Victoria Zhou
March 9, 2014
Author: Brent McDonald
Published: March 5, 2014
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/us/minnesota-mystery-whats-killing-the-moose.html?_r=0
Summary:
Moose all over Minnesota are dying quickly and alarmingly. In the past couple of years, the population has shrunken so much so as to inspire a cancellation of the annual moose hunt in Minnesota in 2012. Recently, the population has been recovering slightly, but the moose are still dying two times faster than what is necessary to keep a population going. The decline of the moose have also been noted in places such as New Hampshire and Montana. Biologists and researchers have been tagging and tracking many moose in the area, so that they can know when one has died, locate it, and find a cause of death. There is still no direct answer as to why the moose are dying out, but one main reason seems to be climate change. There has been notably shorter winters and warmer temperatures all over southern moose habitat and this has been known to cause moose stress, as they tend to do better in cooler climates, which in turn weakens their immune systems. The warmer temperatures have also allowed white-tailed deer to become more plentiful. White-tailed dear carry brain worm, a parasite, which is deadly to moose. This combination is a likely reason as to why the moose may be dying. Although, there are other possible factors even things such as the actual tagging and tracking of the moose. Research and tracking is still going on as biologists rush to figure out the killer and a way to stop it.
Connection:
In this term, we will be studying animals and particularly worms and vertebrates. Moose are vertebrates and it is also mentioned that one possible reason for their many deaths are brain worms, which are obviously worms. White-tailed deer are mentioned as well as carriers of brain worms and they are also vertebrates. Previously, we studied ecology and relationships between animals. This article highlights how the growth of one population, white-tailed deer, which carries a parasite, brain worms, affects the numbers of another population, moose. This shows another relationship between moose and white-tailed deer besides just competition for resources, which we learned about in out ecology unit.
Have the moose adapted any strategies to survive in the warmer climate? If so, how?
ReplyDeleteHow will the death of these moose affect the other organisms around it?
ReplyDeleteWolves who usually prey on some moose in the area may have a population decrease as well because one of their initial food sources is dwindling. Moose also browse shrubs and undergrowth which create nice habitats for nesting birds, and the decrease of moose will affect them in that there are less apt nesting areas. Moose also have competition with other herbivores in the area such as deer. The decrease in moose would imply more food available for these herbivores and their numbers would likely go up.
Delete