Lab 13: Ocean Ecology

 

Conceptual Map of Ocean Degradation

Biodiversity Hotspot Lab 12

According to the international joint initiative group, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), a region must meet this criteria- 1,500 endemic species of vascular plants or more than 0.5 % of the world’s total vascular plant species and a minimum of 70% habitat loss- to be classified as a biodiversity hotspot.  California Floristic Province or region meets all criteria and is one of five Mediterranean climates that exist in the world, all of which are on the hotspot list.

 

1.    Location and ecosystem

The California Floristic Province is on the western side of California between the latitudes 30° to 50° N and 30° to 40° S latitudes.  California’s Floristic Province biodiversity hotspot biomes are chaparrals, and grasslands sagebrush steppe, prickly pear shrub land, coastal sage scrub, juniper-pine woodland, upper montane-subalpine forest, alpine forest, riparian forest, cypress forests, mixed evergreen forests, Douglas fir forests, sequoia forests, redwood forests, coastal dunes, and salt marshes. This region is a Mediterranean climate, in other words, wet and windy winters (due to the prevailing westerly winds) and dry, hot summers.  CEPF apprises that only approximately 50,000 miles or 24.7 percent of the original vegetation remains unspoiled.  This ecosystem is home to 2,120 or 61% endemic plant species that provide a foundation for the habitats ecosystem.  These plants as well as other native plants support over 150 endemic vertebrate species and over 9,000 endemic invertebrate species among many other native and nonnative species that all interact to support and sustain their ecosystem. 

2.      Native endemic plant species-

Common name: Butterworth’s buckwheat

Binomial Name: Eriogonum butterworthianum

Trophic level: Producers (first trophic level supporting all other organisms in an ecosystem).

Interactions with the biotic and abiotic ecosystem-

Through the process of photosynthesis this autotrophic organism produces chemical energy that is stored in its biomass providing its own nutrients as well as nutrients to other organisms making it a producer in the trophic food chain.  This plant is also a foundation species that provides a habitable diverse environment for other species through drawing in other species whose survival depends upon its nutrient supply.  For instance-this species supports primary consumers or herbivores, such as, the Smith’s Butterfly or Euphilotes enoptes smithi that is endemic to this region.  The Smith’s butterflies eat the nectar and mate then lays its eggs on the flowers of this species after the eggs hatch the larvae feed on the plants flowers for several weeks before entering the pupa stage where it transforms into a butterfly.  It spends its entire life cycle with the buckwheat species.   In turn these species pollinate Butterworth’s Buckwheat and feed secondary consumers, such as, birds, lizards, ants and tertiary consumers such as the American Peregrine Falcon or Falco peregrines anatum. Ants whom also live and eat off of the Butterworth Buckwheat have developed a mutual relationship with the butterflies: the ants protect the species from predators and parasites during the larvae and caterpillar stage in return the caterpillar feeds the ants with the sugary liquid it excretes.  They also provide nectar for bees and in turn the bees are pollinators for the species. Through photosynthesis this species is chemically cycling carbon dioxide from the abiotic environment and turning it into oxygen to be used by the biotic environment, including humans.  The Butterworth’s buckwheat organic dead waste provides nutrients to decomposers and detritus feeders in an ecosystem.  In turn, these organisms return nutrients back to the soil to be used by the plants.  This shrub species aids in the prevention of soil erosion thus aiding in sustaining the nutrients in the soil as well as the stability of the banks in an aquatic systems causing them to be more fixed thus helping support the geography of the landscape and species within the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem. 

Reproductive Pattern and basic physical characteristics-

This shrub is a perennial (lives for two years) herb with a single stem that grows from a stout, woody root.  Leaves on the stem are smaller and arranged alternately.   Each panicle has a cluster of 15 to 20 flowers.   Bees, butterflies and other pollinators pollinate these plants although self fertilization is possible but rare.  Germination of the seeds takes approximately one month or less.  However, to remain viable shrub Butterworth Buckwheat populations require surface fire at intervals of 5 to 20 years.        

Native endemic animal species-

Common Name:  Smith’s Butterfly

Binomial Name: Euphilotes enoptes smithi

Trophic Level: Primary Consumer (herbivore)

Interactions with the biotic and abiotic ecosystem-

The Smith’s butterfly spends its entire life cycle with the buckwheat species. In late spring and early autumn the adults mate and lay their eggs on the flowers of this species after the eggs hatch the larvae feed on the plants flowers for several weeks before entering the pupa stage where it begins its ten month transformation into a butterfly.   In turn, this species is a pollinator for the Butterworth Buckwheat shrub.   Ants whom also live and eat off of the Butterworth Buckwheat have developed a mutual relationship with the butterflies: the ants protect the species from predators and parasites during the larvae stage in return the caterpillar feeds the ants with the sugary liquid it excretes.  Insects and spiders feed on the larvae.  Birds, reptiles, insects, and arachnids feed on the butterflies.  The organic waste from each stage of the butterflies development as well as the dead butterfly provide food for decomposers and detritus feeders who break down the waste into nutrients that are returned to the soil for use by other organisms.      

Reproductive Pattern and physical characteristics-

The Smith’s butterfly spends its entire life cycle with the buckwheat species. In late spring and early autumn the adults mate and lay their eggs on the flowers of this species after the eggs hatch the larvae feed on the plants flowers for several weeks before entering the pupa stage where it begins its ten month transformation.  The following year, as the Eriogonum butterworthianum flower again, the new adult butterflies emerge living for only a week.   Male butterflies have bright blue wings. And females are brown with red-orange markings. The underside of the wings of both males and females is white or grey with black dots.

3.      Socio-economic status in the region-

The socio-economic conditions in this area are that of a developed wealthy nation.  Generally, people are well educated, with middle to wealthy class incomes, and employment rates are relatively high.  

4.      Hotspot Criteria-

This region contains: 2,124 or 60.9% of the world’s endemic plant species; 18 mammal species  making up 11.5% endemism; 8 bird species making up 2.4% endemism; 4 reptile species making up 5.8% endemism; 25 amphibian species making up 54.3% endemism; and 15  fresh water species making up 20.5% endemism (CEPF).  CEPF reports further disclose that more than 75% of the native vegetation has been lost.  Within this region native grasslands and vernal pool habitats have been degraded to 1% of their original extent resulting from the introduction of nonnative grasses, agricultural development- conversion of the natural habitat to livestock pastures and croplands.  Logging has reduced the red wood forests natural habitat by an astonishing 75% in the past 150 years.  A 90% loss of riparian forests has already occurred and is still being degraded by legal logging operations, grazing, and development.  Coastal scrublands are being degraded by housing development, commercial development, and by of off-road vehicles.  Wetlands, riparian woodlands and southern maritime sage scrub, have experienced a 90% loss of their original area. 

5.      Causes of degradation-

Species biodiversity has decreased in this region due to increased populations of humans and human activities.  Commercial farming in California supplies approximately half of agricultural products consumed by the U.S. population every year however it has caused habitat degradation.  Habitat fragmentation and loss has occurred due to urbanization, road construction, pollution, livestock grazing, logging, off-road vehicles, and fire regulations suppressing natural fires all degrade these ecosystems and specie biodiversity. 

6.      Habitat conservationist-

One-third of this region is under federal and state protection including several national parks, 50 wildlife areas, 16 national wildlife refuges, 107 state parks that are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.    Many of these protected areas in the region are the result of conservation organizations, i.e. The Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Wilderness Society.  Two of the national parks, i.e. Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park, in this region were established in 1890.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implemented conservation plans for this region utilizing these methods as well as others-corridors, restoration, and preservation and development plans.  These strategies include collecting data on the species in this region and identifying the harmful nonnative invasive species.  Also, identifying sources that caused the degradation then eliminating or reducing those threats.  The forest service and volunteer groups remove nonnative plant species and reintroducing and re-populating native plant species to the region.  Plant seeds are stored in a protected seed bank.  Mitigating the effects of degradation and restoring the habitat requires the practice of community-based conservation where biologist and willing private land owners and other residents in the community work together to protect and restore the habitats.  These willing volunteers are educated about endemic species and taught how to protect the species and support the species through planting native plants and reducing pollutants.  Monitoring of the species within the ecosystems and revaluation of the strategies used for restoration of the ecosystems is done in order to observe the effects of ecological restoration and allows for adaptive management.  Some example of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ecological restoration plans that follows this criteria are the Del Monte Forest and Preservation Development Plan and Recovery Plan for Five Plants from Monterey County, California.  The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) consists of seven global leaders who are committed to equipping nongovernmental and private sector organizations to help protect ecosystems around the world.    

CEPF contact information-

 Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund

Conservation International 2011 Crystal Drive Suite 500 ​Arlington, VA 22202, USA Tel: +1-703 341-2400 Fax: +1-866-733-9162

7.      I think it is important that I as well as others express and demonstrate concern through action for any loss of biodiversity in hotspots around the world.  A loss of biodiversity means a loss of natural capital resulting in a loss of natural services that purify our air, water, soil and food supplies. And a loss of natural resources that support an economy through tourism, and providing resources for material goods, pharmaceutical goods, and food supplies.  A 70% or more loss of a habitat in regions inhabiting endemic species may result in an ecological tipping point causing an irreversible shift in the biotic and abiotic functions of the ecosystem leading to the extinction of many species.  Biodiversity or the variety of species, the ecosystems in which they exist and interact and natural services they provide, e.g. water and air purification, soil renewal, and pest control, support the local and global environments and economies.  The biotic and abiotic chemical or nutrient cycles- including photosynthesis supporting air quality, soil renewal, and renewal of nutrients stored in the biomass of organisms which provide nutrients to other organisms in an ecosystem, including humans-effect the local and global environment.  A loss of biodiversity in a region will alter the behavior of the ecosystem.  For example, a change in the composition of the soil may cause population declines in native plant species thus a decline in animal species populations whose survival relies upon the endemic plant species to provide nutrients to them.  Loss of species will degrade the ecosystem altering or completely changing the  biome in which they lived rendering them unsustainable leaving behind a degraded area of land that cannot supply us with resources or provide us with free ecological services.  The change in a biomes habitat will lead to a change in local temperatures effecting temperatures in the atmosphere thus effecting global temperatures and weather systems.  Furthermore, the loss of any endemic species is permanent!                         

  

References

Arnold, R.A. Ecological studies of six endangered butterflies: Island biogeography, patch dynamics, and design of habitat preserves. Berkley: University of California Publications in Entomology, 1983.  1-161. Print. 16 Nov. 2015. 

Malone, Maureen.”Adaptations of the Smith’s Blue Butterfly.” animals.mom.me: Demand Media. Web. 16 Nov. 2015

“California Floristic Province.” cepf.net: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. Web. 16 Nov. 2015

        

WILDLIFE CORRIDOR LAB 11

Summary

1.       Common name: Red Fox

Binomial name: Vulpes vulpes 

This report discusses the need for wildlife corridors spanning AZ highway 96 to allow safe passage for animals, specifically the Red Fox, from one wilderness habitat to another for the purposes of breeding, obtaining resources and maintaining biodiversity of the ecosystems within each habitat.  The layout and some information obtained for this report was obtained from the document “Principles of Wildlife Corridor Design” by Monica Bond.    

   

Introduction

2.       The habitats that will be connected are interior chaparrals and temperate deserts.  The topographical features are rolling hills, mountains, canyons, creeks and rivers.  Temperatures in the daytime are high in summer and low in winter with some precipitation.  The vegetation is drought-resistant--dense shrubs and dispersed succulents.  Quercus turbinella oaks (poke oak or sonorant scrub oak), opuntia polycantha haw (prickly pear cactus), and saguaro cactus are some of the plant species in these biomes.  Red foxes, mountain lions, bears, hawks, eagles, rattlesnakes, bullhead snakes, and other reptiles, arachnids, amphibians, and insects all inhabit these biomes.  These species habitats are in need of a corridor where highway 96 fragments the habitats disrupting the natural ecological processes in the spatial and temporal scales.  In other words, the distance between habitat patches where the species live and reproduce and the generational habitat life span are affected by habitat fragmentation. This along with vehicles, light pollution, and noise from the vehicles disorients and impedes the animal’s passage. 

Corridor’s Effects & Current and Future Impediments

3.       1,000 foot wide bridged undercrossing habitat corridors along the length of this highway may help mitigate the affects of habitat fragmentation for the Red Fox and other species and help sustain the inner core habitat.  This may decrease *negative edge effects and increase positive edge effects between the ecological communities along the habitat boundaries or ecotone.  The current noise, light pollution and fast moving vehicles that scare the shy species away from the roads preventing them from freely moving through habitats will be reduced through the use of under crossings and allow for the species to move between habitats.  A corridor will allow for males, who otherwise live alone, to safely traverse between habitat patches during mating season.  This will help reduce the chances of inbreeding of the species and birth rate declines that are a result of geographical isolation due to fragmentation.  Corridors will allow for long-term genetic interchange of the species allowing for metapopulations within the habitat patches where their population has possibly been extirpated.  The existence of the Red Fox in these habitat patches will help support the short-term and long-term biodiversity and sustainability of their ecosystems through the natural ecological services that the Red Fox supplies. The fox’s diet helps control populations of mice, voles, shrews, moles, squirrels, rabbits, lizards, snakes grasshoppers, skinks, beetles and other insects.  Their feces release seeds from the berries they eat allowing for new plant growth, helping sustain the habitats diversity.  In turn plants help support the abiotic areas in the habitat by mitigating or reducing soil erosion, cycling CO2 into oxygen through photosynthesis and providing other nutrients to other species.  Fox pups are a food resource for hawks and owls.  Implementing this method will reduce current and future conditions that disrupt its natural environment and impede this species movement and will increase biodiversity in each patches core habitat . Currently no housing or other development is taking place and most of the land along the highway is designated wilderness with small dispersed areas of private land.  Industrial building or development of cities is unlikely however if future housing is permitted these regulations will be implemented: each homeowner must maintain a 30ft x 60ft buffer between the native vegetation and their lot for fire abatement; wood fencing is not permitted and no feeding of wild animals, except bird feeders (Bond 2).  Housing must be at least 5 miles from the highway or corridors.  Roads to housing must be at least .25 miles from corridors on either side.

   * Negative edge effects for this species may include: risk of parasitism or disease increases, adverse microclimate conditions, inbreeding or loss of genetic interchange and competition from invasive species.

Specifics of Corridor Design

4.       Corridor Features

Monica Bonds report recommendation will be utilized­­--Each corridor will be 1,000 foot wide culvert under the highway (2).  They will be installed every 7,920 feet or 1.5 miles.  Conservation easements or land trust will be implemented near each corridor to prevent any housing development within 5 miles and roads within 1/4 of a mile of the corridors.  Any lights on the exterior of homes must be aimed at the ground and towards the house to avoid light pollution in the habitat. 

Culvert Design

The following methods were obtained from Bonds work at the Center for Biological Diversity. Each undercrossing will be 1,000 feet wide and on flat ground not on a hillside or slope.  The bottom of the culverts will be filled with substrate that is native to the habitat and cobbled concrete will underlay the substrate.  Wildlife crossing signs will be installed at each corridor on both sides of the highway.  Fencing at least 6 feet high will be installed to help create a path that guides animals to the culverts. Native shrubs and succulents will be planted and maintained near the entrances of the corridors and edges of the road.  6 foot fencing will also be installed along the highway edge for .50 miles or half a mile on either side of the corridors to help guide the animals to the corridor.   

Vegetation Restoration

The USDA and Forest Service will financially support and maintain the native vegetation near the corridors and edge of the highway.  Every 3 to 5 years the vegetation will be mowed or surface burns will be performed near the corridors and edge of the road for fire prevention and nutrient replenishment.  These plants will help reduce noise and light pollution and provide cover for the shy Red Fox and other species.   

Management and Enforcement

Signs stating no feeding of wild animals will be posted near each corridor.  Educational pamphlets will be passed out to people living in the small community at the end of highway 97.  If housing is ever permitted along highway 96 regulations will be implemented: each homeowner must maintain a 30ft x 60ft buffer between the native vegetation and their lot for fire abatement; wood fencing is not permitted and no feeding of wild animals, except bird feeders (Bond 2).  Furthermore, housing must be at least 5 miles from the highway or corridors.  Roads to housing must be at least .25 miles from corridors on either side.  

5.     The male Red Fox lives alone until mating season therefore these corridors will accommodate movement between habitat patches during this period of time.  This will prevent geographical isolation and inbreeding of the species that can lead to a decline in birth rates and population size.  The species will have more biotic and abiotic resources available to them, such as berry plants, small mammals, insects, water sources and shelter options.  The likelihood this species will be hit by a vehicle will decrease.  This shy species is more likely to move freely through each corridor and between habitats due to added cover from culverts and plants that help keep distance between the animals and the road and help reduce noise and light pollution from vehicles.  The Red Fox will have hundreds of miles of wildlife habitat to move between in each habitat patch.    
  

6.       Corridor Map 

  

Each undercrossing will be 1,000 feet wide and on flat ground not on a hillside or slope.  They will be installed every 7,920 feet or 1.5 miles.  The bottom of the culverts will be filled with substrate that is native to the habitat and cobbled concrete will underlay the substrate.  Wildlife crossing signs will be installed at each corridor on both sides of the highway.  Fencing at least 6 feet high will be installed to help create a path that guides animals to the culverts. Native shrubs and succulents will be planted and maintained near the entrances of the corridors and edges of the road.  6 foot fencing will also be installed along the highway edge for .50 miles or half a mile on either side of the corridors to help guide the animals to the corridor.  The Forest Service will maintain the vegetation and keep the corridor entrances clear of organic debris and trash and they will maintain these structures- fencing and culverts.  They will also help handle trespassers and other violations.  Forest Service biologists will monitor the use of the culverts by Red Foxes and record their data and submit reports.  Forest Service corridor monitoring and monitoring culvert use by the Red Foxes is an important part of corridor planning and allows for future adaptive management planning.     

  

7.       Corridor Campaign Poster/Pamphlet 

Front

Backside

References:

Bond, Monica.  “Principals of Wildlife Corridor Design.” Center for Biological Diversity.  Oct. 2003: 1-3. Print.

Hockett, C.J. CJ Hockett Photography. cjhockett.com. N.p. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

Lewis, Cindy. Cranberrycoho Photography. Cranberrycoho.photoshelter.com. N.p. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. 

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LAB 10

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is "one of the most comprehensive wildlife conservation laws in the world." Its purpose is "to conserve the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species deepened to conserve and recover listed species."

1.  Endangered species:
Common Name: Gowen Cypress

Scientific Name: Cupressus goveniana

Taxonomic Order: Pinales

Taxonomic Family: Cupressaceae

2.      Photographs of Gowen Cypress in its natural environment:

The Central Coast of California

Gowen Cypress seed cones

3.       The Gowen Cypress trees are native and endemic to California.  They are specialist species that occupy narrow niches:  they can only survive in a narrow range of climatic and environmental conditions!  They are a primary producers and foundation species that provide and enhance their habitat for other species.  Without this species the habitat will change and species that rely upon this tree will have to find another source of food within the habitat or leave the area.  When fires occur this serotinous tree reestablishes its population and the vegetation in its ecosystem.  Without this species its ecosystem may collapse or its environmental conditions will make it uninhabitable for species that currently survive in the ecosystem. 

4.       Two ecological services this organism provides for humans and other species occur through chemical cycling of CO2 through the process of photosynthesis.  These trees also provide nutrients to other species: rodents and deer eat their seedlings and livestock will occasionally forage the young plants.  The wood is used by humans in a range of ways including shingles, boats, moulding, and paneling and is good for firewood.

5.       Population Chart:

According to Kate Kent from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, “No records exist that document the historical extent of the two populations.”  The California Native Plant Society is currently collecting data on this species population in the two endemic California locations.  Therefore, a data chart for the population of this species over a period of time is not possible.      

6.       The characteristics that endanger this species are its specialized niche, narrow distribution and rarity of the species, and the species being commercially valuable.  Their specialized niche or one type of habitat and narrow range of environmental conditions that they can survive and thrive are:  full sunlight; bare mineral soils, i.e. shallow Cieneba or podzolic soil types, and a shallow hardpan soil below; with no plant cover or litter; and their reproduction is reliant upon high heat or fires (serotinous).   They are rare and have a narrow distribution due to being confined to acidic, poorly drained, podzolic soils and as a result of loss of population due to fragmentation by human urban development.  The wood of this species is commercially valuable for building boats, and shingles and paneling for homes. 

7.       This species is density independent, in other words, their effect is not dependent on the density of the population but other factors.  In this case, habitat destruction by humans has caused a decline in their populations along with climate changes.

8.        A non-profit organization, California Native Plant Society, is run by volunteers and professionals that work to identify and protect California’s native plants.  They have been working with volunteers to create a fine scale map of cypress tree stands throughout California.  This group is particularly focused on gaining more information about this species due to its threatened status on the Endangered Species list and this will be the first official map and population record of this species.  CNPS also runs conservation projects, rare plant monitoring, plant community sampling, and community outreach programs for this species as well as other species. 

9.       “Gowen cypress 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation” by Kristina Barry for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department is a required 5 year scientific review of the threatened Gowen Cypress species.  The review discusses that the Gowen Cypress species classification of threatened should remain the same due to original threats still being present and few efforts for implementing management actions that would improve habitat conditions and protect the species from further urban development.  This review was done in March 2012 and will be done again in 2017.  There were no current scientific articles about the species.   

References:

Barry, Kristina. Gowen cypress 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Department of Interior. March 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.

ECOS: Species Profile for Gowen cypress. ecos.fws.gov. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Department of Interior. 12 June, 1998. Web. 4 Nov. 2015. 

Endangered Species. fws.gov. U.S. Department of Interior. 15 Oct. 2015. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.  

Miller, Tyler, and Spoolman, Scott. Essentials of Ecology. Canada: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

Vegetation Program. Cnps.org. N.p.  2015. Web. 4 Nov. 2015

Lab 9 Freshwater Ecosystems

A.      Water Monitoring

Procedural photographs-

Sampling site: a town's natural spring water supply

(aerator removed)

Temperature:

Turbidity:

Dissolved Oxygen:

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)-

5 day test:

Nitrate:

pH:

Phosphate:

Coliform:

Test Results Chart:

1.       Discuss “poor” results of how the ecosystem may be affected.

A poor coliform result indicates that a water source has been contaminated by sewage and will cause high or excessive levels of nitrate and phosphate.  This increase in bacteria from sewage or plant waste can cause the % saturation of the water to decrease.  This decrease in saturation may cause fluctuations in dissolved oxygen levels throughout the day.  This creates a difficult environment for plants and animals to live.  The water is also not safe for humans to drink!  Excess nitrate and phosphate from human waste, fertilizer and agriculture runoff increase plant growth and decay, support bacterial decomposition, and this leads to a decrease in the oxygen available for use by other organisms.  These changes make it difficult for other organisms to survive and thrive.  High levels of nitrates in drinking water may also have an effect on the ability of human’s blood to carry oxygen.  Warmer aquatic ecosystems have low dissolved oxygen levels and typically have less diverse aquatic species.  A change in pH levels can make it difficult for organisms to survive since most are adapted to a specific pH level.    

2.       Discuss “excellent” results in terms of how the ecosystem is supported.

An excellent coliform result indicates that the water is free of sewage waste and dead plant matter and is likely to have stable levels of nitrates and phosphates.  The dissolved oxygen % saturation will remain more stable without waste and animals and plants thrive and survive when more oxygen is present.  Stable levels of nitrates support the ability of plants and animals to build proteins. Stable levels of phosphates support growth of plant and animals and supports metabolic systems. Colder aquatic ecosystems have higher levels of dissolved oxygen which supports a healthy and stable ecosystem. And have more species diversity than warmer aquatic ecosystems.  A lack of change in pH is ideal or excellent since most organisms are adapted to a specific pH level.                  

B.  Thinking About the World's Water

In chapter 2 of “Water Brief” the article “Past and Future if the Salton Sea” discusses the environmental disaster that is occurring in the Salton Sea.  This disaster will impact diversity of micro-organisms and hundreds of resident and migratory birds.  Currently it is a gradual water reduction but will soon increase significantly due to decreased inflows.  The changes of the sea level will result exposed sea floor and cause an increase in dust storms that affect public health.  Fish and invertebrate populations will also be distressed by the poor water quality and their survival will be seriously threatened.  This Sea started as a result of the Colorado River sometimes flowing north into the Salton Basin and would then shift direction flowing to the south to the Gulf of California.  Dams, armored channels, controlled released flows, now protects the Salton Sea from experiencing filling and drought cycles.  Inflows are predicted to drop from 1.5 km3/year to .88 km3/year within 25 years.  Many factors are causing this decrease in inflow: reduction of inflows from Mexico, cropping patterns changing.  After 2017 the water transfer issues will also increase the decline in inflows.  Climate change is also impacting evaporation from the Sea’s surface and evapotranspiration from irrigated fields will affect the Sea’s size and water quality.  The possible Salton Sea solutions are: full restoration; partial restoration; shallow-habitat construction; and placing a legal minimum of air quality and desert pupfish management.  Due to most options being costly, not can completed in a timely manner as well as a lack of political interest to protect the Sea action will be deferred for many years and may continue until legislation requires the state of California to act.  There is one option that is not as costly as the other options and the federal government U.S. Geological Survey Salton Sea Science Office is currently running and monitoring a 40-ha pilot project.  This project is utilizing the shallow habitat construction.     

In my opinion this environmental situation with the Salton Sea is complicated and costly to restore and maintain.  I think the pilot project, i.e. shallow habitat construction, seems like the most logical option in terms of environmental health and stability as well as cost.

Resources    

Donnelly, Kristina. "The Red Sea-Dead Sea Project Update". worldwater.org. Pacific Institute. Jan. 2015. Web. 27 Oct. 2015. 

     

Lab 8

Part 1: Climate Change

1.  What portion or portions of this information do you accept as sound science? State a thoughtful reason for accepting. What portion or portions, do you question? State a thoughtful answer for questioning. You must have an answer for each part.

At the request of Congress the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) compiled a “National Security Implications of Climate –Related Risks and a Changing Climate” report.  This report includes security risks for all sectors of the Combatant Commands and strategies to deal with the effects of climate change.  This report states that global climate change will have a vast effect on the U.S. and other nations in terms of sustainability, national security and international security.  The DoD projects that these changes will further exaggerate existing issues-“such as poverty, social tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership, and weak political institutions—that threaten domestic stability in a number of countries” (DoD 3).  The report goes on to state that global climate changes are a security risk due to the impact it has on human security and the individual governments ability to meet the needs of their populations.  Global climate certainly has a direct affect on global resources!  The greenhouse effect in our atmosphere is warming the Earth causing the oceans temperatures to rise.  This is leading to warming of the poles and causing less ice to form and melting the icebergs.  Less ice equates to less ocean brine being dispersed throughout the oceans by ocean currents.  This cold dense brine cools the oceans and helps create the oceans currents.  These changes are leading to a global climate change resulting in a decrease in atmospheric pressures that form storms that release life sustaining water and other nutrients, e.g. nitrates, to our Earth.  The altering of climates around the globe will result in changes in habitats and will shift the location(s) where plants and animals (including humans) can survive.  If these life sustaining cycles shift rapidly it will lead to a tipping point in the functions of those systems and our renewable resources cannot be renewed or will renew at a rate that is not life supporting.    

Some may question how all of this has an impact on national and international security.  After minimal research one will discover that resources cause a lot of instability as well as national and international wars.  All of the above DoD climate change statements and the effects global climate change has on humanity have been seen in Africa and in the Middle East where drought and desertification has caused civil wars due to scarce resources.  For instance, the Sudanese people of North and South Sudan have fluctuated between fighting and working together to survive off of their resources since they gained independence from British rule in 1956.  However, a series of droughts eventually led to continuous disputes over land between non-Arab sedentary farmers and Arab Janjaweed nomads.  Other tensions such as religious and political disputes aggravated their conflicts. The country’s weak political institution led by the ineffectual leader, i.e. the president Omar al-Bashir, utilized the existing tensions between the North and South to help him gain control of the South and its resources, e.g. oil.  He did this through funding, arming, and instructing the Janjaweed in the North to kill all of the people in the South of Sudan.  Many people have been displaced or died in the mass genocide of South Sudan!  What the DoD states is unfortunately true- climate change that affects resources directly affects national and international security.    

Another less severe example of climate change affecting a state or country and its population is the Chinook King Salmon crisis off the coast of California.  The Chinook Salmon population has become extremely scarce and scientist have yet to figure out the cause however they suspect that it has to do with climate change.   Despite not knowing the cause of the salmon issue the salmon are still not migrating to the coast of California and into the Sacramento River.   According to the Smithsonian U.S. officials cancelled all commercial salmon fishing off the coast of California in 2008 and some areas are still closed for commercial fishing today.  In response to this disaster our government had to send in disaster relief funds into the areas where the local economies relied on salmon fishing.  It is unfortunate that even developed countries are vulnerable when it comes to our resources and sustainability of those resources and sustainability of our economies.  The more climate change affects our renewable resources the more our government is going to have to step in to supply aid.  How far and for how long can any government support its population if resources are not being renewed?!  This pattern will probably eventually lead to total collapse of humanity (not our Earth) unless we come up with preventative methods or a negative (corrective) feedback loop that will change the direction in which our global climate systems are moving.    

1.  What are three places can find answers to the parts you question?  

The EPA.GOV, the USDA.GOV, UN.ORG, U.S. DoD or Defense.gov, and NASA.GOV or any government website has a tremendous amount of information on global climate and/or national or international security issues. 

2.  Answer this question: Does having a background in Environmental Biology help you make decisions about what information about the environment you will accept? Explain in some detail and include something about what you know now that you did not know at the beginning of the class.

Gaining knowledge in this class about how solar energy, chemical cycling and biodiversity all work together to sustain life on Earth has helped me make decisions about what to believe and what to question when I am reading articles or reports about the environment.  Prior to this course I did not understand the importance of ocean brine and its effects on ocean temperatures and currents and its effect on global weather systems.    

Works cited

Department of Defense. “National Security Implications of Climate –Related Risks and a Changing Climate.” archive.defense.gov: 1-14.  U.S. Department of Defense. 23 July 2015. Web. 21 Oct. 2015

Tucker, Abigail.  “On California’s Coast, Farewell to King Salmon.” smithsonianmag.com Oct. 2008. Web. 21 Oct. 2015  

Part 2: Biotic Communities

General location: Western Arizona

Associated community or Biome:  Interior Chaparral 

Resource link:

http://databasin.org/maps/new#datasets=e8e241e869054d7e810894e5e993625e