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Background Information

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An ecosystem is a system/group of interconnected elements formed by the interaction of a community of organisms, with their environment. We have about four ecosystems in Colorado. Pinyon-Juniper woodlands, Montane Conifer Forest, Subalpine Forest, and the Alpine Tundra. All of these are forest ecosystem. The main environment is mountain forestay. Ash trees are more common in the Pinyon-Juniper and the Montane Conifer forest. The Pinyon-Juniper woodlands lies at the very northeastern edge of the range of the Pinyon-Juniper ecosystem, which covers large areas of the four corner states. Plants that live here are the Pinyon pine and the single seed Juniper. Characteristic wildlife is the mountain lion, coyote, mule deer, ash-throated flycatcher, pinyon jay, Western scrub jay, bushtit mouse, and the chipping sparrow. As you move higher in to the mountains, above 6,500 feet in elevation, the cooler temperatures allow larger trees to grow. Conifers tend to dominate cold dry areas around the world, including the Colorado mountains. Ponderosa Pine and Douglass fir can also be found here. Ponderosa pine normally grow on the south face as the Douglass fir conquers the north.

 

A food chain/web/pyramid is a diagram that shows the relationship between prey and predators. For example, a bunny would be a primary consumer and a blade of grass is a primary producer. An owl is a secondary consumer because they eat animals. A coyote is a tertiary consumer. A tertiary consumer is at the top because nothing eats it. We have more primary producers than any other part on the food chain because they get their energy from the sun. So, they get more energy which means they are more abundant. Also, they have the most because everything else gets its energy from them.

 

What is an invasive species?

 An invasive species is a plant or animal that meets these four criteria. It is non-native, introduction can cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health, it is a plant, animal, or an organism. The last one is humans are usually the primary cause of the invasive species being introduced. Some examples of invasive species in Colorado are the yellow toad flax, Northern pike, and the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Invasive species effect the environment because they make the food chain unstable which could affect the rest of the food chain.

 

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is small, green, and has small limbs. Originally from North Eastern Asia. The EAB is an invasive species because it shows the four traits of invasive species. The adult Emerald Ash borers are not the problem, their larva is the problem. The larva eats the phloem and the cambium of the ash trees. This kills the trees because it cuts off the water supply to the tree. The EAB is a primary consumer, and it is eaten by woodpeckers. It is smaller than a penny, it measures about 8.5 mm or ½ in.

 

Impact of EAB

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is very dangerous. It kills the ash trees and we will have less air. 15% of our urban trees are ash, because of the EAB larva. This is important because trees use the process photosynthesis, which changes CO2 into oxygen. The larva are laded o the bark and then burrow into the tree eating away the phloem and the cambium. The larva infects the ash trees. The EAB larva are a large threat to our environment

 

Invasive species impacts a food chain by taking away or adding a plant or animal. After that the food chain falls apart. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) affects the ecosystem in Colorado by killing off ash trees which could lead to overgrowing of other plants. This could lead to animals not being able to get enough food because the overgrown plants would lead to not enough sunlight for other plants that the animals eat. An example is the Banded Ash Clearwing Moth. The moth only eats ash trees so the EAB would take away it’s food. In Black Forest the number of IPS beetles to grow, which is similar to what is happening with the EAB and the ash trees. The EAB has started to invade Colorado, killing off the ash tree population. This could lead to more erosion because there would be less tree roots to hold the soil in place. It could also lead to wild fires starting and spreading more quickly because of the dead trees.

 

Action Plan

Step 1: Decide if your ash tree is worth saving, otherwise get it removed

Step 2: Check your tree’s diameter; if it is greater than 15 in. call a professional, if it is less than 15 in. you can treat it yourself

Step 3: If your ash tree is showing signs of infection. Get it checked by a professional

Step 4: Don’t move ash wood unless you are a professional

 

The Emerald Ash borer (EAB) could adapt to steps 1 or 4 because even if the ash trees are cut down the EAB could still spread or continue to feed off of the tree. It shows natural selection because only the EABs that eat the dead trees would could survive and pass on the trait.