Milwaukee+and+Biodiversity+2011-2012

= **__Introduction:__** =

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 Lake Michigan has always been a vital source of fish, water and recreation for Milwaukee since our city's founding. However, in recent years, due to many physical, chemical and environmental changes, the biodiversity of Lake Michigan has changed drastically. These changes in biodiversity have proved to have a lasting effect on not only the Lake, but all of the species who reside there as well as the industry and recreation associated with Lake Michigan. ===== 

= **__Effects on Native Species:__** =

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 Invading species often compete with the species native to that area for the same resources. Because of this increased competition, invasive species can often the reason for the ousting of native species. Native and invading species can share the same niche. Again, because of increased competition, some species, like barnacles, have to retreat from their fundamental, or original, niche to a new, or realized, niche. Changes like these not only effect the species themselves, but also their surrounding environment. ===== 

= __Asian Carp History:__ =

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 Native to China and other parts of Southeast Asia, the Asian Carp has been cultivated for aquaculture for more than 1,000 years, often raised in submerged rice paddies. Catfish farmers in the U.S. imported Asian Carp decades ago to eat up the algae in their ponds. The Carp were also imported into the southern United States to keep aquaculture clean and to provide fresh fish for market. Now, however, the Carp have slowly escaped into the wild and have been making their way up the Mississippi River. They are eating machines that have the power to decimate entire ecosystems. =====

 = __Asian Carp's Effect on other Fauna:__ =

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The Asian Carp is very harmful to a wide variety of plants and animals due to its consumption of low level food chain organisms such as plankton. Birds, insects and turtles are just a few examples of the array of creatures that have been negatively effected by Asian Carp. =====

= __Asian Carp Risks:__ = ** Ecological Risks: **  Due to continued population increase and rapid expansion, Asian Carp has decreases of native mussels and other invertebrates. One breed of Carp, the Grass Carp, can eliminate vast areas of aquatic plants which are used for fish food and homes. Because of this change, recruitment and abundance of native fish can be drastically reduced. Black Carp reduce the abundance of mussels and snails and Silver Carp tend to jump out of the water during recreational activities in the Lake, which often leads to injury. media type="youtube" key="sxSvhtPoKU4" height="315" width="420" **Threats to Great Lake: **  Some believe that if the Carp continue to enter the Great Lakes, the multi-billion dollar recreational fishing and tourism industry will be devastated. If the Carp colonize in the Great Lakes, fish native to those areas will continue to decline and as a result, the communities surrounding those areas that depend on fisheries for their economy (fisheries are valued at 4.5 billion dollars annually) will be devastated as well. Also, the waterfowl production areas are at risk due to the Asian Carp. Hunters spend more than 2.6 billion dollars on their sport in Great Lakes, but if these ecosystems are destroyed by the Asian Carp, there will be a decreased economic value to communities that benefit from hunting.

= __Response Efforts:__ =  It is incredibly difficult to control the Asian Carp population, but a few efforts have been put in action in response to their devastating impact. eDNA (Environmental DNA) monitoring as well as a n electrical barrier system has been put in place in attempt to better curb the increasing population. However, due to safety concerns and monetary problems, this barrier is still largely disputed and not operating at full capacity. In response, chemical controls and increased fish harvesting has been enacted, but to almost no avail as the Asian Carp and its caustic effects are still on the rise.
 * __Effects of Biodiversity Loss on Humans:__ **

 Because of this change in biodiversity, our region has become more vulnerable to natural disasters and global warming. Many of the already limited species rely on freshwater and other freshwater species to survive, so even the smallest changes to the ecosystem can have life-threatening effects. Also, changes in biodiversity can disrupt ecosystem services that protect water resources, adverse the effects pollution, maintain ecosystems as well as help them recover after natural disasters. Biological resources such as food, medicine, breeding stocks, future resources and diversity can also be unhinged. In addition to the benefits listed above, high biodiversity in a region can also have social benefits such as improvements in research, education, recreation and tourism. If we were to lose biodiversity the side-effects could potentially be catastrophic. = __Why Should We Care?:__ = **Ethical Argument:** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 160%; vertical-align: baseline;">The profit at any cost model used for generations has done irreversable damage to our ecosystems, it is a question of whether or not it is necissary or wise to take of our ecosystems and the species they harbor. Is the preservation of property rights and free trade worth the destruction of our ecosystems? Politicians from both sides of the political spectrum criticise the use of tax-payer money for something they falslypercieve as threat-less.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 160%;">Invasive species can have a negative impact of many areas including: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 31px;"> **__Helpful Links:__** [|Asian Carp Overview] [|Asian Carp Control Efforts] [|Asian Carp Control- Background] [|Asian Carp in Great Lakes- Time Science] [|Grass Carp Biology] [|Severity of Asian Carp on Great Lakes- EarthSky] [|Biological Synopsis of Grass Carp]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Economic Argument : **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 31px;">Infrastructure
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Organisms (such as the Zebra Mussel) can cause direct damage to industry
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: left;">Decrease of fishing and tourism industries
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: left;">Billions Spent in Remediation and Prevention

__**Challenge 20/20 Powerpoint Presentation:**__