety of lantana. Although it was introduced for use as a fence for cattle because it could grow up to 5 metres, it failed because if cattle ate it they would die because lantana is poisonous to cows. According to research from the...
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...A nonnative species is a plant or animal from a foreign region of the world that has established a population in a new area. These alien species may be introduced into an ecosystem through various means. For example, foreign species are most often released into the wild by individuals that have kept them as domestic pets. In addition, they may be transported through ship ballast water or other forms of accidental release. Whereas many species may not be able to survive in foreign conditions, others are able to adapt to new environments (National Ocean Service. Although, nonnative species can be harmless to new environments, harmoniously integrating themselves into the ecosystem, exotic species often cause severe environmental harm becoming “invasive”. An invasive species is an organism that has unbalanced the dynamic of their new habitat. Invasive organisms often exhibit advantageous traits that allow them to over take native populations by depleting food sources and creating unfair competition for mating grounds, habitats, nests, etc (National Ocean Service)....
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...The Asian Long Horned Beetle Introduction The sustained existence of our environment and ecosystem is quickly being diminished and depleted by invasive species. Invasive species can be thought of as non-native, or alien species to a specific ecosystem that immediately causes economic or environmental harm or even harm to human upon introduction (7). This is concerning not only to our well being, but also on a macro-spectrum, our environment. In time where global warming and industrialization are already challenging the preservation of the biodiversity of ecosystems, invasive species are becoming an increasing threat to environments and ecosystems. A species that has recently threatened and destructed many states including Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio, is known as the Asian Long-Horned Beetle. The Asian Long-Horned Beetle attacks many species of trees, including “poplars, maples, elms, and mulberries” and has a primary impact on street trees (5). Although the beetle is no bigger than an inch, it definitely packs a punch, causing massive and widespread destruction, which costs several hundreds of dollars to be spent per infestation. Background on the Asian Long-Horned Beetle The Asian Long-Horned Beetle is a native to Asia and was introduced to the United States in 1996 from “wood pallets and other wood packing material accompanying cargo shipments from Asia” (7). The Asian-Longhorned beetle is a tiny creature that is measured to be 1 to 1.5 inches in length and antennae...
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...The mixing of ecosystems is completely devastating to the world and this was one major unintended consequence of the European voyages. This devastation can still be seen today. With the increased use of airplanes and ships, it has only accelerated the loss in biodiversity. For example, the Asian longhorned beetle is one of the many invasive species that is posing an enormous threat to our ecology here in the United States. “Forest types dominated by ALB hosts make up 45% of the forests in the 20-state region reaching from Maine to Minnesota… Thus, the Asian longhorned beetle threatens more than 10% of all U.S forests” (ALB p 18). This shows the destructive power invasive species are capable of and the true threat they pose to ecology. Not only are they destructive to the environment and ecology, but they also disrupt the economy. For example “Nationwide, the Asian longhorned beetle could kill a third of urban trees, which have a compensatory value of $699 billion” (ALB p. 19). Today, invasive species like the Asian longhorned beetle and the lionfish are posing serious threats to our national forests and coral reefs, and overall time this will lead to economic losses due to a decrease in tourism to those...
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...Feral Horses in the U.S. – Indigenous or Invasive Feral horse (mustang) herds roaming the Great American Plains are a well-known symbol of American history. Yet few are acquainted with their convoluted history and the socio-political and environmental conflicts they are involved in. The horses of today originated in North America but went extinct in prehistoric times due to unclear reasons. They disseminated to other continents and were reintroduced to North America by Columbus’ men. The period of the horses’ historical absence from North America has sparked debates as to their official status. Some horse advocates and environmentalists argue that feral horses are native to the continent and as such should be protected and given free space to roam. Their main arguments are that horses originated on and inhabited the continent long before humans started populating it, and that the feral horses of the Wild West are a national symbol of history and pride. Others, mainly farmers and agriculturalists, push for population control and limiting the mustangs’ area because they are an invasive non-native species that harms natural ecosystems and competes with livestock for resources. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is responsible for implementing policies concerning feral horses. Currently, following the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the Bureau captures feral horses and gives them away for adoption. The main issue facing the Bureau is the legal and environmental...
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...The Quest for Biofuels: Issues and Concerns Biofuels have been billed as an important component in the United States bid to become less dependent on foreign energy. As the price of crude oil continues to increase, and as the country sets its sights on becoming less dependent on foreign oil the pressure is mounting to increase the production of biofuels. In addition, the global energy demand is continuing to increase and known petroleum supplies are decreasing (CAST II, 2007); the need for a sustainable substitute for current fossil fuels has become more evident than ever. The rise in costs of traditional energy sources has raised this issue to prominence in many American households as well. Several government agencies and working groups have set goals, targets, and timelines for reducing the use of fossil fuels and the substitution of biofuels to fill the energy demand. This push for the use of biofuels will have dramatic effects on many sectors of the American economy and many new problems and issues will arise that need to be considered. Currently grain-based ethanol production is the primary means by which biofuels are produced in the United States. Corn is the grain of choice in this production system. The annual production capacity of ethanol has increased rapidly in recent years, from 1.7 billion gallons in 2000 to 4.3 billion gallons in 2006 (CAST, 2006). It is also projected that the annual production capacity will increase to 7 billion gallons by 2008 (CAST, 2006)...
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...This method is done by spraying a target species to be eliminated and has proven to do less damage to the ecosystem as a whole. The value of wildlife and wild plants remains intact with this method but it has not been widely accepted or used. 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T are the most used herbicides but are believed to have harmful effects on both humans and nature. However, studies have shown 2,4-D to have some important effects for both man and livestock. The application of this herbicide causes an increase in nitrate content of agricultural plants and has been traced back to the deaths of livestock who grazed on...
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...Though sometimes obscure, the struggle of the California Clapper Rail is decidedly real. Many people don’t know that the California Clapper Rail, or Ridgway’s Rail, is a prime example of the victims of habitat destruction in the bay. Though driven to the brink of extinction by the miners of the Gold Rush, the Rails have been coming back lately and their numbers are recovering. However their progress to normalcy as a species is disrupted by the various factors, including non-native predators, a plant called Spartina, and destroyed habitats. The Rails’ disappearance is impacting the food chain and other native animals’ lives. Background California clapper rails have been endangered for quite a while. Their current state is mostly caused by...
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...do finch species with similar feeding habits show greater differences in their beaks when they live on the same island, than when they live on different islands? Also, how do the feeding habits of the finches change from the wet season to the dry season? In the drought of 1977, what was the evidence for natural selection, and in 1978 what was the evidence for evolution? Describe how Peter Boag intended to determine if beak size was heritable. That is, how can a trait that shows variation in a population be studied to determine to what extent that trait is heritable? Distinguish between natural selection and sexual selection. How does each operate among the finches on Daphne Major? Explain what is meant by “competitive exclusion” and how “character displacement” can allow two very similar species to coexist. (Hint: Chs. 4 &10 might be a good place to think about this one!) From your reading of this book (and perhaps from reading your text, and discussions in class) what is your thinking on what a “species” is? Explain what is meant by “adaptive landscape”, and why the Grants think that at times hybrids might be at a disadvantage but how at other times hybrids might have an advantage. What is the positive feedback mechanism described on page 206? Of what importance is this? How are scientists, like Peter Boag, “reading the genes” (e.g., cytochrome b) of the Galapagos finches to determine the evolutionary relationships among them. What effect have invasive species had on the...
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...FAQ: Biodiversity and Ecosystems Question 1: What is meant by succession, and what factors are responsible for succession? Answer 1: Succession is the order in which an ecosystem becomes established. It is the process by which species within a community replace one another in a given ecosystem. Usually, the complexity of the communities increases as they are replaced. Succession is triggered by a disturbance (fire or storm) or newly created open areas (deforestation). Ecological succession has several levels including primary and secondary succession. Primary succession involves pioneer species, which are usually the first ones to colonize open areas. They are hardy species and include things like microbes, mosses, and lichens. Eventually, the pioneer species become replaced by climax species. Climax species only occur after a long period without disturbance. Climax species are usually long-lived and require a stable environment. Question 2: How can natural selection lead to the development of new species? What are the prerequisites and the limitations? Answer 2: Natural selection was first proposed by Charles Darwin in his book Origin of Species. Natural selection is the process by which certain gene combinations give an organism a certain advantage over the others in a population. This trait then becomes selected as the population continues to reproduce. For example, suppose a certain mouse can run faster than any of the other mice in a population. The mouse will have a better...
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...Biogeography Theory To determine the advantages and disadvantages of applying the Island Biography Theory to establishing a biodiversity preserve, we must first fully understand the theory. The larger the land mass, the more diverse and the more species that will be present. Verse a smaller land mass that will not have as much species in the area. This land mass does not technically have to be an actual island but a piece of land that may be cut off from outside resources. For example, a mountain peak or a preserve that has had development all around it and is not connected to any other land mass. Due to the high levels of development around the United States, most preserves have no choice but to become an island. There are a few...
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