Day 3 - Invasive Species: Get Dem Dang Pests
Invasive Species problem it addresses:
This project deals with an environmental friendly extraction of the Western Indian Mongoose by using "have-a-heart" traps throughout the rainforest.
Location at EYF:
This extraction will take place at all levels in the El Yunque Forest.
Who benefits from project: (describe)
a. EYF Animals and Plants
Animals at different levels of the food chain will benefit, when the mongoose is extracted as a non-native predator will be eliminated. Also, the mongoose eats berries which will be left for animals. In addition, trees die when the mongoose kills them after living in their hollows. When taken to its ultimate extreme, killing trees, a form of deforestation caused by this predator, increases carbon dioxide in the forest, causing air pollution. Any increase in carbon dioxide resulting from tree loss can contribute to species loss in the forest
b. Visitors
Visitors will benefit because the mongoose is a carrier of rabies, which can infect humans.
c. Puerto Ricans outside EYF
As urbanization encroaches on the forest, the mongooses can easily move into what was intended to be the buffer zone, now full of neighborhoods. Eliminating mongooses removes this dangerous threat outside the Forest, allowing remaining vegetations and animal species to survive in the exterior of the Forest.
Detailed Project Description:
a. What is being created?
This project is a "participation" project, allowing the participants to work with Forest Service Staff to set traps, which will hopefully reduce the number of mongoose in El Yunque Forest. The Forest Service Staff will be able to point out animal and plant species that are the mongooses' prey as the move through the Forest to set the traps, while also searching for evidence that the mongooses have been in certain locations.
In addition, the participants will create brochures and sign postings, in English and in Spanish, describing the mongoose, its habits, and warning visitors of the danger of getting close to them.
b .Describe the outcome and how it addresses the mongoose invasive species problem:
The elimination of some mongooses will hopefully help to eliminate one of the most invasive animal species in the Forest, that negatively impacts the food chain and endangering animals as it preys. Its actions move animals up and down the food chain, where they would not otherwise be. In addition, the elimination of tree-dwelling mongooses will hopefully save many trees, while allowing them to be properly used as habitat for other animals in the Forest.
List different parts of projects that eco-tourists will work on as teams
Each team will have a chance to do all activities:
a. Activity 1: Research mongoose habitat within the Forest and the threats they pose to the Forest ecosystem and to visitors
b. Activity 2: Create brochures and sign posts in English and in Spanish, to warn visitors of the threat the mongooses present.
c. Activity 3: Work with Forest Service Staff to examine the effects of the mongoose throughout the forest, set traps, and participate in spraying trees with eco-friendly repellent in an effort to deter mongooses from making their homes inside the trees.
Skills used:
Research, computer, interview skills, hiking, teamwork
HIGHLIGHT all that apply: (Ecology, sociology, education, economic, political)
Besides their own groups, who else will they work with?
Work with Forest Service staff to set traps, spray trees, conduct interviews.
This project deals with an environmental friendly extraction of the Western Indian Mongoose by using "have-a-heart" traps throughout the rainforest.
Location at EYF:
This extraction will take place at all levels in the El Yunque Forest.
Who benefits from project: (describe)
a. EYF Animals and Plants
Animals at different levels of the food chain will benefit, when the mongoose is extracted as a non-native predator will be eliminated. Also, the mongoose eats berries which will be left for animals. In addition, trees die when the mongoose kills them after living in their hollows. When taken to its ultimate extreme, killing trees, a form of deforestation caused by this predator, increases carbon dioxide in the forest, causing air pollution. Any increase in carbon dioxide resulting from tree loss can contribute to species loss in the forest
b. Visitors
Visitors will benefit because the mongoose is a carrier of rabies, which can infect humans.
c. Puerto Ricans outside EYF
As urbanization encroaches on the forest, the mongooses can easily move into what was intended to be the buffer zone, now full of neighborhoods. Eliminating mongooses removes this dangerous threat outside the Forest, allowing remaining vegetations and animal species to survive in the exterior of the Forest.
Detailed Project Description:
a. What is being created?
This project is a "participation" project, allowing the participants to work with Forest Service Staff to set traps, which will hopefully reduce the number of mongoose in El Yunque Forest. The Forest Service Staff will be able to point out animal and plant species that are the mongooses' prey as the move through the Forest to set the traps, while also searching for evidence that the mongooses have been in certain locations.
In addition, the participants will create brochures and sign postings, in English and in Spanish, describing the mongoose, its habits, and warning visitors of the danger of getting close to them.
b .Describe the outcome and how it addresses the mongoose invasive species problem:
The elimination of some mongooses will hopefully help to eliminate one of the most invasive animal species in the Forest, that negatively impacts the food chain and endangering animals as it preys. Its actions move animals up and down the food chain, where they would not otherwise be. In addition, the elimination of tree-dwelling mongooses will hopefully save many trees, while allowing them to be properly used as habitat for other animals in the Forest.
List different parts of projects that eco-tourists will work on as teams
Each team will have a chance to do all activities:
a. Activity 1: Research mongoose habitat within the Forest and the threats they pose to the Forest ecosystem and to visitors
b. Activity 2: Create brochures and sign posts in English and in Spanish, to warn visitors of the threat the mongooses present.
c. Activity 3: Work with Forest Service Staff to examine the effects of the mongoose throughout the forest, set traps, and participate in spraying trees with eco-friendly repellent in an effort to deter mongooses from making their homes inside the trees.
Skills used:
Research, computer, interview skills, hiking, teamwork
HIGHLIGHT all that apply: (Ecology, sociology, education, economic, political)
Besides their own groups, who else will they work with?
Work with Forest Service staff to set traps, spray trees, conduct interviews.