Florida Envirothon - Wildlife: Human Causes and Effects

Examples of Negative Impacts of Humans on Wildlife

Habitat loss and fragmentation (land for the road), increased disturbance (road noise), habitat degradation (air pollution, litter, dropped oils and coolants), and increased risk of mortality (road kills).

Recreation Activites effecting Wading Birds

Boating, fishing, canoeing, windsurfing, birdwatching, jet skiing (in rookery areas)

Potential Impacts effecting Wading Birds

Birds highly susceptible due to nesting densities. Detrimental effects include egg and nestling mortality, premature fledglings, nestling slow growth or weight loss, nest or site abandonment

Solutions effecting Wading Birds

175-m buffer for terns and 125-m buffer for waders. Use professional discretion when birds are acclimated to humans

Recreational Activities effecting Green-backed Herons

Canoeing, kayaking, fishing, boating

Potential Impacts effecting Green-backed Herons

Heron activity declined in 76% of areas tested when river usage increased

Solutions effecting Green-backed Herons

May be able to use as an indicator species showing when recreational activity levels are too high to maintain natural wildlife population numbers

Recreational Activities effecting Waterfowl

Boating, fishing, water skiing

Potential Impacts effecting Waterfowl

Bank erosion; loss of aquatic vegetation; excessive energy expenditures for wildlife; lower reproduction rates; abandonment; broods moved to margin habitats.

Solutions effecting Waterfowl

No-wake zones or non-motorized boat zones. Restrict fishing and hunting activities. Increase public awareness. Create inviolate refuges at least 1.5x2 kilometers in size. Move broods to margin habitats

Recreational Activities effecting Bad Eagles

Boating, canoeing

Potential Impacts effecting Bad Eagles

Canoes flushed ground-feeding eagles at distances exceeding 460 m. Boats in winter caused flushing at distances of 265 m and in summer, 175 m

Solutions effecting Bad Eagles

Restrict boating activities in known feeding areas during peak feeding times — early morning and late afternoon

Recreational Activities effecting Nesting raptors (southwestern United States)

Hiking, rock climbing, angling, hunting

Potential Impacts effecting Nesting raptors (southwestern United States)

Altered distribution; prevented incubation; caused abandonment of breeding territories; lowered reproduction; affected foraging

Solutions effecting Nesting raptors (southwestern United States)

Deny access to important nesting areas or impose spatial/temporal restrictions

Recreational Activities effecting Alligators

Any activity decreasing water quality

Potential Impacts effecting Alligators

Contaminant tests in the tail meat found eight metals (including mercury), DDE, DDT, DDD, PCBs, lindane, and others

Solutions effecting Alligators

Continue monitoring for contaminants. Potentially use contaminants as an environmental monitor. Retain functional Clean Water Act

Recreational Activities effecting Fish

Water activity using gas motors

Potential Impacts effecting Fish

Oily substances left in and on the water are toxic to fish. Decreased reproductive rates; disturbed nesting (can cause abandonment); tainted meat

Solutions effecting Fish

Develop guidelines to restrict emissions from motors used on watercraft

Recreational Activities effecting Manatees

Motorboat racing, boating

Potential Impacts effecting Manatees

Can hit, cut, and kill; killing is direct or through infection

Solutions effecting Manatees

Education and enforcement of recreational boaters and activities. Guidelines developed by USFWS and the Coast Guard are in use when manatees are in a race area

Recreational Activities effecting Wildlife Communities

Fishing, hiking, rafting, photography, canoeing, kayaking, vehicles, off-road biking

Potential Impacts effecting Wildlife Communities

Disrupts community dynamics. Can lead to displacement, reduced feeding times, sickness, and death. Reduces reproduction. Causes declines in population numbers and species diversity

Solutions effecting Wildlife Communities

Education

USFWS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service