Transcript Challenge_20_20_Presentation (1) - challenge2020usm

Challenge 20/20 Presentation
The University School of Milwaukee
General Information
• Last year:
o Biodiversity, alternative energy and water reclamation in
post industrial areas
• This year:
o Changes in biodiversity within Lake Michigan, specifically
in terms of invasive species and low water quality
Borna vs. Milwaukee
• While we found similarities in our cities, we addressed more
specific problems within our region
o Borna: Energy Crisis
 Transition from coal-mining town to more efficient
forms of energy
o Milwaukee: Pollution of Lake Michigan/Runoff
 Retention ponds, bio swales, gardens, underground
repositories, urban gardens, rain barrels and green
streets
German Exchange Students
• Exchange trip this fall, plus future trips
• Simmilarities between our school and those in both Borna
and Leipzig, Germany
• Gives us a new perspective on issues that may not
nessisarily be controversial in our area.
• Chance to exchange information with teens our age in a
different part of the world
Effects on Native Species
• Invading species often compete
with native ones for the same
resources
• Can lead to ousting of native
species
• Native and invading species can
share a niche
• fundamental to realized niche
o e.g. barnacles
Asian Carp History
• Native to China and other parts of Southeast Asia
• Have been cultivated for aquaculture for more than 1,000 years
• Catfish farmers in the U.S. imported Asian carp to eat up algae
o were also imported into the southern United States to keep aquaculture
clean and to provide fresh fish for fish markets
• Now, the fish have slowly escaped into the wild and have been making their
way up the Mississippi River.
• They are eating machines that can decimate entire ecosystems.
Here are the 4 different types of Asian Carp:
Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)
Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
Asian Carp's Effects on Other Fauna
• Harmful to many types of animals because of
the Asian carps consumption of low level food chain
organisms such as plankton
o Birds
o Insects
o turtles
o etc.
• Consumption
of macrophytes and
macroinvertebrates
Asian Carp Risks
Ecological Risks:
• can decrease of native mussels and other invertebrates
• can reduce recruitment and abundance of native fish
• black carp reduce abundance of mussels and snails
• silver carp tend to jump out at people and hurt them severely
Threats to Great Lake:
Some believe that if invasive species of carp enter the Great Lakes, the multibillion dollar recreational fishing, hunting and tourism industry will be
devastated
• can hurt Great Lake communities that depend on fisheries for its economy
(fisheries are valued at 4.5 billion dollars annually)
• can decrease economic value to communities that benefit from hunting
Asian Carp Video
Response Efforts
• Increased eDNA (Environmental DNA) monitoring
• An electrical barrier system
o Due to safety concerns and monetary problems, this
barrier is still largely disputed and not operating at full
capacity.
• Chemical controls
• Fish harvesting
Effects of biodiversity loss on humans
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Vulnerability to natural disasters, global warming
Already limited, but large amount of species
Rely on freshwater
Ecosystem Services:
o protection of water resources, pollution, stability,
maintenance of ecosystems, recovery
• Biological resources:
o food, medicine, breeding stocks, future resources,
diversity
• Social benefits
o Research and education, recreation and tourism,
cultural values
Why Should We Care?
Economics:
• Impacts infrustructure
• Organisms (such as the
Zebra Mussel) can cause
direct damage to industry
• Decrease of Fishing and
Tourism industries
Ethics:
• Billions Spent in
• Is the preservation of property rights and
Remediation and
free trade worth the destruction of our
Prevention
ecosystems
o Politicians from both sides of the
political spectrum criticise the use of
tax-payer money for something they
falsly percieve as threat-less.
Why 20/20?
• Forms bonds with students from across the globe
• Gives students from all grades the opportunity to research a
problem they see in their world and attempt to find a solution
• You have a long time to complete the project (due in late
January at the earliest, May at the latest)
• Some past projects have really made a difference
• Shows students that they have the power, as teenagers, to
help their communities as well as those around the world
• It is an incredibly fun, while rewarding, experience