Tryjanowsky, P., Sparks, T.H., Jerzak, L., Rosin, Z.M., Skorka, P. 2013. A paradox for conservation: electricity pylons may benefit avian diversity in intensive farmland. Conservation Letters.
Available online:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/conl.12022/abstract;jsessionid=33E7AA9B53D37C9F731A9DAE75BC913D.d01t01
Humans don’t have to ruin EVERYTHING!
Over most of the semester, the feeling in the class has
been, well if we didn’t screw it up in the first place, we would not have to
fix it! Here is a case that shows that our development isn’t necessarily
negative for every species.
Just this year, scientists in Poland did a study to show how
bird biodiversity was impacted in areas near power lines. These giant power
poles, also called pylons, are thought to be an ugly human interference, that
get in the way of the natural beauty. In 2011, these Polish scientists did a
study to determine if this was actually so.
During the study, Tryjanowski et al. Counted nesting bird
populations twice in 2011under pylons, under electricity high-voltage
power-lines and in adjacent open fields. Both species number and bird abundance
were significantly higher under pylons and under power lines at control points
than in open fields. This could be because the birds prefer the habitat that
has been altered by humans around these sites. Some bird species also use the
poles themselves as nesting structures, or song posts. Bird abundance was even
higher in areas around the pylons where the vegetation was allowed to develop
into shrubs.
Although we typically associate human behaviour with
destruction – destroying everything in our paths – this case demonstrates that
sometimes man made structures are actually beneficial to wildlife. (Even if
this may not be intentional!)
So there you go, not all of the repercussions for our
consumerist needs are destructive!
Word Count: 300
Love this post! We aren't so bad after all... :)
ReplyDelete(However, if we didn't take their natural habitat in the first place, would they still like them as much?)
Shhh....
DeleteJust kidding. Well, we are consumers. And need food, therefor need farmland. And we aren't going to stop. So its good to see that there are some things that actually like us disturbing the natural habitat a bit!
Nice story, makes sense. But the birds that like the power poles are probably different from the ones that liked whatever was there before the power poles, right? The argument would be that we should worry about what was there in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteNice, I definitely like the idea. I almost did the exact same story as you! :D
ReplyDeleteThis is cool! Nice post Emily.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mitch. I still feel like we ruin everything. I always thought pylons around here looked like giant metal people that could potential walk around one day.
ReplyDeleteWe do ruin everything, but I like the positivity. Good post Emily! :)
ReplyDeletethese adjacent open fields, were they altered by people or were they natural meadows? if they were altered too, maybe it's better to say that some human alterations to the environment are better than others
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic
ReplyDeleteNeat :)
ReplyDeleteHumans aren't so bad after all I guess. I still think humans destruct way too much though!
ReplyDeleteI suppose humans have their uses afterall!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! But ya, a couple questions come up from it...the area was probably not a natural meadow before (maybe?), so I wonder if these are species that are capitalizing on new habitats. Perhaps the old residents are no longer there? But...still a cool study and a nice high note to end on!
ReplyDeleteJeez, we've all become so jaded! Haha.
I definitely feel jaded :(
DeleteI also still feel like the issues stem from the fact that our population has grown so big that we are displacing almost everything else on the planet. Perhaps if our population was kept in check by another predator ( like a t-rex!) we might maintain a more ecologically friendly status in the world-wide ecosystem