[QUOTE=CE]I'm not knowledgable enough about the UK ecosystem to give a serious response to this question, but it general, I think it's good to reintroduce species that were native but made extinct only a short while ago (a short while being some centuries or so in terms of environmental biology). [/QUOTE]
To be nit picky, that is not totally true. The eco system is constantly changing. The reintroduction of a species could throw off an adaption in the line of predators and prey that keep it well balanced. Although Brittain has lost much of its original wildlife, the animals eventually adapted. Hawks now roost in medows in the parks, if there are enough trees, as smaller birds fly through there on the way to the nearest bird feeder.
The ability of these animals to adpat to alterations in the enviromental and climatic conditions and situations is surprising. What sahould have taken years of evolution in theory did not take as long, as some sort of back up type of instincts kicked in.
If they reintroduce the beaver after hunting down all the predators of it, then they could cause damage to the eco system. I am sure you all know the stories of the moths in Brittain. A while ago, in the industrial growth years of Britain, mass amounts of wood was burned. The resulting soot covered the birch trees, covering the white bark. Those moths that were white died off almost completely, as the contrast was so large the birds could pick them off. The black ones, nearly extinct, thrived, and therefore another adpation was made.
Eventually, it reversed when the widespread burning of forests was halted.
We can not tell what effects may happen. Europena micro organisms may be permeable to the Beaver Disease, therefore dying off. Or, they may block off some streams that supply some towns.
Neither of us can tell what can really happen... I know you said that, but I wanted to expand it further.
[QUOTE=CE]Giardiasis a deadly disease? Aren't you confusing Giardiasis, the parasite infection caused by the flagellar protozoa Giardia lamblia with something else here? Or maybe this is an exaggregated argument from other people, who wish to see the beaver removed from their area? In any case, it is a misinformed argument, not only a red herring but simply incorrect. Millions of people in East Europe, Asia and Africa live with Giardias. Some of my colleagues recently got it in Egypt, it causes some diarrhea and flatulence for 1-2 weeks. It's easy to treat, and in Sweden where I live it's not even recommended to treat it at all unless it gets chronical, which is quite rare. [/QUOTE]
Beaver Fever just makes you sick, however, it does have a chance to mutate and become a real pain in the butt. Plus, some people are somewhat lacking in the immune systems to deal with Beaver Fever parasitic infections.
Nothing else comes from it in multicelluar organisms.
[QUOTE=HS] A bah to you. One of the reasons that animals are here in Canada is because they were hunted to extinction elsewhere. Althoguh the animals do not reconize (I would not say care) human political boundaries, they still can not live in a plce where they can easily be killed.
The incapability of americans to kill things on Canadian soil halted them in their tracks, since we do not need to hunt the animals as much as other countries. Thus, they live in Canada.... but not in America. They live on our side... but no in the states. Recently those crossing the border are not killed and we are assisting in the movement of those (most of them) that do not migrate that far south naturally.
A political line if you will. [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=CE]Animals don't care about human political boundaries! I am deeply impressed by this revelating insight of yours Seriously though, unfortunately human political boundaries have a great impact on the life of many other species, so the issue is very relevant. Differences in hunting regulations, wildlife preservation activities, habits and culture of the people living in that country etc, etc are all factors that can make a large differences for a species living in the same biotopic region.[/QUOTE]
Bah! Copier!
