Conservation Biology
Effects of Extinction on Hierarchy of Living Things:When one species is eliminated from its environment, this can have detrimental affects on the rest of the system in which it lives. If the Blanding's Turtle were to be eliminated, this would affect many aspects of its system, including the food chain hierarchy and the populations of various other species. If one species in a food web is removed, the organisms above it that feed on that species will be forced to find other sources of food or starve. The organisms below that species in the food chain hierarchy will become overpopulated because there will no longer be that species feeding on them to keep the population numbers down.
For example, the Blanding's Turtle is an omnivore, meaning that it eats both animals and plants. Blanding's Turtles will eat insect larvae, snails, worms, leeches, crustaceans, tadpoles, and frogs (4). If the Blanding's Turtle were to be eliminated, the populations of these organisms would increase, disrupting the balance in the ecosystem. The turtle population would decrease, resulting in no limiting factors for the populations of other organisms of which these turtles feed on. Some animals that are above the Blanding's Turtle on the food chain include raccoons, foxes, skunks, and various birds (4). If the Blanding's Turtle is a major component of these animals' diets, then if it were to be eliminated, these animals would be forced to seek other sources of food. This would cause the population numbers of other turtles to decrease, because these animals would eat other turtles and perhaps more fish and other reptiles. If the raccoons, foxes, skunks and birds were not able to find other sources of food, they may starve and their population would be in danger. |
Federal Protection:
Because the Blanding's Turtle is considered a threatened species in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence population, as assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), there are a number of acts that have been put in place to protect the many endangered and threatened species in Ontario and Quebec. These acts and their goals and initiatives are outlined below:
Species at Risk Act:
- Adopted in 2002 to complete the National Strategy for the Protection of Species at Risk (7)
- Prevent species at risk in Canada from becoming extinct
- Provide recovery for species that are deemed as threatened, endangered, or extirpated (7)
National Parks Act of Canada:
- Populations are protected under this act if they live in one of Canada's National Parks (14)
- Protects Canada's natural resources and wildlife that are native to Canada
Endangered Species Act:
- Prohibits the harm and harassment of threatened or endangered protected species (12)
- Prohibits the damage or destruction of protected species' habitats (12)
- Provides scientific assessments of species at risk
- Provides tools and education of the effects of human influence on various species
- Outlines a timeline for strategies and plans to recover species at risk
Species at Risk Act:
- Adopted in 2002 to complete the National Strategy for the Protection of Species at Risk (7)
- Prevent species at risk in Canada from becoming extinct
- Provide recovery for species that are deemed as threatened, endangered, or extirpated (7)
National Parks Act of Canada:
- Populations are protected under this act if they live in one of Canada's National Parks (14)
- Protects Canada's natural resources and wildlife that are native to Canada
Endangered Species Act:
- Prohibits the harm and harassment of threatened or endangered protected species (12)
- Prohibits the damage or destruction of protected species' habitats (12)
- Provides scientific assessments of species at risk
- Provides tools and education of the effects of human influence on various species
- Outlines a timeline for strategies and plans to recover species at risk
http://www.speciesatrisk.ca/municipalities/legislation.htm http://fisherynation.com/archives/tag/endangered-species-act
http://www.ronerwin.com/links.php
http://www.ronerwin.com/links.php
Focusing on the Blanding's Turtles in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence population in Ontario and Quebec, there are a number of agencies that are working to protect and enhance the viability of this species at risk. One of these programs and their goals is outlined below:
Blanding's Turtle Head Start Program:
- Collect and incubate up to fifty-five Blanding's Turtle eggs annually (4)
- Eggs are collected from at risk nests
- Young turtles are cared for until they are large enough to survive on their own in the wild (4)
- Provide education to adults and children about the dangers that freshwater turtles in Ontario experience (4)
- Educate people on the importance of preserving wetlands
Action Plan:
Immediate Response and Long-Term Solutions:
The Blanding's Turtle is a very timid species that is sensitive to changes in its environment. This turtle is known for wandering and moving locations, depending on the season (15). The Blanding's Turtle is considered a threatened species, meaning that it will become endangered if immediate protective actions are not taken. Outlined below are some of the following immediate actions and long-term solutions that should be taken into consideration to save this species at risk:
1. Protect Canada's waterways that the Blanding's Turtle calls home. This can be done by avoiding pollution of these waters with plastics and waste products.
2. If a turtle is found on a highway or road and it is believed to be in danger, carefully move it to a safe location nearby. This can be done by gently picking up the turtle by its shell and moving it in the direction it is travelling (14). Changing its direction should be avoided, as this confuses the turtle and could result in its death.
3. Allow more highways to have "Turtle Crossing" signs to force vehicles to stop and look for turtles that may be crossing the road in that location (15). This will help to reduce the road mortality rate for these turtles.
4. Reduce the amount of turtles that are captured and poached for people to enjoy as pets. Because nesting female turtles are most likely to be caught, this will increase the number of eggs laid in the wild and will keep the female turtles of reproductive age within the population.
5. The Blanding's Turtle habitat locations and breeding or nesting locations should be considered when constructing a plan for urban expansion (The Nature Conservancy, 2015). This will ensure that these wetlands and ponds are protected and undisturbed by this development.
6. Become educated on a variety of species at risk in the area. Learn how to help reduce human influence on these declining populations. Learn about how to report a siting and join a local animal rescue team.
The Blanding's Turtle is a very timid species that is sensitive to changes in its environment. This turtle is known for wandering and moving locations, depending on the season (15). The Blanding's Turtle is considered a threatened species, meaning that it will become endangered if immediate protective actions are not taken. Outlined below are some of the following immediate actions and long-term solutions that should be taken into consideration to save this species at risk:
1. Protect Canada's waterways that the Blanding's Turtle calls home. This can be done by avoiding pollution of these waters with plastics and waste products.
2. If a turtle is found on a highway or road and it is believed to be in danger, carefully move it to a safe location nearby. This can be done by gently picking up the turtle by its shell and moving it in the direction it is travelling (14). Changing its direction should be avoided, as this confuses the turtle and could result in its death.
3. Allow more highways to have "Turtle Crossing" signs to force vehicles to stop and look for turtles that may be crossing the road in that location (15). This will help to reduce the road mortality rate for these turtles.
4. Reduce the amount of turtles that are captured and poached for people to enjoy as pets. Because nesting female turtles are most likely to be caught, this will increase the number of eggs laid in the wild and will keep the female turtles of reproductive age within the population.
5. The Blanding's Turtle habitat locations and breeding or nesting locations should be considered when constructing a plan for urban expansion (The Nature Conservancy, 2015). This will ensure that these wetlands and ponds are protected and undisturbed by this development.
6. Become educated on a variety of species at risk in the area. Learn how to help reduce human influence on these declining populations. Learn about how to report a siting and join a local animal rescue team.