Lotus Corniculatus

1. Where did they come from?

It is thought that the Lotus Corniculatus plant, which is actually a weed, originated in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is thought that it was introduced to North America in the mid 1700’s. It can be valued as an agronomic crop, but if it escapes the cultivation it becomes a quite bothersome weed. Currently it is widespread in Northern America and Southern Canada. It is especially invasive in Ohio. It is very difficult to stop this plant from growing because it can thrive in a wide variety of moisture conditions and soil types. It is frequently found growing in drought conditions and soil that have low fertility. It does not grow well in the shade. 

2. How do they change the local ecosystem? 

The Lotus Corniculatus creates an abundance of bumble bees and butterflies. It can kill off some small insects because some of the natural chemicals it contains. It can also over grow and rapidly spread, killing off other flower types. It can also be used in a positive manner as well. Many farmers use this plant as a supplement for hay for their cattle to eat. It can also be used to replenish dying soil.

3. Do they compete or prey on native plants or animals?

The Lotus Corniculatus creates tangled mats of dense growth. The stem can  grow to be about two feet tall and the roots can be about three feet deep into the ground which makes them hard to uproot. When they start growing they can kill off other plants because they grow in such big clusters and can be very large. Because they are so tall they can also create shade which can kill off other flowers because they are deprived of sunlight.

4. Is anything being done to reduce their impact?

In some areas where these flowers need to be killed there are really only to ways to prevent them from growing. Mowing very frequently keeping the grassy area at two inches or less can prevent the Lotus Corniculatus from growing. If you do decide to use mowing as the method to kill this plant you need to keep the grass at two inches or less for several years, otherwise the plant will just continue to grow. This method of mowing can also be harmful to native plant growing in that region. Another method to keep this plant from growing is spot spraying problematic areas after you have mowed. Usually this mixture contains clopyralid, surfactant, and dye. This combination of chemicals can also affect native plants as well. 

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/birdsfoottrefoil.html

http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=400

http://www.cleanwaterservices.org/content/Documents/Education%20and%20Outreach/Invasive%20Plant%20Handout.pdf

http://www.springerlink.com/content/w6n8263628227341/

http://www.neiu.edu/~jkasmer/Biol498D/Readings/sp04-johnson2003.pdf

http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=5949

Animals are effected by both direct and indirect pollution. Some indirect forms of pollution are the destruction of the ozone layer as well as global warming, which go hand in hand. The destruction of the ozone layer is a major factor in what is causing global warming. The ozone layer absorbs the harmful ultraviolet radiation the sun gives off. This is essential to many living organisms because if these ultraviolet rays were able to reach Earth the radiation would enter the life forms cells and destroy the DNA in the cells. 

Global Warming is also causing the melting of the polar ice caps. This is causing the sea level to rise, the average temperature of the ocean to rise, increased acidification, as well as severe consequences to different marine life and Arctic animals. The rise in acidification is the increase of  acidity of the ocean. This is caused by the levels of CO2 emissions entering the ocean. This will create many problems for marine life. It will make it harder for several different species to form protective shells, it will affect the health of coral reefs, and severely weaken the health of marine calcifiers (marine snails). 

The melting of the polar ice caps is destroying the habitat of polar bears and ice dependent seals. The ice is a critical part if their habitat. It’s what they fish from, and live off of. If the all of the ice melts it is very likely that these animals will become extinct. 

VIDEO

http://www.ehow.com/about_5292091_pollutions-effects-animals.html

http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/ozone.htm

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/polarregions.html

Plastic in the Ocean

             Everyone knows that littering is very harmful to environment, but one thing that can be forgotten is where the trash might end up. The trash that you might so carelessly throw out your window could very well end up in the ocean, and cause the death of several different kinds of marine life.

            One of the most deadly kinds of trash that enters our ocean is plastic. Plastic unlike paper and cloth takes 400 years to biodegrade, and often sits on top of the water. Some of the common plastic that enters the ocean is plastic bags, plastic pellets, and drifting nets. These three things have very different effects on different animals. Plastic bags can appear to sea animals like sea turtles as jellyfish and when they go to eat them the bags can clog their intestines depriving their bodies of basic nutrients and eventually killing them. Plastic pellets appear as fish eggs floating on top of the water. Birds in turn will dive for and eat the pellets. Birds can also get caught in the drifting nets. Fisherman to catch fish uses drifting nets. When birds get caught up in them they can either starve to death or drown. When birds are caught in the nets and cut free this can create new problems. The bird could get caught in a tree or their legs and wings can get stuck. Mammals like seals and whales sometimes play with plastic. This can create huge gashes in their flesh, which they can die from. Seals often get the plastic stuck on their necks, which can cause strangulation. 

             As you can see trash in the ocean can create severe consequences for the marine wildlife. So next time  you think about throwing your trash out just remember there are other animals out there that could greatly suffer.

http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/kamaral/plasticsarticle.html

Oil Spills and Wildlife.

As many people know if oil enters any body of water it is going to have a great effect on the on wildlife living in and around the body of water. What most people do not realize is that it is estimated that “706 million gallons of waste oil enters the ocean every year, with over half coming from land drainage and waste disposal. Offshore drilling and production operations and spills or leaks from ships or tankers typically contribute less than 8 percent of the total. The remainder comes from routine maintenance of ships (nearly 20 percent), hydrocarbon particles from onshore air pollution (about 13 percent), and natural seepage from the sea floor (over 8 percent).” (Oil Spills: Impact on the Ocean)

There are many immediate effects of an oil spill . For example oil spills have the potential to wipe out entire species of fish. When a large amount of a species of fish are extinct or almost extinct this has many effects of both humans and other wildlife. Fish are of great importance to the food chain. They essential to other aquatic life as well as land dwelling animals, like birds. One of the main problems with oil spills is the aquatic life that manages to live through is often effected by many long term problems. One of the most devastating is the oils effect on the reproductive systems. When oil is first spilled into the ocean it floats on the surface of the water, this effects many smaller organisms, like plankton, that fish feed off of. It also kills any fish eggs that also float on the surface of the water. Many other animals can become contaminated by eating other animals that are contaminated. SInce the reproductive systems are damaged the animals that are close to becoming extinct can not populate the area. 

When birds and animals that have fur come in contact with the animals it kills the fur and feathers ability to insulate the animal. Which can cause many of them to die from hypothermia. Oil can also cause a bird to lose their ability to fly and their buoyancy, which hinders their ability to be able to land in the water, which cam cause the bird to drown. Animals with fur and feathers often try to clean the oil off of themselves by licking themselves. This causes the animal to directly ingest  the oil. This can cause the animal to die immediately. But f it doesn’t it  will effect the animals main organs eventually causing death. Animals like seals and sea lions can ingest the oil well they’re breathing, resting at shore, or by eating other contaminated species. 

Some long term effects on birds and mammals  are things like suppression to the immune system, skin irritation, organ damage, adrenal system damage, and damage to the behavior of the animal. Of all these effects can eventually cause death. 

Oil spills have no positive effect on wildlife or any body of water. Many of the spills can be prevented. As long as people who own boats and cars dispose of the oil properly that will help greatly reduce the oil that enter the ocean yearly. Common people  can’t be responsible for big oil spills like B.P. Oil spill, but we can help. We can help by helping rescuing animals, and with the overall cleanup. As long as everyone does there part we can reduce our out put.

                                      Gulf Oil spill Killing Thousands of Animals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHNtcqksWwg

http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/pollution-effects.html

http://alaska.fws.gov/media/unalaska/Oil%20Spill%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf