Ecosystem instability is a problem that we can no longer put off to the side. We are being confronted with this problem and we need to find ways to resolve the present situations. The forms of confrontation are through foriegn invaders and lack of apex predators (toname a few). We must realize that through research as well as changes in lifestyle we can save our planet. These changes must occur individually for them to be a true success.
 

I. Introduction - description of thesis

A. Lack of apex predators

B. Foreign invaders

C. Solutions to these problems

A. Foreign invaders - Specific examples

1. Zebra muscles - transportation through humans

2. Sea Lamprey - transportation by food source

3. Gypsy Moth - Beginning of research to understand pests

4. Asian Beetle - recent foreign invader that could be epidemic with out control

B. A-pex predators & growth explosions

1. Yellowstone reinstatement of the wolves

2. Demonstration of imbalance throughout the US I. Solutions to these problems - Main emphasis research

C. Theoretical Solutions

1. Change Life style - more environment friendly then environment dominant

2. Research problems and initiate solutions when confident that consequences are not more harmful then helpful

D. Practical solutions that coincide with the theoretical possibilities - What can we do today

A. Focus - research

B. Be sure that we do not over look social changes because they are not likely

C. Changes should come individually rather then focused on large groups
 
 
 
 

Paper

Introduction back to outlineEcosystem instability is obvious through the depletion of our natural food webs. There are many places to look to find these obvious problems. One example would be the lack of apex predators that has caused explosions in populations of the "prey" animals. Usually this is a result of some kind of human involvement. Along with the lack of apex predators has come the infestation of foreign animals. These "foreign invaders" are usually transported from their native land to a foreign country by human transport vessels. What then is our role in solving these population problems? There are many options, but how do we know what is right?These questions are complicated but they can be answered. You can look at it the same way one looks at a math problem. Before one tries to solve some kind of complicated situation, the background and surrounding information must be known. In other words, to begin trying to solve our ecosystem problems, we must first and foremost understand the ecosystems themselves. With out the knowledge of how the ecosystem functions naturally there is no way to try and resolve some of the current situations. Trying to resolve situations now without knowing the ecosystems is like trying to solve a calculus problem having just completed geometry. Once we know what the consequences of our action are, we can begin making decisions on where we should proceed with solving the problems before us.

The ecosystems have a natural stability that can be easily disrupted. This is evident when we consider the affects that our pioneering years had on the Great Plains area. Upon colonization, people moved west and began killing all of the bison that they found fit. The Native Americans had lived there (as well as the eastern coast) for hundreds of years and had worked within the boundaries of the natural food web so as to have food when they needed it. Once Europeans settled in the Americas, landscapes began changing and nature began to deplete. (Wright, 162).

Ecosystem Disruptions back to outline

Foriegn Invaders back to outline

The best way to understand what is going on with our ecosystems now is to present specific examples of what has happened throughout recent history. This specific section is focusing on examples of foreign invasions. Most of this information comes mainly from the United States but I am sure similar problems are occurring all over the world.

Zebra Muscles back to outline

The most recent and probably most publicized foreign invasion occurred in the Great Lakes. The culprit was the Zebra mussel. This shellfish was first found in the United States in 1988, in a small lake near Detroit. Now there are known infestations through out the Great Lakes and into the Mississippi River ("Exotic Species"). These fingernail-sized shellfish are real pests. They clog drain canals to power plants and over-run systems with waste. There are natural predators but not enough to keep the zebra mussel numbers down. The larvae of these shellfish are microscopic and hard to contain. The adult mussels can latch on to resting ships and then be transported to new harbors.

The main problem with this foreign invader is the depletion of competing shellfish. Because of the ample food supply and the amount of young from each individual, the growth of these mussels occurs at an exponential rate. The shellfish feed on plankton but do not eat all of what they filter out ("Exotic Species"). The excess is then passed on as a mucus-like substance. This mucus benefits the bottom feeders but is eliminating plankton and causing severe problems for the upper level aquatic ecosystems ("Exotic Species").

Sea Lamprey back to outline

Another recent example that has threatened the Great Lakes ecosystem is the presence of the Lamprey. First found in Lake Ontario in 1835, the Lamprey is an eel-like fish that preys upon larger fish. The Lamprey will attach itself to another fish and stay attached until it is satisfied or until the fish is dead (SGNIS, Lamprey). The Lamprey also gains transportation by attaching to its prey fish and consequently has spread through out the Great Lakes.

The Lamprey has taken a major toll on the Lake trout and Whitefish populations in the Great Lakes (SGNIS, Lamprey). Fortunately containment of this species has been easier then the Zebra mussel and the numbers of this pest are declining. The containment is much more achievable because the offspring produced are not in the millions and are not microscopic as they are with the mussels. Lake Trout and Whitefish numbers are recovering but we still need to continue researching the Lamprey to maintain confinement and not allow a second population imbalance (SGNIS, Lamprey).

Gypsy Moth back to outline

The most devastating of all foreign invasions is by far the Gypsy moth. This small insect has caused turmoil in our forest ecosystems for over a century (Liebhold). There have been steps forward in stopping the spread of this pest but they are still destroying approximately one million acres of forest every year and inhabit every one of the forty-eight continental states (Liebhold).

The Gypsy moth was introduced into the forest ecosystem near Boston in 1868 or 1869 (Liebhold). E. Leopold Trouvelot was the guilty party who brought this pest to the United States. The first outbreak was recorded near Trouvelot's hometown in 1890. Since then the federal government has been trying to eradicate this pest. Most of the attempts to date have failed in containing the pest (Liebhold).

What the presentation of this species brought to the attention of ecological scientists is the overall lack of knowledge of our surrounding ecosystems. Through research over the last century, scientists know the life cycle of the Gypsy moth as well as its favored food source but this still leaves large holes of knowledge (Liebhold).

Because scientists now understand the life cycle of this pest, solutions are beginning to appear. For those areas that do not have a major inhabitation problem, forestry departments are working on eradication. For the areas that have problems with population explosions, suppression and biological control are the main foci. Two of the most successful solutions concerning eradication seem to be the use of a fungus and a developed virus that is host specific to the Gypsy moth ("Gypsy Moth Control").

There are problems with these two solutions. First of all, with the fungus, the scientists do not know the counter effects that introduction will have on the surrounding environment ("Gypsy Moth Control"). Should this fungus be introduced if the full ramifications of its introduction are not known? The scientists seem to think not. The virus is a little more controllable but people are very reluctant to allow helicopters to spray populated areas even if the spray will have no affect on humans.

Asian Beetle back to oultine

The final example is the most recent. In New York a mere three years ago (1996), the first infestation was recorded of the Asian long horned beetle This pest also focuses on the forest ecosystem and has the possibility of being very destructive (Milius). Many things are being learned from the gypsy moth episode that scientists are applying to this situation. First the focus is on containment so that we don't have to worry about wide spread population explosions. When a foreign invader is caught early it is much easier to control. Scientists are focusing on learning the beetle's life cycle and some information is already known. With these types of advances, hopefully we will not have a repeat of the Gypsy moth incident with this beetle.

When we look at the solutions for these problems, there is one central theme, knowledge. Once we have an understanding of the life cycle and environmental factors that are at work in the specific animal's (or plants) existence we can then work on controlling the growth of that creature. The main problem is that we are very far from totally understanding the environmental factors that work in each creature's life. On the other hand it is painfully obvious the effect that each creature has on it's environment.

Lack of Apex Predators back to outline

The lack of apex predators is a major problem in the United States. With the destruction of most top level carnivores comes the massive increase in growth of the herbivores that were once preyed upon by these predators. This population imbalance is sometimes a major problem.

Yellowstone example back to outline

Take the example of Yellowstone National Park. Wolves have not existed in that park since 1930 when a mass eradication of this apex predator occurred through out the United States (Molt). Without the presence of wolves, coyotes have taken the place as the dominant predator. Their habits have become amazingly similar to those of wolf packs elsewhere. They travel in packs and have a complicated matriarchal dominance (Molt).

Once the coyotes moved into the apex predatory position, there were no predators to take up the role as second in line. This meant an imbalance in the previous prey population of the coyote (Molt). The rodent population increased as well as the deer/elk population because the coyotes were not as efficient hunters as the wolves were. With all of these imbalances, the ecosystem was deteriorating.

Then in 1995, the wolf was reintroduced into the environment and there was a major role change (Molt). The wolves reclaimed the top seat on the food web and the coyotes returned to being more individualistic predators and scavengers. Once the reintroduction process had settled down, the affects were beginning to be more apparent. Not only did the wolves affect the coyotes but also the entire environment. Red foxes had reappeared and there was more of a balance within the herbivore ranks. One scientist remarked that the reintroduction was overall very beneficial to the environment because with the wolves came balance to the ecosystem (Molt).

Imbalance thoughout the US back to oultine

This balance is not very evident through out the rest of the United States. The mid-west and eastern states are continually having increases in deer populations as well as rodent populations. As the human population continues to increase in the United States, rural areas keep spreading into wilderness areas. This then results in the depletion of predators and the increase in "prey" species. These imbalances also then affect the vegetation. With the increase in herbivores comes the depletion of the foliage. Ultimately if there is no resolution, there will be a population plateau. Following this plateau there will be a drastic die off because of the lack of vegetation.

Possible Solutions to these Problems back to outline

When this discussion turns toward solutions, we can begin by discussing theoretical answers but we need to come back, eventually, to realistic situations. There is nothing more frustrating in science then coming up with a theoretical solution for a problem that can not be realistically applied.

Theoretical solutions back to outline

Theoretically, when one looks at the overall problem of environment instability, the answers can come easily. First, we need to go back to living with the environment instead of dominating it (Wright, 162). Living very similarly to the Native Americans of the past. We should be taking what we need and only what we need. With the abundance of food in this part of the world, we should eat what we need and then give the rest to the people that are less privileged. Next we need to approach the problems that are already here like lack of apex predators and foreign invaders. To this we should re-instate the previously dominant predators and give them free reign of the area they need to survive. As for the feral animals, the focus should be on developing a non-harmful solution such as natural, biological toxins and natural predators. If these solutions are not developed, nature will correct it self by plateau and massive die off, but that not only endangers many species but also human life.

These solutions were very broad based but they get to the heart of the problems. First off the major problem with the ecosystems is us, the human race. In some ways you could see the human population as a virus. Consuming what it desires in a certain area and then moving on until there are no more places to derive food from resulting in a massive die off (extinction). This is a very pessimistic view but it is just to show you the polar ends. The positive would be that the earth is here solely for our enjoyment and when it runs out, "oh well" type attitude. Not many people would claim to sit on the drastic edges but rather we find ourselves in between the two poles. We know there is a problem but we are hesitant to act because it would be out of our way.

Possible Practical Solutions back to outline

Once these solutions are then converted to practical measures one can see that this discussion is not so simple. The method that we have chosen to live our lives has decided the environment's outcome. Because of our facet with land ownership and economical gain, we have looked past what is good for the earth and focused on what is good for us here and now (Wright, 167). This focus causes many problems but we will not realize this dire situation until it is too late. This does not mean that we should not make attempts to rectify what we have done.

The first thing on the list of practical solutions needs to be research. We must understand the background as well as understanding the effects of individual variables. The problem one runs into here is that we do not have a suitable way to experiment with the environment. The whole concept with nature is there is really no control and yet with our scientific method we need a basic structure that will not be manipulated. Where do we proceed from this point. First one should realize that observation can be used as a very viable way of research. Just by observing the natural ecosystem we can learn many things if we are focusing on the correct things. From these observations we can form a control.

Conclusions back to outline

There are many areas to focus on, interaction with in species, interaction between different species, affects of seasons on habits of creatures, life cycles of creature, and the list goes on and on. Truthfully there is no end in sight for research possibilities.

Focus on research back to outline

Once we have a better understanding of how our ecosystems function we can then begin worrying about solutions. The problem with implementing expected solutions too early is that these solutions could, in turn, cause problems of their own. The above process is similar to the procedure followed by the scientists when they were (and still are) debating the Gypsy moth epidemic. First they realized that they did not have the information to make an accurate decision on the solution procedure. They then began research focusing on the life cycle and food sources (Liebhold). From there they began postulating answers and today after a century of research we feel like we have a descent grip on the situation but we are far from controlling this pest species.

This type of procedure does appear very tedious and focused on the future but that is what we must do to try and save our ecosystems. People, focused on the present, may ask what we are to do with the present situations? Are we to merely observe these ecosystems while they are falling apart around us? Permanent solutions require in depth research but we can attempt to make subtle changes that may help. The obvious change is one that is not a simple procedure, we need to change how we are treating the world, as stated before.

Social Changes - individual actions back to outline

We must focus on the long term affects of our quick decisions. This involves simple decisions like recycling and purchasing environmentally friendly products, not to mention reducing consumption per person. There are many areas in the life of an average North American that need to be changed. These topics focus more on social problems but they need to be discussed when one looks at a problem like we have with our environment.

One can also consider the Christian aspect of the environment. God called us to take care of his creation. This meant that he put us in charge of his most prized possession. How do we explain to him our blundering and misuse of this wonderful earth. We should treat this world as something that has been loaned to us rather then a gift that is ours to deal with as we please. Some believe that it is Christianity itself that has caused the major environmental problems throughout the world (Wright, 162). They believe that it is the calling to "dominate nature" that has caused these erosions in the ecosystem. This correlation is not correct. The societies that claim to be Christian may be the problem but the beliefs in and of themselves never call for us to do with nature as we please. God calls us always to be respectful of nature.

Each individual problem has its own separate solution. People may believe that there are general solutions that can be applied to every situation that will solve the problem but where the environment is involved there is never an easy answer. We must realize that the environment is our future and with out foresight we could cause irrevocable damage. Through research we can begin to understand the ecosystems around us. With this information we may be able to save some of the endangered areas through out the world.
 
 

Bibliography

1. Horticulture Solution Series, "Gypsy Moth Control", Online, Internet, 1995, available www.ag.uiuc.edu/~robsond/solutions/horticulture/docs/gypsy1.html

2. Liebhold, Sandy, "Gypsy Moth in North America", Online, Internet, Sept. 15, 1998, available www.fsl.wvu.edu/gmoth/home.html

3. Minnesota Sea Grant - "Exotic Species", Online, Internet, 1998, University of Minnesota, available www.d.umn.edu/seagr/areas/exotic/x9.html

4. Milius, Susan, "Son of Long-Horned Beetles", Science News, June 12, 1999, vol. 155 24, pg 380-382

5. Molt, Chris, "The Coyotes of Lamar Valley", Online, Internet, Jan 31, 1998, available www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/1_31_98/bobl.htm

6. Wright, Richard T., Biology Through the Eyes of Faith. San Francisco, Harper Collins Publisher, 1989

7. Sea Grant, (SGNIS), "Lamprey", Online, Internet, 1982, available, www.ansc.purdue.edu/sgnis/www/lamprey.htm

8. "Aquatic Invasive Species", Online, Internet, DATE, available www.aquatl.ifas.ufl.edu