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Background Information

 

The ecosystem is a system, or a group of interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment. In Colorado Springs we have about eight ecosystems. Here are some examples in Colorado Springs: Alpine Tundra, Grassland, Riparian Zone, Woodland, Pinyon- Juniper woodland, Montane conifer Forest, Subalpine, and Shrub land of plains, and we have forests, with plants and animals like: Tree’s, berry bushes, buffalo grass, buffalo, deer, and bears. The Alpine Tundra has similar animals except for elk, wild flowers, turkey, bees, and sometimes wolves. 

 

The definition of food chain is a series of plants and animals killing each other. Primary consumers have the most, plant getting eaten by animals in the food chain. The reason the plants are the most abundant is as long as there is sun the can eat/grow. It is important to have all the categories because if all the plants die, the hole food chain will fall apart. The energy flows through the food chain by one thing eating one another, as one thing eats a plant, then that animal gets eaten then that animal gets eaten which sends energy to one another. As the plants get sun it grows and as it gets eaten another animal grows.

Example: It goes sun->plant->animal1->animal2->animal3 then repeat.

 

Emerald Ash Borers are a harmful invasive species to the environment. They have a green rectangular body and six legs and are the size of a cooked grain of rice. The EAB came from Asia and was transported to America through fire wood some fire wood can be infested with EAB and that’s one of the easiest ways to spread the EAB. Emerald Ash Borers larvae drill holes and eats the inside of ash trees. Sometimes Emerald Ash Borers get moved to other countries by people using ash trees as shipping containers. So, when the person puts it in another country, the wood could be infested with Emerald Ash Borers. Whatever you do, do not move infested firewood.

 

An invasive species is any living thing that is harmful to the environment and human health but some nonnative species are not harmful. Common carp, zebra mussels, red lion fish, and Burmese pythons are harmful invasive species. There are also many other harmful invasive species. It is best not to move any invasive animals or plants to any other countries. If you do it, it could spread harmful invasive species and becomes even more of a major issue.

Impact of E.A.B.

 

If the EAB comes to Colorado Springs the ecosystem will be ok. It will have a smaller impact on our urban Ash trees. It might help the potations of plants and animals in Colorado Springs to live especially those who would benefit from more sunlight. It might hurt the animals the need ash trees for the food.

 

If we had an invasive species in our ecosystem everything would change. If we took a lion and added it to our food chain it will have a large effect. “I guess you can say it chain-g the food chain” The lion will outcome peat the top predators. The food chain will fall, there will be very few predators left in the ecosystem. Most for the pray will leave or go extinct. If we had the E.A.B. (Emerald Ash Borer) was In Colorado it would have a big effect. The E.A.B.’s Larva is the biggest threat to our ecosystem. The larva eats a circle inside the tree, that cuts off the flow of nutrients to the rest of the tree which kills the tree. The larva only eats ash trees which is bad for Colorado. Most of Colorado’s trees are ash trees. There is a beetle in black forest that is booming right now that beetle is called Ips. Ips beetles are super small, they eat and kill trees. The beetles are so small six adult beetles can go in to one 1inch branch to mate. The Ips beetles only like the branches of the tree.

 

Action Plan

Do not try to save your ash trees with half the leaves. Instead, cut them down so they do not infect other trees. Trees with most of their leaves you can try to save. If the tree is 15inches or leas you can apply the insecticide by yourself. If it is bigger than 15 inches call a professional. The next step is to keep ash tree/wood in the area that it is. If you do you can be moving E.A.B. (Emerald Ash Borer) to new/different locations.

 

The EAB might survive in our action steps by adapting to be able to movie further. The EAB can scatter everywhere or spread by getting to other ash trees quicker. EAB will survive because it’s eating the ash trees. The ash trees can make them survive in the northeast without dying. An example of natural selection is the EAB can adapt to survive poison from the ash borer trees. To be survive the EAB overcomes the poison. The EAB who are able to survive the poison will be the only EAB left. They will be able to reproduce, which is part of the process of natural selection.