On the subject of Predator-Free NZ. Is the crucial role of predators relevant to NZ? There is for every island an equilibrium. Species themselves may change as some become extinct and new ones arrive but equilibrium is always achieved in nature. Islands represent simplified and exaggerated versions of exactly those evolutionary processes that occur on mainlands. Whether mainland or islands, we are currently in ecosystem decay caused by non-equilibrium insular biogeography in our habitats. We have no immigration and only extinctions. There is no place for 1080 in our biodiversity or in reaching equilibrium. The public are being told that predators are a bad thing and have no place in NZ ecosystems. Species do migrate around Earth either via humans or of their own volition. What I emphatically disagree with is the role of an organisation in the mass poisoning of an ecosystem using the argument of making NZ Predator-Free. That will never happen - it is a complete nonsense and an excuse for starting a poison factory. People forget that we have been fighting a losing battle for over half a century with 1080 as the main weapon of choice. There is no telling the damage already caused. Insects are part of the food chain, snails, frogs, plants etc. It really does kill everything and sub-lethally has been shown to accumulate in testes and lower sperm count in rats. We dont know its effects on native species like the bats or birds. With its well documented ability to linger in soil and water and be taken up by the plants, the data are woefully insufficient for impact in NZ considering our use of this toxin. Possums are obviously able to co-exist and bounce back while the native population suffers severe set back. We do need to stop, let things settle down and install the bounty system again which has far less impact on the native species. Money saved through not using 1080 will go into smarter trapping and much needed research. With NZ 1080-free it will be Clean and Green for real. Export venison and possum pet meat will start up again. More opportunity for export honey too without the 1080 taint. Predators have a vital part to play in any ecosystem. We have wiped out some of the naturally occurring birds of prey and moa from this land. It is not unusual in the scheme of things for new arrivals to find themselves a niche. NZ needs to reach equilibrium with what is here without inhumane and controversial interference which amounts to ecocide. So the answer is yes, we do need predators to play a role. We dont need 1080.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 04:40:37 +0000
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