Greenhouse gases is a term that a majority of Americans have heard when it comes to climate
change. And though there are deniers of climate change, what cannot be denied is the damage
that is having on the temperature of freshwater streams. The issue isn’t the water in the streams
drying up, but rather the temperature of the streams which in turn effects the way the aquatic
species living in the water. Ecologists are working to determine the causes and effects of the
climate change on these streams in order to better understand how the increase with harm the
streams.
Studies in the past have wrongly shows the effects of greenhouse gases on water
temperature as they did not factor in groundwater inputs, and heavily relied on a small amount of
data samples from large areas. However, new studies have been able to create an accurate model
that accounts for the effect of groundwater when looking to predict climate change.
One of the greatest repercussions that the study
noticed is the effect of the temperature of waters on
freshwater trout populations. Freshwater trout already
face displacement due to deforestations, and because of
the habitat loss, trout are forced to move to places which
do not match their habitats. These waters due not have
the proper temperatures for which the fish need to
thrive. In order to prevent further decline in freshwater
population, ecologists created the previously mentioned
Rainbow Trout
study to be able to predict habitat changes that will
create an accurate forecaster compared to previous approaches.
Ecologists have agreed that the increase in air-temperatures will have a negative effect on
the freshwater ecosystem in the long run. While further research is still necessary in order to
protect these aquatic creatures, these new models have pushed ecologists in the right direction in
being able to accurately predict the timing, locations, and consequences of the water temperature
changes. Understanding these changes will help scientists understand the steps that can be taken
to protect Wisconsin’s aquatic populations.
When a majority of people think of meadows,
they usually think of just a large field of grass
that serves no purpose, but little do they know
meadows do a great service in keeping towns
from being flooded, and so much more.
Meadows are critical to Wisconsin’s
ecosystem.
Meadows are used in order to stop
flooding and to ensure the water quality of
streams. While meadows have found
themselves cleared and replaced by developed
Naturalized Basin
areas, the need for them is become even more
apparent. This is why we have begun developing naturalized basins which have been found to
remove 40-90 percent of non-point source pollutants which can be found in storm water runoff,
which greatly enhances water quality in nearby waterways. Additionally, they do not require
fertilizers and are drought tolerant once established, and only need to be maintained once or
twice a year to control non-native species, and even then most of these treatments need only
happen within the first year of its establishment. They can also be planted with trees and shrubs
in order to increase rainwater infiltration. With this increase, there is less standing water in which
mosquitoes could bread.
In Royersford, PA, these naturalized basins have proven successful in not only helping
the ecosystem thrive, but additionally help discourage their population of Canada geese, which
are typically drawn to large expanses of lawn that usually make up the typical detention basins.
And since 2002, when the township placed two detention buildings in the town, wildflowers such
at New York Ironweed attract butterflies and other desired species.
Take a look at this! It’s a kind of guide on how to deal with defunding of wetlands and how to
fight those changes if something like this ever happens here in Wisconsin!
http://capecod.wickedlocal.com/article/20151124/NEWS/151129490
The reason I chose this article is because it is not only important for us to look at Wisconsin’s
ecosystem, but America’s ecosystem at a whole. And then possibly look at it on a global scale.
This article could encourage other people to become involved in other states programs in order to
help them better themselves.