Ecosystem refers to an area where living things such as plants and animals live and interact with each other as well as with the non living components (example: soil and water) of the environment. Each facet of the ecosystem plays an important part which affects other members of the ecosystem. For instance, while the light and heat of the sun is essential for the growth of plants, animals and other microorganisms in turn depend on these. In this way, all the components of an ecosystem interact and are related to each other. Some examples of an ecosystem include lakes and parks. However, another category of ecosystem is known as the representative natural ecosystem which encompasses an area within a defined boundary that is also a region on its own. The simplest example of a representative natural ecosystem is beaches which are although spread across the globe, but are actually connected with each other (Goldman, 2010).
In relation to a representative natural ecosystem, the Great Lakes is the collection of several freshwater lakes which are not only located in North Eastern North America, but are also found on United States-Canada border. It consists of Lake Superior, Erie, Ontario, Michigan and Huron and is known to form the largest collection of freshwater lakes as it contains approximately 21 percent of the total fresh water. Hence, Great Lakes region comprises of eight US states including Minnesota, New York and more. It also incorporates Ontario; a province of Canada. This region has an identity of its own. As it is around the Great Lakes, it possesses a distinct cultural and economic reputation (Ashizawa, Hicks De Rosa, 2005). The region has long been inhabited by Europeans, French and Americans where a fight over the place continued to exist for long. Finally, in order to expand their territories, the Americans took over the Great Lakes where Canadians were difficult to defeat. Eventually, the area was developed thereby undergoing an agricultural reform which attracted farming, settlement and trade. Regardless of the pace of development and the effort put in, the agricultural progress undermined the natural ecosystem. Consequently, the soil was effected and the vegetation began to wash away resulting in clogged tributaries which disturbed the river flow. As a result, the fish habitats were damaged. Moreover, the increase in surface runoff affected the water level thereby making the region more prone to floods. The agricultural development came with its drawbacks. Pollution, eutrophication, growth of algae, depletion of oxygen, and decay of plants began to increase. With time, the logging operations began here for agriculture and settlement. This eventually led to reforestation and soil erosion. The Great Lake region has faced a number of other issues since the time it was developed. As a matter of fact, these initial developmental issues continue to exist today. This is evident from the decreasing value of commercial fishery which has been affected because of pollution, over fishing and other such issues. The current dire situation of the Great Lake region is also conspicuous via its extinct species and the environmental damage that is being caused by the recreational development and a number of other factors which have been previously highlighted (Ashizawa, Hicks De Rosa, 2005). In this regard, the wood turtle in the Minnesota western region is in quite danger.
The typical wood turtles found in Minnesota are usually of yellow color where the adult turtles have an upper shell having scales which resemble the concentric growth rings as found on a tree. The adult male wood turtle is different from the female turtle on the basis of a wider head, thicker as well as a longer tail having several other distinguishing features. They are found in small as well as medium sized flowing rivers and streams which are usually located near a forest. In Minnesota, these wood turtles are found in agricultural areas present alongside the rivers where as regions with dense vegetation being exposed to sun are the best nesting sites for this specie. The wood turtle is highly dependent on well drained soils as well as proper riverine conditions. The population of wood turtle is at a high risk mainly because of the damaging human activities. For the case of Minnesota where these turtles are found, the population is decreasing because of the decline as well as the fragmentation of habitat. This fall may be attributed to the developments being made in the Great Lake region for agricultural and road construction purposes. Also the streams experience siltation and the area is often hit by floods. Apart from these activities, since wood turtles attract several recreationists, many turtles are adversely affected. While human activities are harmful for the wood turtles, their behaviors often pose a greater risk. For instance, the trash left by people attracts predators that either destroy the nests or eat away the young turtles. In this way, the wood turtle’s reproductive potential is also lowered making them a famous type of threatened species of Minnesota.
The human activity poses direct and indirect threats to turtle habitats. In Minnesota, the region where the wood turtles are present is now being flattened for the purpose of forests. In this way, this development is not only affecting their habitat, but the dampness caused by the farm machines further makes it difficult for the turtles to adapt to the new environment. The growth of real estate and settlement in Minnesota around the prime habitat area of Great Lake region makes it difficult for the wood turtles that usually have to travel due to the fragmented habitat. If this movement is done at the time of nesting, the reproduction is greatly affected resulting in a higher mortality rate. To add into the decline of wood turtle population, trading and selling these attractive species also is a loss for the whole ecosystem (Willoughby et al., 2013).
Therefore, wood turtles are quite vulnerable to the human activity and behavior which is often responsible for harvesting and hunting these species. Wood turtles are becoming extinct and their population is substantially decreasing. Since they require a terrestrial as well as an aquatic habitat, conserving its habitat is of vital importance. Some of the ways in which the habitat and the nesting sites of wood turtles could be conserved include measures such as taking care of sedimentation, controlling the use of pesticides especially at the region where these species are located, and using proper techniques for harvesting. Since wood turtles prefer flowing streams and rivers, channelization should be minimized whereas the amount of wooden debris present in the rivers should be retained and preserved as they help in the process of basking (Buech, 1994). Another important step that could be taken is by limiting construction near the Great Lake region where such extinct species reside. Relocating wood turtles into a suitable place might be an option but would also come with other consequences. Selling and trading wood turtles should be strictly followed by fines and rules that will stop people from getting involved in such illegal practices. In addition, the number of recreationists should also be controlled by setting specific time duration or days for visit. Trashing should be fined and cleaners should be hired. Following such measures along with incorporating several other conservation procedures would greatly control the extinction of wood turtles (Walde et al., 2006).
Thus, damaged habitat, road kills, hunting and trade are amongst the major issues of concern which are decreasing the population of wood turtles that are present in the Upper Great Lake region of Minnesota. Since every component of ecosystem plays an essential role in the balance of the environment and nature, it is important to save this dying specie. Punishing and incorporating fines for illegal trade and trash in regard to the habitat of wood turtle is an important step to restrict damaging human activities (Walde et al., 2006). In addition, measures such as refining agricultural practices, controlling construction of houses and promoting safer practices are important conservation steps that would safeguard the population of wood turtles resulting in a better habitat that would promote life and safety.
REFERENCES
Ashizawa, A. E., Hicks, H. E., & De Rosa, C. T. (2005). Human health research and policy development: experience in the Great Lakes region. International Journal of Hygiene & Environmental Health, 208(1/2), 7-13.
Brooks, R.J., Shilton, C. M., Brown, G. P, & Quinn, N. W. S. (1992). Body size, age distribution, and reproduction in a northern population of wood turtles (Clemmys inscuplta). Canadian Journal of Zoology. 70:462-469
Buech, R. R. (1994). Looking for a few Wood Turtles. The Minnesota Conservation Volunteer 57(334):38-45
Goldman, R. L. (2010). Ecosystem Services: How people benefit from nature. Environment, 52(5), 15-23
Walde, A., Bider, R., Masse, D., Saumure, R, & Titman, R. (2006). Nesting ecology and hatching success of the wood turtle, glyptemys insculpta, Quebec. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 2(1):49-60
Willoughby, J. R., Sundaram, M., Lewis, T. L., & Swanson, B. J. (2013). Population decline in a long lived species: The wood turtle in Michigan. Herpetologica, 69(2), 186-198
