ENVIR ST 360 1st Edition Exam 4 Study Guide Lectures 20 25 Lecture 20 November 20 Controversy in Yellowstone Environmentalist Arguments Noise pollution Safety Negative Economic Impact of Snowmobiles Snowmobiler Arguments Economic income during winter best way to enjoy the park Ecological Impacts of Snowmobiling Alter wildlife movement damage vegetation increase erosion air and water pollution In the summer there are much more visitors and consequent negative impacts to Yellowstone However it generates a lot of money so no one says anything about it Hydroelectric Power Dam Impacts Trap sediment negative effects on fisheries downstream erosion Positives of Dams Non polluting energy recreational Restoration in Chicago and Public Opinion Chicago tried to restore prairies through Prescribed fire wildlife control herbicide use cutting brush and trees Public had a negative response to this due to perceptions of Poorly placed money loss of recreation value human interference with nature How to change public opinion Education Newsletters Signage Press Give the facts and benefits of restoration Lecture 21 November 25 Tension Zone Climate Shift between cooler moister north and warmer drier south Soils 40 of Wisconsin s endemic soils Plant Communities Northern mixed pine dominated and southern broadleaf oak dominated Driftless Area History Not covered by last glaciation which resulted in greater topography Unique Features Caves and disappearing streams curved river valleys federally endangered snails Conservation Concerns Erosion on MS River Timber harvest which changes hydrology Restoration of bluff prairies through fire Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Not based on counties but ecological features NW Sands Landcover Dry forest grassland barrens Disturbance Regime Fire Species of Concern Buckthorn Invasive Conservation Opportunity Crex Central Sands Landcover Agricultural land Disturbance Regime Water being withdrawn Species of Concern Trout due to streams drying up Conservation Opportunity High capacity wells Lecture 22 December 2 Dairy Industry Largest segment of agriculture more dairy cows per square mile than any other state Ecological Impacts Air quality Production of methane Contamination of waterways Nitrogen and Phosphorous Eutrophication Bottom up process in which algae grows rapidly due to enrichment of nitrogen or phosphorous and then decays to reduce oxygen and cause fish and other aquatic life to die What to do with Manure Spread onto fields as fertilizer Store it Typically not enough room Tanks and ponds can burst or overflow Manure Digesters Biomass digesters produce methane as a byproduct of bacterial decomposition Positives Creates energy out of waste product Negatives Can be subject to explosions and leaks Row Crops Ecological Impacts Fertilizer Runoff Irrigation can draw down water tables Limited habitat for wildlife and pollinators pesticides and herbicides impact non target species SRIPS Project Add strips of prairie between row crops to reduce sediment loss 90 crop 10 strip Realistic project because economically feasible Increase native habitat significant increase in biodiversity with more pollinators and small animals Lecture 23 December 4 Frac Sand Mining Greatest Concern Reduces air quality by putting potential carcinogens into the air Number of Frac Sand Mines Over 100 there s recently been a huge spike High Demand Fracking industry wants the sand Local Economic Benefits Job creation Ecological Implications Noise pollution and destruction of top layer of land Research Hasn t been an opportunity to do extensive research so it s hard to prove negative impacts and stop the operations Metallic Mining High impact because you remove all trees and vegetation Proposed Mining Area in Northern Wisconsin Ecological Impacts Sulfides lower pH in water ways Drainage to Lake Superior Asbestos from minerals going airborne Wisconsin s Soul Politics moving away from environmental concern to ecological concern People don t think much about future impacts of current actions Lecture 24 December 9 Conservation of Large Carnivores Ecological Importance Trophic regulation habitat restoration Globally threatened by human caused mortality and habitat loss Conflicts in a Human Dominated Landscape Conservation Reduce conflict maintain sustainable population improve attitudes increase tolerance Carnivore Management Mitigation Wildlife Value Carnivore Damage Attitude towards Large Carnivores Behavior towards Large Carnivores History of Wolves and Management in Wisconsin Bounties and Protection 1839 1957 Euro American culture predators are varmints 1960 wolves considered extirpated in WI 1960 early 1970 s no evidence of functioning packs 1967 gray wolves in Great Lakes region listed as endangered first endangered species listUSFWS 1975 WDNR State listing of gray wolves endangered 1975 Recolonization 5 packs detected 1979 1978 all gray wolves in contiguous USA listed as endangered except in MN threatened Recovery in Wisconsin Factors that allowed wolves to recolonize are restoration of habitat uptake and abundance of prey species and federal protection Wolf Legislation 1979 statewide monitoring 1989 Recovery plans begin state goal of 350 wolves 2003 to 2012 federally relisted and delisted as endangered species 6 times 2012 lethal management allowed again wolves designated as a game species 2012 2013 First wolf harvest season in Wisconsin Human Wolf Conflict and Perceptions Management and conflict in WI Mosaic landscape in Wisconsin Landscape is fragmented by human use roads farms residential areas etc Wolves maintain broad habitat tolerances Human encounters are inevitable bold wolves Depredations Livestock cattle sheep farm deer etc Bear hunting dogs during training Pets Confirmed or Probable Depredations Very Small Scale but large individual impact Wolf range in Wisconsin Primarily northern Wisconsin WDNR Reponses to Conflicts and Depredations Non lethal control Compensation program Lethal control permits non permitted response Act 169 Wolf Harvest Wolf Hunting and trapping Season 3rd Season ended last Friday 154 killed quota 150 Mid October to Late February Allowed methods Firearm bow and arrow or crossbow Use of dogs to track or trail from Dec 1 last day Predator calls electronic calls Bait Trap Harvest Goals Reduce population to 350 state goal Reduce conflicts and depredations Increase tolerance and improve attitudes for wolves in the state Does a public harvest increase tolerance of