Challenge 20/20 Presentation

General Information

• Last year:o biodiversity, alternative energy and water

reclamation in post industrial areas • This year:

o Changes in biodiversity within Lake Michigan, specifically in terms of invasive species and low water quality

Borna vs. Milwaukee

• While we found similarities in our cities, we addressed more specific problems within our regiono Borna: Energy Crisis

Transition from coal-mining town to more efficient forms of energy 

o Milwaukee: Pollution of Lake Michigan/Runoff Retention ponds, bio swales, gardens,

underground repositories, urban gardens, rain barrels and green streets

German Exchange Students

• Exchange trip this fall, plus future trips• Simmilarities between our school and those in both

Borna and Leipzig, Germany• Gives us a new perspective on issues that may not

nessisarily be controversial in our area. • Chance to exchange information with teens our age

in a different part of the world

Effects on Native Species    

-Invading species often compete with native ones for the same resources

-Can lead to ousting of native species

-Native and invading species can share a niche

-fundamental to realized niche

-i.e. barnacles

Asian Carp History Native to China and parts of Southeast Asia, the freshwater fish have been cultivated for aquaculture for more than 1,000 years, often raised in submerged rice paddies. Catfish farmers in the U.S. imported Asian carp decades ago to eat up the algae in their ponds. Also, they were imported into the southern United States to keep aquaculture clean and to provide fresh fish for fish markets. Now, the fish have slowly escaped into the wild and have been making their way up the Mississippi River. They are eating machines that can decimate entire ecosystems. Here are the 4 different types of Asian Carp:Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

 

• Harmful to many types of animals because of the Asian carps consumption of low level food chain organisms such as planktono Birdso Insectso turtles

• Consumption of macrophytes andmacroinvertebrates

 

Asian Carp's Effects on Other Fauna

Asian Carp RisksEcological Risks:• rapid range expansion and population increase leads to a decrease of native

mussels and other invertebrates• grass carps can eliminate vast areas of aquatic plants which reduces

recruitment and abundance of native fish• black carp reduces abundance of mussels and snails• silver carp tend to jump out at people and hurt them severely

 Threats to Great Lake: Some people believe that if invasive species of carp enter the Great lakes, the multi-billion dollar recreational fishing and tourism industry will be devastated.If they colonize in the GL, the decline of native fish will hurt the Great Lake communities that depend on fisheries for its economy (fisheries are valued at 4.5 billion dollars annually)Waterfowl production areas are at risk too (hunters spend more than 2.6 billion dollars on their sport in Great Lakes). Asian carp could decrease economic value to communities that benefit from hunting too.

Asian Carp Video

Response Efforts• Increased eDNA (Environmental DNA) monitoring  • An electrical barrier system 

o Due to safety concerns and monetary problems, this barrier is still largely disputed and not operating at full capacity.

• Chemical controls • Fish harvesting 

Effects of biodiversity loss on humans• Vulnerability to natural disasters, global warming

• Already limited, but large amount of species• Rely on freshwater•  Ecosystem Services:

o protection of water resources, pollution, stability, maintenance of ecosystems, recovery

• Biological resources:o food, medicine, breeding stocks, future

resources, diversity• Social benefits

o Research and education, recreation and tourism, cultural values

The Human Element: Why Care?

Ethics: The profit at any cost model used for generations has done irreversable damage to our ecosystems, it is a question of whether or not it is necissary or wise to take of our ecosystems

and the species they harbor. 

Economics:- The initial impact and damaged caused by invasive species, such as zebra mussel or asian carp, can be a great detriment to all aspects of commerce and impair infrastructure.  Quality of Life: Simply put, if

invasive species continue to infiltrate and impact our ecosystems, the quality of nature and living in the surrounding areas will decrease. 

Why 20/20?• Forms bonds with students from across the globe• Gives students from all grades the opportunity to

research a problem they see in their world and attempt to find a solution

• You have a long time to complete the project (due in late January at the earliest, May at the latest)

• Some past projects have really made a difference• FUN! • If interested in getting more information about the

program, talk to Dr. Wend, Ms. Griffin, Mrs. Konkol or Ali Robinson