Teton Wilderness Case Study

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.

I will say that as much as the expression “Canary in the coal mine” implies an early warning of danger in mines so does it in water too. In this case the fish directly helps us know the extent to which our ecological sphere is damaged, and helps humans to take the necessary precautions to save the environment.

be the product of visitors’ introduction of this unnative species to the Yellowstone Lake and River. The exotic lake trout has few natural predators in the Yellowstone area, and the expansion of a lake trout population in this area is likely to lead in an abrupt decline oft the favorable native cutthroat trout population as it has in other western lakes. This poses some serious problems for Yellowstone waterways as the cutthroat trout is known as a major food source for 42 species of mammals and birds. The cutthroat trout is also favored by the thousands of anglers who visit Yellowstone each year, and it has been projected that the deterioration of the cutthroat trout population could eventually lead to a three-decade economic loss of $640 million in possible Yellowstone National Park revenues and the further endangerment of the grizzly bear and bald eagle (two major feeders of cutthroat trout) (Schullery, Paul).

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

We need to decide if we want the economic benefits or if we want to save our ecosystem for the future generations to enjoy. Spotted bass are being considered an invasive species by some biologists. In 1993 a group of biologists in Louisiana put tracking devices in spotted bass to try and learn more about this species that was becoming more prevalent in the Flint river. The same group of biologists did a follow up electro-shock in 1999. The electro-shock showed that this population of bass was growing at an extremely rapid rate. The population of these fish had more than doubled and the other fish species had decreased, especially the largemouth and smallmouth bass. There was another electro-shock done in 2005 that showed the same results. The spotted bass population was growing rapidly and the largemouth and smallmouth populations were dropping. A different group of biologist decided to follow up on the studies that were done in earlier years. They found that the largemouth populations are struggling and the smallmouth are no longer in the Flint river. According to North American Journal of Fisheries Management, the recent introduction of spotted bass along the upper Flint River has caused great concern among anglers and fisheries managers about the potential negative impacts.

An invasive species has entered Maryland’s waters and threatens to dramatically alter the balance of the aquatic ecosystem. The Northern Snakehead fish, native to Asia and Africa, is a voracious predator, competing with native fish at all stages of its life. The juveniles will consume zooplankton, insect larvae, small crustaceans and other fry fish. Adults eat fish, crustaceans, frogs, small reptiles and even birds and mammals. Snakeheads aggressively protect their young. They are also air-breathers which allow them to survive on land for as long as four days and migrate up to a quarter mile over land making control difficult. Snakeheads carry a disease, Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome, and there is concern this disease may be transmitted to native fish. The snakehead fish was probably intentionally released in the U.S. by aquarium owners and through the live food fish trade attempting to establish a local food source. To date, the snakehead fish is found in seven states with reproducing populations documented in Maryland and Florida. In Maryland, they have been captured in the Potomac River and tributaries. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Biological Resources Division of the U.S.G.S. are all involved in monitoring and eradicating the snakehead fish. Maryland anglers can help by learning to identify the snakehead fish and by removing it from the ecosystem. As further incentive, Maryland DNR has offered

Have you ever wonder what Province Canyon would be like, if it was a national park? Province Canyon is one of Georgia's popular tour attractions, that has formed due to farmers using the traditional methods of farming. Many people have been reasoning wither Province Canyon should have been a nation park or not. Well, making Province Canyon into a national park would have been the best decisions. If Province Canyon was a national park, it would provided tourism, education, and its environment.

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

The Yaak Valley of Northern Montana is one of the most biodiverse areas of untouched wilderness in the contiguous United States. This is due in large part to its geographical position between the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest and the dry and mountainous Northern Rockies. According to the Yaak Valley Forest Council, the valley is home to a variety of rare species including but not limited to: inland redband rainbow trout, bull trout, wolverine, lynx, fisher, coeur d 'alene salamander, great gray owl, westslope cutthroat trout, flammulated owl, short-head sculpin, boreal owl, peregrine falcon, wavy moonwort, kidney-leaved violet, bog birch, and Grizzly Bears (About The Yaak, 2015). The Yaak Valley holds a unique biodiversity and supports a rich and thriving ecosystem. Once this biodiversity is lost, we could not recover this ecosystem and

The area of Yellowstone National Park has a long history of inhabitants, even before it became the nation’s first national park. In the area now known as Yellowstone National Park, wolves were once very prominent. However due to westward expansion in the 1800s, agriculture began to increase. This led to the wolves that once thrived in this area to being practically completely removed. The increase in agriculture in this region led to a lot of the wolves’ prey becoming reduced or eliminated. Since the wolves had a decrease in prey, the wolves began to prey on domestic animals, which then resulted in humans eliminating the wolves almost completely. By the 1930s the wolf was eliminated from the area. This was before people had an understanding of how ecosystems work and the interrelation of species. Now that the wolves were gone, elk then became overpopulated. A lot of the vegetation began to disappear as well due to the overgrazing of the elk. However after about a 70-year absence, in 1995 the wolves were carefully brought back to Yellowstone. When they brought the wolves back to the park, there was not just an effect on one species or one area but rather they affected the entire ecosystem of the area. I will discuss their effects on areas such elk, beaver colonies, scavengers, aspen trees, willow trees and cottonwood trees.

Jackson, Wyoming, offers visitors one of the top alpine experiences in North America. The area is open year-round with excellent skiing and snowboarding slopes as well as many outdoor activities during the summer. With Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks are nearby, this is the place for an outdoor enthusiast. There is also a National Elk Reserve with the Elk Refuge Inn just across the street. There are Jackson Hotels to suit every budget. Here are six activities in Jackson that you don’t want to miss.

This particular species of toad has been a real pest in many of our backyards; Poisoning our pets, affecting water quality for native species and transmitting diseases like salmonella.

Overall I am interested in vegetation, water, and soil. I am interested in learning and researching how vegetation has changed with urban sprawl and increased agriculture. Increased technology is changing the way we use the landscape. My summer research dealt mainly with vegetation species. Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge has experience severe impacts from anthropocentric influences. Remediation efforts have repaired the site. I think that working in a location that has been remediated has given me a desire to research how humans can more efficiently use the landscape at a minimal environmental cost. Water is very interesting to me as well. The Yellowstone River has numerous oil pipelines that cross the channel. An oil spill in 2011 near

Ciguatera fish poisoning is a diagnosis based upon a group of symptoms the quickly follow the ingestion of the carnivorous fish. You may notice symptoms as early as 15 minutes or as late as 24 hours after ingestion. Usually, symptoms are noticed within 6-12 hours after ingestion. Symptoms increase predominance and in severity over a period of 4-6 hours. This form of poisoning mainly affects major organ systems including the GI, neurologic, and cardiovascular. The toxin may be found in large reef fish, mostly grouper, barracuda, red snapper, amberjack, eel, sea bass, and Spanish mackerel. The area of concern include the Caribbean Sea, Hawaii, and coastal Central

Freshwater pollution is a harmful and dangerous hazard to our environment. It can cause animals to die, and humans to get sick. It causes starvation for some species, and it doesn’t allow plants to grow, spreading oxygen. It can even cause protests for what 's happening. Causes can be from as simple as throwing your wrapper in a pond, to big factories dumping hundreds of gallons of chemicals into nearby lake. Whatever the problem is, it 's harmful and needs to stop.