Loss of predators affecting ecosystem health

[Atheist-Lite]

http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/ ... tem-health

Loss of predators affecting ecosystem health

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A survey on the loss in the Northern Hemisphere of large predators, particularly wolves, concludes that current populations of moose, deer, and other large herbivores far exceed their historic levels and are contributing to disrupted ecosystems.

The research, published today by scientists from Oregon State University, examined 42 studies done over the past 50 years.

It found that the loss of major predators in forest ecosystems has allowed game animal populations to greatly increase, crippling the growth of young trees and reducing biodiversity. This also contributes to deforestation and results in less carbon sequestration, a potential concern with climate change.

(continued)

[Clinton Huxley]

Are Americans not shooting enough animals? Lazy blighters.

[JimC]

If true, then a careful, systematic cull should proceed, meat sold as high-end cuisine, any profits to go to ecosystematic monitoring...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

One of the points I make at the Campfire Howls is that if your ecology can't support the top predators then it's not healthy. Wolves are the top predators in North America, and very few places can support them in the Lower 48.

[mistermack]

Is there any place on earth now, where significant carbon is actually being sequestered?
Apart from the ocean floor, I can't think of any. It just rots and gets recycled.
Maybe somewhere in the Amazon, but that's likely to disappear soon anyway.

So I can't see the lack of predators causing global warming anytime soon.

Is there nothing on earth that can't be claimed to warm the planet these days?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Is there any place on earth now, where significant carbon is actually being sequestered?
Apart from the ocean floor, I can't think of any. It just rots and gets recycled.
Maybe somewhere in the Amazon, but that's likely to disappear soon anyway.

So I can't see the lack of predators causing global warming anytime soon.

Is there nothing on earth that can't be claimed to warm the planet these days?

Mack, there were no new Aspen trees in Yellowstone National Park between 1928 and 1998. The reason? We'd killed off all the wolves.

[mistermack]

Is there any place on earth now, where significant carbon is actually being sequestered?
Apart from the ocean floor, I can't think of any. It just rots and gets recycled.
Maybe somewhere in the Amazon, but that's likely to disappear soon anyway.

So I can't see the lack of predators causing global warming anytime soon.

Is there nothing on earth that can't be claimed to warm the planet these days?

Mack, there were no new Aspen trees in Yellowstone National Park between 1928 and 1998. The reason? We'd killed off all the wolves.

Yeh, I know that. I've seen the reports of beavers coming back in numbers to Yellowstone, because the willows have a chance to come back, now that the wolves are keeping the elk in check.
And the improvements that beaver dams give to the diversity of habitat.

It's not that I disagree with the increase in tree numbers, it's just that they don't sequester any carbon. They might for a short while in their trunks, but they give it back when they rot.

Usually, sequester means to permanently remove, as in coal deposits. And that only happens in very few limited environments these days.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You mentioned global warming, I pointed out that we are screwing up the environment left and right. The lack of predators shows that the ecology is out of balance, reducing the environment's ability to heal itself.

[mistermack]

Yeh, I'm sorry, I wasn't replying to your post, but to last paragraph in the OP.

It found that the loss of major predators in forest ecosystems has allowed game animal populations to greatly increase, crippling the growth of young trees and reducing biodiversity. This also contributes to deforestation and results in less carbon sequestration, a potential concern with climate change.

I should have quoted it to make it clear.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Okay then.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

In this country I believe the car is the main predator of deer.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

In this country I believe the car is the main predator of deer.

[niggle] Killer, maybe, predator, no. [/niggle]