Excerpt...
"After all, nativeness is just one environmental value, and arguably not as important as preventing extinctions and preserving biodiversity. In some cases we can best serve biodiversity by leaving the non-natives alone or even—brace yourself, now—introducing them on purpose."
"This is the thinking behind, for example, installing the Aldabra tortoise on the islands of Mauritius. The islands lost their own large tortoises, and the fruiting plants that formerly had their seeds moved around by these fruit-loving reptiles have been on the decline. A tortoise that's related to the island's large tortoises—a non-native from the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean that was intentionally introduced in 2004—is now handling some of that work."
"This is the thinking behind, for example, installing the Aldabra tortoise on the islands of Mauritius. The islands lost their own large tortoises, and the fruiting plants that formerly had their seeds moved around by these fruit-loving reptiles have been on the decline. A tortoise that's related to the island's large tortoises—a non-native from the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean that was intentionally introduced in 2004—is now handling some of that work."
17 comments:
Some people believe that anything done by humans is by definition unnatural and less than desirable. What is the difference between a bird or piece of drift wood carrying a species to a new location and a human doing the same thing?
I expect that nearly all species, like all humans, started out somewhere else on the planet and moved to their current location, and will continue doing so. Every plant and animal species that dominates an area, likely displaced others that were there first. This is natural. This idea that change is bad if it happens now is unscientific, illogical, and one of the basic problems with the theory of Global Warming.
I like turtles.
Turtle colonialism is the worst because it's so goddamned slow.
Couldn't they find any Mexican turtles?
The trans lesbian turtles won't speak to the cis-female turtles.
I'm verklempt.
"The islands lost their own large tortoises..."
Turtles are always in the last place you look.
And just how big is that island anyway?
Or is it like the one-sock-in-the-drier thing, gone forever?
"What should be done with the wattle-necked softshell turtles on the Hawaiian island of Kauai?"
Have them get gay-married.
Automatic endless gubmint protection.
Or maybe not call it a wattle neck.
Just say it's an Ascot.
Much more sophisticated.
Hawaii would be a barren bunch of rocks without non-native species.
It's only per se BAD if human beings introduce the non-native species.
I'm Not From Here, I just Live Here - James McMurtry
I'm not from here
I just live here
grew up somewhere far away
come here thinking I'd never stay long
I'd be going back soon someday
it's been a few years
since I got here
seen 'em come and I've seen 'em go
crowds assemble, they hang out awhile
then they melt away like an early snow
I wish the French hadn't brought dandelions and starlings here.
On the other hand, I'm glad they brought their fries, toast, and kisses.
Couldn't they find any Mexican turtles?
Only if you look in the US.
I'd agree but for KUDZU!
Re: Pogo's I like turtles post at 2:03 PM.
Why didn't that perky broadcasterette have a comeback or even miss a beat when the zombie kid said "I like turtles." I'll tellya why. Because she didn't hear him. I mean she heard him but since his "I like turtles" didn't fit the narrative, wasn't bland and banal...why, it didn't happen. Thus is genius crushed. Okay, discouraged.
To void plagiarism...I( say Bagh20 nails it right here. Period. Full Stop.
bagoh20 said...
Some people believe that anything done by humans is by definition unnatural and less than desirable. What is the difference between a bird or piece of drift wood carrying a species to a new location and a human doing the same thing?
I expect that nearly all species, like all humans, started out somewhere else on the planet and moved to their current location, and will continue doing so. Every plant and animal species that dominates an area, likely displaced others that were there first. This is natural. This idea that change is bad if it happens now is unscientific, illogical, and one of the basic problems with the theory of Global Warming.
July 25, 2014 at 1:42 PM
Speaking as someone who has spent a lifetime wandering wildernesses and wood lands and time with more animals than I can count. I will never understand why so many people make nature more complicated than it is...when Bagh20 can say define it in a couple simple paragraphs.
HERE is an example of man bringing nature back naturally....both are acquaintances in the rockies and long time qualified naturalists, one a long time professional photographer, in a large part responsible for much preservation in Alaska, such as wolves in Denali and the McNeil River Bears. And yes, I was sponsor at a the $250 level. Aridog sponsors butterflies...who the flip would ever guess?
PS: I'd make an exception for Kudzu too :)
Post a Comment