Everyone wants to save endangered
species, but not everyone thinks about the effects saving one species can have
on another. Scientists in Montana’s Centennial Valley learned this the hard way
when they blocked off streams to create ponds for the endangered trumpeter
swans, only to eliminate the breeding ground of the rare Arctic grayling. Because
of this, the grayling population has significantly decreased, causing the
federal government to consider adding it to the endangered species list. To alleviate
some of the loss, the scientists have blocked off aggressive cutthroat trout
from entering the streams of Red Rock Creek, where another population of
grayling lives. They believe that the cutthroats have been stealing the
grayling’s source of food, and that by blocking them from the grayling stream
the grayling population will rise. How will this, however, affect the cutthroat
population?
So far, scientists have come up
with several successful solutions to save each individual species (i.e. dam the
stream to create ponds for the swans, block off the cutthroats in the Red Rock
Creek), but not so many to save all the populations overall. A possible
solution to this is to breed these rare and endangered species in separate
locations and, in the fishes’ case, just “re-stock” if too many die. Maybe
relocating the cutthroats, which are not native to the Red Rock River, to a
separate pond or stream might help, as well. The problem with this is that no
matter what scientists do, some other species is going to be affected. This is
an imperfect science, so the outcome of every decision and experiment will be
unclear. If the cutthroats are moved to a separate stream, the cutthroats might
threaten the other native fish. Breeding these animals in labs or separate
locations can be expensive, as well.
Personally, I hate fish, so I could
care less whether the little suckers live or die. I do think that the lack of
insight shown in this situation is worrisome, however, and scientists do need
to find ways to better help increase one species without negatively affecting
another. I don’t think anyone wants an entire species to become threatened for
the sake of another.
Personally I think that we human are stepping into too much cases. Just let the nature do its own work maybe? Like you said Annie, scientist haven't been figuring out how to save one specie without hurting the others but breeding them in lab would be way too expensive. However I do think that relocation is the best way to save them all.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely Annie. We often just think about the one species we would be saving but forget to look at the harmful consequences. However, even if scientists try to consider other species, the ecosystem is a chain so it will in some shape or form have an affect on them. Hopefully scientist consider that when they go about saving endangered species because in reality they could be the ones causing some animals to go endangered. I agree that it’s not worth an entire species becoming threatened for the sake of another but if they consider other animals in their solution of saving endangered animals it will have a big impact.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cammie that we are somewhat in over our heads. There are so many cases of endangered species affecting other species and we just can save them all. I suppose taking them to another area is the best option, considering the cutthroats aren't even native to Red Rock Creek
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