Impact on Ontario
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Ontario is a large province situated in Eastern Canada that borders The Great Lakes. It is home to one of the world's few remaining deciduous forests, and is currently threatened by an invasive species of moth called the Gypsy Moth. This unwanted insect is destroying forests by eating trees and shrubs, and is spreading more rapidly than we can control. Many states and provinces have failed to see the seriousness of this moth, and until proper measures are taken it will continue to spread all throughout North America.
Just how does this moth impact us? It's destroying the habitat of countless other species and the trees which we use for logging. These forests were already threatened by humans due to overpopulation, pollution, and urban development, and now they have a pest that is only speeding up the destruction. When trees die after being eaten, any animals who had a nest in the tree, fed on the leaves, or simply needed it for habitat cover are now at a disadvantage. Ecosystems are very delicate things, and simply pulling one thing from a food chain can cause the rest to collapse.
The Gypsy Moths are prey for some bird species such as the blue-jay, black-capped chickadee, and robin, and also for small mammals such as the white-footed mouse and shorttail shrew. Unfortunately, they are not a major food in any of these animals' diets and are only consumed occasionally, meaning that they're not relied on as food enough to decrease their population or compensate for their rapid spread.
The Gypsy Moths are prey for some bird species such as the blue-jay, black-capped chickadee, and robin, and also for small mammals such as the white-footed mouse and shorttail shrew. Unfortunately, they are not a major food in any of these animals' diets and are only consumed occasionally, meaning that they're not relied on as food enough to decrease their population or compensate for their rapid spread.
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How sensitive are food chains?
Look at the food chain in the picture. If you were to remove an animal or plant such as the Perch (the second lowest fish), it would cause the rest to crumble. The Pike's food source would be cut in half and result in many dying out, and the Bleak population would grow uncontrollably because there's nothing consuming it and keeping the population at a stable amount. The increase of the Bleak would cause more of the Shrimp to be consumed more, making its population sink and then many of the Bleak would tarve due to lack of food.
As you can see, there are an endless amount of impacts that occur just by a species being taken out or a change in the population. Imagine how this would affect Ontario's forests if most of the the trees were suddenly killed. This is the risk of having Gypsy Moths living not only this province, but the rest of North America.
Osprey (Top), Northern Pike (Second Highest), Perch (Middle), Bleak (Second Lowest), and the Shrimp (Bottom).
Look at the food chain in the picture. If you were to remove an animal or plant such as the Perch (the second lowest fish), it would cause the rest to crumble. The Pike's food source would be cut in half and result in many dying out, and the Bleak population would grow uncontrollably because there's nothing consuming it and keeping the population at a stable amount. The increase of the Bleak would cause more of the Shrimp to be consumed more, making its population sink and then many of the Bleak would tarve due to lack of food.
As you can see, there are an endless amount of impacts that occur just by a species being taken out or a change in the population. Imagine how this would affect Ontario's forests if most of the the trees were suddenly killed. This is the risk of having Gypsy Moths living not only this province, but the rest of North America.
Osprey (Top), Northern Pike (Second Highest), Perch (Middle), Bleak (Second Lowest), and the Shrimp (Bottom).