Blogs
Using our questions we were able to find some very interesting information. When looking for answers we were fortunate as we live close to the Glenora fisheries station, this presented us with an abundance of experts. We were also lucky as I have close relations to one of the head scientists. We then used a variety of communication techniques like email and calling to make a connection with experts of our choice. We also visited reliable secondary sources such as websites as another means of gathering information. Finally we received some fascinating information.
We learned basic information like species of concern in this area namely the zebra mussel, sea lamprey, Asian carp, and bloody red shrimp. It was explained to us how easy it is to accidentally transport an invasive species. We learned the damages invasive species have to our economy, human and animal health, and our native species. We were shocked to find out zebra mussels alone cost Canada over 7.3 billion dollars every year.
I was shocked at how much information came as a surprise to my group. We learned the climate change is having a very riveting effect on aquatic invasive species. One fact that I found rather surprising was that global warming is increasing the metabolism of fish, meaning they are consuming more. Also that this affect causes a bigger change in non-native/invasive species. So other information we were able to dig-up was that climate change is mainly affecting this issue by making it easier for invasive species to adapt and harder for native species to continue surviving. Climate change has also affects the way currently existing invasive species are dispersed and the impact they have. Climate change has also changed the effectiveness of our detection, prevention, and removal strategies and tools.
Our conclusion was that Climate Change has increased the effect this already big problem causes. Most experts we talked to felt that together climate change and invasive species could be a very dangerous issue. After habitat loss, invasive species is the number two reason for the loss of biodiversity today.
Amanda Johnson
Prince Edward Collegiate Institute
Post comment
2 Comment(s)
That's cool that you were able to get your answers straight from the experts. It's interesting that global warming is increasing the fish metabolism and that the zebra mussels cost so much.
If climate change causes a higher metabolism in fish and they eat more, does this mean that they grow faster and bigger?
logan irvine
Apr 10, 2016