Thought this might be of interest to the list. Those wildlife harmed include a
sustainable farmer's friends, the birds (that eat insects), the pollinators, and
likely other natural helpers, natural predators, the self-balancing natural
mechanism itself, etc....
And, on the other side, pesticides are one of the things contributing to the
harmful process of global warming, like Methyl Bromide (as well, of course, as
driving, air pollution, etc.).
Sometimes I sigh when I see how the inter-related assaults on the environment
harm us all, both directly and long-term, and about how many "fronts" there are.
And yet, it's only with a healthy ecosystem that we will all survive...
Hope you find this info interesting....
P. Dines
--- FORWARD---
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 96 18:42:14
To: sc-action@igc.apc.org
From: sf.moderator@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
Subject: SC-Action #299 - Who's Who of Enviro Heroes
<OUTTAKE:>
IN THE AIR: New Studies Show Global Warming Affects Fish, Fowl
and Butterflies
Warming Threatens Freshwater Fish Populations
The EPA just issued the results of a study on the impacts of
global warming on freshwater fish. The conclusion: changing
climate could have drastic impacts on freshwater fish species.
The study found that a 2.5 degree Celsius rise in average
temperatures over coming decades could devastate cold water fish
species such as trout and salmon. Maine, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Ohio, and Indiana could lose up to 100
percent of their rainbow trout populations. Brook trout could
vanish entirely from Utah, Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and
Massachusetts.
Already threatened salmon populations in the west and northwest
would also suffer. The chum salmon would probably disappear from
California, as would the pink salmon in Idaho. A total of 24
states could expect to lose 50 to 100 percent of their cold water
fish populations. Cool water fish, such as walleye, pike, and
muskie would also be severely impacted.
Climate Change Also Threatens Birds, Butterflies
At a separate Congressional Staff Briefing scientists detailed
studies which show that global warming is already affecting
butterflies and migratory birds.
One study focused on Edith's Checkerspot Butterfly. It found
that colonies of the butterfly had slowly moved north and higher
in elevation over the last 100 years, consistent with predictions
of global warming. In fact, butterfly populations at the
southern end of the species' range were 4 times more likely to go
extinct than populations in the north. Butterflies depend on
more than just suitable temperature to survive. If the plants on
which they depend for food are unable to shift to cooler areas,
or can't shift fast enough, both could disappear.
The study was carefully controlled to eliminate any possibility
that factors such as habitat loss and pollution had affected the
results.
The third study involved migrating birds and how temperature
affects their movements. It found that both the ranges and
abundance of many birds shift regularly in concert with
temperature changes. It went on to detail the arrival date of
one particular species of bird, the red wing blackbird, at a site
in northern Michigan. Drawing on a 36 year record, it found that
the birds have been arriving earlier and earlier every year, and
now appear 21 days earlier than they did in 1960.
While this may not present an immediate problem for the
blackbird, other species could be drastically impacted. Birds
that depend on fixed sources of food to ?refuel? on their journey
north in the spring would be hardest hit. An example is the a
millions of shore birds that arrive at the Delaware Bay
every spring to feed on the eggs that are left the horseshoe crabs
that arrive at the same time. The bird's feed in order to build
up energy and complete their migration northwards. If the birds
arrive early because of higher temperatures, but the crabs mating
cycle is unchanged, shorebird populations could be devastated.
Don't Confuse Me With The Facts
As the mountain of evidence that global warming is already
occurring continues to grow, some members of Congress still don't get it.
Dismissing concerns about global warming as liberal claptrap,
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and his friends in Congress voted
last year to cut funding for research into renewable energy,
freeze fuel economy standards for new cars and trucks, and even
restrict the EPA from researching climate change. Unlike many
environmental issues, the push to ignore global warming and
sacrifice our children's future was led by coalition of
Republicans and a number of powerful Democrats.
Perhaps these and other new studies documenting the onset of
global warming will change Congress don't confuse me with the
facts mentality about global warming.