After watching the National Geographic Strange Days on Planet Earth I am in somewhat of a state of awe. Before watching these two movies, I had known that predators were crucial to the prosperity of ecosystems, but I had no idea the extensive role they played. The impact of human expansion on ecosystems is often much more destructive than anyone could ever imagine. As with everything else in life, moderation is the key.
Each ecosystem is a delicate balance of predators and prey. It was mind blowing to see the contrast between Guri before the flood and Lake Guri shortly after. The flood following the damming of the Caroni River drove the majority of the large predators normally occupying the valley to higher ground. As the waters continued to rise, species such as the iguana and the howler monkey found refugee on the small island now surrounded by Lake Guri. Without the predatory animals to keep the species ecosystem in balance, the island became over populated creating a scarcity of food.
In the 1930s, wolves across the United States were hunted to near extinction. These top predators not only created a meal for an array of different species, but also allowed the vegetation in the surrounding areas to flourish. Without the wolves to maintain the amount of Elk in Yellowstone, the willows and aspen trees were overgrazed and nearly destroyed. Although wolves can be a nuisance to farmers and ranchers, they are crucial to the success of ecosystems like that of Yellowstone National Park.
One of the most shocking things this video showed me was the connection between the seafood consumed in 1st world countries, such as Europe, and the destruction of plains predators in 3rd world countries. There is so much that is effected by overfishing or overhunting that is nearly impossible to account for all of the damage, but with increasing technology and research efforts, we may be able to salvage our planet from its downward spiral!
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