Balancing Ecosystems Essay examples

Bighead, Silver, Grass, and Black Carp, even though each its own distinct species, all fall under the name “Asian Carp.” They can weigh anywhere from 60 to 110 pounds, and range from 40 to 60 inches in length. Asian Carp are considered an “invasive species,” an organism that is not native and has negative effects on our economy, environment, or our health. Catfish farmers imported Asian Carp long ago to consume algae in ponds. The carp slowly escaped and migrated to the Mississippi River, then eventually to the Great Lakes.

Asian Carp where brought to America in the 1970’s because of their ferocious appetites, to keep algae and other matters out of ponds on catfish farms. Asian Carp average a full-grown length of five feet, and can surpass one hundred pounds. They breed and populate, and grow very quickly. Asian Carp are adversely affecting their un-natural environments by starving out native pond and river inhabitants. They have been slowly but surely migrating up the Mississippi River since their introduction to the Georgia portion. Their imminent arrival to the Great Lakes of Michigan has become a serious concern. This would be an issue because the Great Lakes are currently home to more than 43 federally protected species of fish. An invasion by Asian Carp

There were Asian Carp found in a water mass in one of the Great Lakes. Imported from Asia, the sliver carp, will out compete native species in the Great Lakes for food. This would ruin the ecosystem in the Great Lakes because the carps will out compete the species that are native to this lake for food causing the native species to die off. In the Great Lakes commercial and sport fishing is an industry that is worth billions yearly. The silver carp that was found in the great lake could have gotten there many different ways. On is that is swam through the electric barrier that prevents carps from entering the water way. Another is that it could have been on about and carried past the barrier. Lastly, it could have been placed in the lake by

More than 24 billion gallons of untreated sewage waste and storm water are pumped into the lakes annually. Pollution is increasing as well, due to the cottage development, where people enjoy spending their summers relaxing. For many years, the lake habitats have been affected by pollution and habitat destruction. The market for fish is tremendous; so much so, that we have depleted our fishing resources, and have had to market on invasive species.

In the Salton Sea, desert pupfish are the only native fish species. They can be found in shoreline pools, agricultural drains, natural creeks and a few artificial refuge ponds. The actual use of the Sea itself by the desert pupfish is largely unknown. The protection and enhancement of existing habitats including shoreline pools, agricultural drains and natural creeks in the Salton Sea watershed are necessary for the future of this species in California.

The threat of the Asian Carp entering Lake Michigan’s waterways has now become a serious issue. The main access into Lake Michigan for the Asian Carp would be through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canals which connects to the Mississippi River. These natural waterways have also been connected to man made rivers to allow easier access to the lake for trading and transporting goods. Though along the river there are a couple of dams, this does not stop the Asian Carp, but merely slows the Carps movement.

Equally important,is what happens if the Asian Carp enter the Great Lakes and what effect they will have on the ecosystem. The entry of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes is shrouded in uncertainty, looking at what they done to the Mississippi and it’s numerous connecting streams and rivers, it could be catastrophic. As they been able to outnumber and out compete many of the native fish species. As well as, the Silver Carp’s defense mechanism being triggered by boat motors causing numerous injuries to fishermen and boaters. On the other hand the entry of the Asian Carp could in fact in some ways benefit the existing food chain and ecosystem. By providing a new food sources to already present species in the Great Lakes.

Now days times have changed. You can no longer enjoy the things you once could. It has become dangerous to waterski or to even enjoy a boat ride down the river due to the Asian carp. These fish are startled easily by boats, and small watercraft. They can jump ten to twelve feet out of the water causing damage to boats and injuring humans. I have heard of people getting cuts from the fins, black eyes, concussions, broken noses and jaws, and even knocked unconscious from this species of fish. Not only are these Asian Carp causing physical damage, they are wreaking havoc on the ecological system. The main concern from the Asian Carp is the dangerous effects that it is bringing to our ecosystem. As an avid fisherman, this is of great concern to me. This will not only affect me as a fisherman, but also possibly hunters, bird watchers, boaters, even jet skiers and water skiers are

The black carp inhabits large river/lake habitats, and is native to many Pacific drainages located in eastern Asia. It is also known as snail carp, Chinese black carp, Chinese roach, black amour, or black Chinese roach. They appear blackish brown with blackish grey fins with an elongated/laterally compressed body. On average, they grow to 3+ feet and weigh an average of 33 pounds. They are known to live for 33 years. Currently, they are in research facilities in the United States, but have not been spotted in the wild. However, if they were to get into the wild, this would heavily disrupt the mussel/snail populations, downsizing them. In addition to this, other native fish, turtles, birds, and vertebrates such as raccoons, otters, and muskrats would be affected via competition for food. They can also host many pathogens, allowing infection of many other

Two of these such issues are algal blooms, caused by various cyanobacteria, and the introduction of carp into ecosystems. The effects of carp

Asian Carp should be prevented from entering the Great Lakes because they are destroying the ecosystem in that area. They are a negative contribution to the lakes because they are eating all of the plankton needed for the native fish to survive, which in turn will create a mass starvation among all the fish in the area. The Asian Carp are also a hazard to boaters, as they are capable of jumping out of the water and knocking into fishermen. They can take over an area quickly and never leave because they have no predators, they come in massive swarms, and they breed fast.

2005). Silver Carp also exhibit diet plasticity throughout the year. Spataru and Gophen (1985) have shown that Silver Carp are non-selective and feed on the most available prey. In the Middle Mississippi River, Williamson and Garvey (2005) found that Silver Carp primarily feed upon phytoplankton from July to September and positively select for zooplankton once phytoplankton populations began decreasing in early fall. Generally, Silver Carp are planktonic filter feeders that primarily forage on phytoplankton and less commonly on zooplankton (Kolar et al. 2005, Cremer and Smitherman 1980) ; however, they have also been found to feed upon detritus and in some cases almost solely rely upon detritus as their main forage base (Kolar et al.

An example of an invasive plant includes the Canada thistle. The Canada thistle harms the environment because it, “crowds out and replaces native plants, changes the structure and species composition of natural plant communities and reduces plant and animal diversity… prevents the coexistence of other plant species through shading, competition for soil resources… through the release of chemical toxins poisonous to other plants” (Canada). The Canada thistle’s only special way of harming the surrounding environment consists of poisoning the plants that surround it. Otherwise the Canada thistle does not have any special ways that it harms the environment. People brought the Canada thistle to the United States in the 1600’s. By the year 1954, Canada and the United States of America declare the Canada thistle as a “noxious weed.” However now many consider the Canada thistle as an invasive plant (Canada). The Canada thistle has many ways that you can control it. You can cut it by hand, pull the plant out, burn them, or use chemicals to kill these plants. The best way to get rid of the Canada thistle encompasses using chemicals. If you do not have any chemicals to do this job you can always cut the plant down to the ground, and when it regrows do this again until the roots become exhausted

Another invasive species are the Nutria. The Nutria comes from South America. It is not exactly clear

Influence on ecosystems range from human causes like the bulldozing of a forest to natural causes like a fire or a flood.  In recent times, the introduction and spread of invasive species has transformed native communities rapidly and, in some cases, created irreversible damages.  In the Earth’s history, changes have often occurred in the ecosystems.  For example, glaciers and the retreat of glaciers cause wide-spread changes.  However, although change is a constant in ecosystems, animals and habitats often cannot adapt to the rapid alterations of non-natural stresses.  Harm to the environment from the introduction of invasive species occurs through changes in the habitat and declines in the native species.  Invasive species