Summary Blog

     I was somewhat apprehensive about what to expect from starting a blog for the first

time. Blogging and responding to blogs are things that I had never done before. To be

honest, I was initially concerned about how well I could perform in this class.

      Through reading the blogs of other bloggers and the responses to their blogs, I have

become more comfortable in writing my own blogs. Learning to blog has been an exciting

experience for me. I’ve learned not to fear the unexpected and to just go for it.

      The advice I would give to others about starting a blog is that blogging is a rewarding

experience. There are endless subject matters in which to blog about. You can find

something that you feel passionate about and blog about it. Finding other like minded

bloggers in not only encouraging, but is a source of empowerment in bringing to light

important issues that affect this country and the entire world.

　

Emerald Ash Borer Beetle

      There is a beetle from Asia that is killing hardwood trees in Prince George‘s County Maryland. It is called the emerald ash borer and it came to this country over a decade ago by way of shipping crates from China. These beetles have killed over 30 million trees since their arrival in this country. “The beetles threaten not only to eradicate one of the most popular suburban shade trees in America, but also to harm water quality in rural streams, by removing trees that cool and filter waterways" (Pelton 1). 

 

Emerald Ash Borer Beetle

     Thousands of Chinese parasitic wasps have been released by the Maryland Department of agriculture in hopes of controlling the emerald ash borer. The parasitic wasps are known predators of the beetle. The idea of controlling invasive species is to find their natural predators in their native country to maintain control of them here.

 

Chinese Parasitic Wasp 

     But what concerns some biologists and environmentalists is that the use of biological controls can be ineffective and end up harming or eliminating native species. These controls sometimes results in predator species not attacking their intended targets and instead attacking other species. The concern in Maryland is that the Chinese parasitic wasps with eliminate the native jewel beetles instead of the emerald ash borer.

 

Jewel Beetle

     History shows us that predator species can be effective, but also tells us that these biological controls only succeeds 10% of the time. Therefore, great care must be taken when deciding what methods to use to control invasive species. The cure may be worst that the illness.

                                                             Cited Works

Pelton, Tom. Releasing Exotic Species to Fight Invasive Species: Gambling With Mother

     Nature? Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 26 July 2010. Web. 14 November 2012.

Potential Sources

My potential sources will most likely be the Chesapeake Bay Journal and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.  These two sources have have allowed me to find out about invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River, and other nearby waterways and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.  I will also look into other sources that can assist me in furthering my knowledge about non-native species that are invading the United States.

Th Chesapeak Bay Journal is a monthly publication and covers environmental issues that affect the Chesapeake Bay.  The Journal write articles and blogs concerning the plight of the Bay due to pollution and invasive species in the Bay.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation educates the general public, school administrators, teaches, and students regarding the Chesapeake Bay.  They advocate on the behalf of the Bay by implementing solutions to improve the health of the Bay.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation litigates non-compliance of the laws and regulations that affects the Bay and restores the Bay through water quality improvements and the help of volunteers to clean up the Bay. 

Purple Loosestrife

     The purple loosestrife is a non-native plant that is known for its invasion of wetlands.  "A beautiful flower but very aggressive invader, Purple Loosestrife is a perennial weed native to Europe and Asia that was introduced to the U.S. in the 1880s" (Fryberger 1).  This plant is prevalent throughout most of the United States.  "The purple loosestrife have gotten out of control in the continental US, and are taking over and choking out native species and altering the habitats" (Gaskins 1).

 

 

     

     Purple loosestrife poses a dangerous threat to wetlands because of its prolific ability to reproduce.  "The loosestrife have risen in both number and extent to which they alter the habitat they live in, and though it might seem that they would only impact other competing native plant species, they also have become enough of a problem where they also are hurting animal species, especially specialized wetland birds" (Gaskins 1).  It threatens native plant species by crowding them out and by competing for sunlight and water.  When purple loosestrife replace native plants, they destroy the habitats of animal and insects that depend on native species for food and shelter.  Animals such as duck, muskrat, and geese have seen a decline in their populations due to the proliferation of the purple loosestrife.  The denseness of this plant impedes water flow and requires costly management efforts.  Scientists have found a natural predator of the purple loosestrife to control its growth.  The Galerucella beetle feed on the leaf, bud, and stem of loosestrife plants and prevents the plant from reproducing.

 

 

     There is a segment of society that treasure purple loosestrife and do not want this plant to be eradicated because of what they perceive as the benefits that purple loosestrife provides.   Purple loosestrife contains astringent chemicals called tannins and salicarin.   Astringent chemicals may help reduce diarrhea and inflammation. Salicarin might also assist in fighting bacteria, or bugs, n the intestine.   Purple loosestrife are popularly used in ornamental decorations and in gardens.

  

 

      Though I support maintaining control of the spread of purple loosestrife, I do not support the elimination of this plant. I understand the concerns of those who are concerned about the negative effects this plant has on other species of plants and on animal habitat.   But I also understand the feelings of those who value what they consider are the benefits of purple loosestrife. This plant makes beautiful ornamental displays and decorations.  They add a unique flair to gardens with their wonderful purple color that accents any arrangement.  They also have what appears to be promising medicinal uses.  Purple loosestrife is an invasive species that does serve a useful purpose.

 

Works Cited

 

Gaskins, Lindsay.  Purple Loosestrife - Beautiful Killer. Duke University, 25 September

      2010. Web. 24 October 2012
         
Fryberger, Kevin.  A Beauty and a Beast.  Stewardship Chronicles, 15 August 2011.  Web.

     29 October 2012.

Mute Swans

      Mute swans are an invasive species that have been present in the Chesapeake Bay area since the 1930s. They are the largest birds that are inhabitants of this area. Mute swans have a lifespan of about 12 years and adult birds have a six feet wing span. They were imported from Eurasia to populate residential ponds and parks. Mute swans are year-round inhabitants in creeks, lakes, rivers inland ponds, and streams. Their population has increased 1,271percent since 1986. They feed throughout the year which does not allow for grass beds to recouperate. 

                                                                      Mute Swan

     Mute swans are a species that threatens waterfowl, crops, underwater grasses, and even humans. When these birds decimate available grasses, they move to feed on and damage agricultural crops. Mute swans are very aggressive and territorial. Their behavior even threatens human and displaces other birds. “Wildlife professionals have many critical and immediate problems to address, including habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, pollution, global climate change, energy development, emerging diseases, and human-wildlife conflict“ (Hutchins 2). 

                                                                   Mute Swans

      Conflicts and court battles with animal rights groups have made it difficult to reduce the population of mute swans. Though saving animal species from being uprooted and/or eliminated is a noble cause, some invasive species must be controlled for the betterment of native ecosystems. It is important that there are conservation methods that control non-native species to prevent the loss of habitat which adversely affects native species. “The consequences for inaction on selected introduced species will be the loss of more native species and alteration of habitats“ (Hutchins 2).

      The mute swan is a beautiful and attractive bird. People enjoy feeding them and these birds supplement their diet by receiving food from others. They give the public the opportunity to get up close to nature. But there is a down side to mute swans, which is an invasive species, inhabiting the areas of native species. Mute swans are ferocious eaters of grasses and crowd out other species by reducing the food supply of other birds including migratory birds. They are aggressive and they displace other bird species. Mute swans are known to be aggressive towards humans and there are two recorded incidences of them causing deaths of human beings. The negative effects mute swans have on the environment, other species, and the lives of humans warrant a concerted effort to control their numbers and prevent further destruction of the ecosystems in which they inhabit.

                                                                    Works Cited

Hutchins, Michael. Non-native Mute Swans Must Go. The Wildlife Society Blog, 14

      May 2009. Web. 17 October 2012.

　

　

 

 
　

　

　


　

Intersex Fish

      Biologists, over the past ten years, have been investigating fish kills in the Potomac River Basin . What the biologists found out was that male fish had female eggs in their testes. “For the past decade, they have worked to unravel the story of what’s causing “intersex” fish, a phenomenon that has turned up in 100 percent of smallmouth bass sampled in some areas of the Shenandoah and in 50 - 75 percent of those tested at a number of other sites in the Potomac basin” (Blankenship 1).

Smallmouth Bass

      Outside the watershed, in less polluted areas, intersex abnormalities are seen in no more than 10 - 15 percent of smallmouth bass. The presence of characteristics of both sexes in a single organism is called intersex. Vitellogenin, which is normally found in the blood of female fish, is a precursor of egg yolk and has also been found in male fish. Research has shown that discharges from wastewater treatment facilities are linked to intersex fish. “Meanwhile, the severity of the intersex abnormality - such as more eggs in a male fish’s testes - was generally higher in samples taken from areas with significant wastewater discharges, basins with large amounts of agricultural land and areas with high densities of agricultural animals or poultry houses” (Blankenship 1). Long term exposure to pollutants is what is seen to be the cause of the pronounced female characteristics found in male fish.

      “Intersex is caused by endocrine disruptors, which affect the hormone systems in fish, animals and humans. They are found in products intended to have biological effects, such as hormones or other feed supplements fed to livestock, or medicines taken by humans” (Blankenship 2). Although intersex characteristics have been found mainly in smallmouth and largemouth bass, it is occasionally found in other species. There are suspicions that chemicals are causing intersex and are resulting in the suppression of the immune systems of fish. This leads to fish kills due to fish being more susceptible to disease.

Largemouth Bass

      Though more research is needed to find the cause of intersex. I believe it is obvious that runoff from wastewater treatment plants and farm chemicals are causing intersex in fish. Fish with intersex characteristics are mainly found near wastewater facilities and near farming areas. Research should also delve into what can be done to decrease the exposure of chemicals to fish and other species.

Works Cited

Blankenship, Karl. Intersex fish linked to areas with high ag, wastewater runoff.

     Chesapeake Bay Journal, October 2012. Web, 10 October 2012.

Zebra Mussels

      The zebra mussels showed up in the summer of 2010 near Port Deposit, MD, a few miles from the mouth of the Susquehanna River. In the summer of 2011, someone found a single mussel nearby in the Sassafras River. It is believed that it is not the only mussel in the Sassafras River since for the last decade zebra mussels have been working themselves downstream. “Biologists in the Bay region have long been concerned about the arrival of the species, a native of the Caspian Sea, because of its ability to mushroom into huge populations, crowd out native mussel species and alter ecosystems"  (Blankenship 1).

      Because zebra mussels are a fresh water species, biologists believe that it is unlikely that they will gain a foothold in the Chesapeake Bay. But since these mussels can attach themselves to the bottom of boats, to motors, and trailers, they can be transported to waterways such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs where they can thrive. In regards to mussels spreading in the Bay, biologists are concerned about the high river flows in the spring and summer reducing the salinity of the Bay which can result in the zebra mussels gaining strength there.

      “Named for the striped pattern of their shells, zebra mussels are thought to have arrived in the Great Lakes in 1988 in the ballast water holds of ships from Europe" (Blankenship 2). Their dense colonies can block water intake pipes and cause major problems for industrial and municipal water uses. Zebra mussels have been blamed for causing billions of dollars in damages nationwide.

      In 1991, these mussels arrived in the tidal basin of the Hudson River. One zebra mussel, while feeding on algae, can filter as much as a gallon of water per day. Their filtering can reduce the populations of some algae species and promote the increase of other algae species. They have caused the reduction in dissolved oxygen levels in the water faster than the oxygen levels could be replaced. Zebra mussels in some places, due to there large populations, have reduced the supply of food for fish causing a fall in the fish population. Native mussel populations have nearly been wiped out in some areas because of competition with zebra mussels.

      Fortunately for the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, zebra mussels are not widespread. But it is important that users of these waterways are educated about prevention measures to make sure that they do not unintentionally transport mussels from place to place.

      This story points out how zebra mussels can easily be transported from one waterway to another. They then can be transported by unsuspecting boaters and fishermen who may not know what to look for or the dangers that invasive species can present. That’s why it is important that there are regular educational programs directed to the public, especially to those who boat and fish in areas where invasive species are present or may be gaining a foothold. Only then we all can be knowledgeable about the impact that invasive species can have on the ecosystem.

                                                          Works Cited

Blankenship, Karl. Zebra Mussels slowly spreading into Chesapeake Tributaries.

      Chesapeake Bay Journal, December 2011. Web. 3 October 2012.