TED Talk

https://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments


Enjoy this TED talk on interesting creatures living underwater! There are so many diverse creatures lurking in large bodies of water that we know little about. This TED talk illustrates just how interesting some of these underwater organisms are and illustrates the importance of trying to preserve each and every one of them.



Reference:
Underwater astonishments. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2015, from https://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments

AS A WHOLE

What Can Your Community Do to Help?

OVERALL:

•Spread awareness and tell your friends about these issues in your neighbourhood.

•Reduce capturing, harming and killing of these particular species.

•Report any sightings to increase data on the endangered or concerned species. 

•Prevent planting invasive species in your backyard ponds/lakes, especially the Eurasian Water-milfoil, which clogs spawning sites of fish.

•Think twice about bringing home exotic plants from other countries.

•Prevent switching plants, fish or other wildlife from one body of water to another.

•Promote community clean up initiatives in your area to reduce pollution in the waters.

•Promote less habitat degradation within your community.

•Return all caught fish to their natural habitat upon capture.

•Think twice before tossing that fishing rod in the water!

Image Reference: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9f/63/50/9f63507d926042185f7a0357891b393d.jpg

Want to help the Grass Pickerel, the Bridle Shiner and the Pugnose Shiner?

What can the public do to help the Grass Pickerel? 

- Community run initiatives to help re-plant native vegetation in the locations that are suffering the most 
- Increasing awareness of this fish species with the public may also help to prevent its classification from worsening
- Spread the word! Advocate for fisherman to not be allowed to commercially fish the Grass Pickerel 


Help the Bridle Shiner

- Educate the community and your peers on the Eurasian Watermilfoil, an invasive species that is abundant in the waters of the Kingston region, and about the damage it does to fish habitats
- Educating the public on how to identify the invasive plant would be the first step
- Avoid planting this invasive species 
- Remove or report any sightings of the Eurasian Watermilfoil

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Image Reference: 
http://saveblacklake.org/system/assets/general/milfoil-06.jpeg

  

Pugnose Shiner?

- Join the community, host outreach programs in Kingston to educate the public 
- Running of community clean-up days are a great solution to help reduce the polluted run-off into the lakes and ponds where the fish reside 
- Avoid polluting the waters where these habituate 

Helping the Atlantic Salmon

Some suggestions for what the public can do to reduce the impact on the habitat of the Atlantic Salmon are:

- Minimize the elimination of trees and vegetation on land 

- Only replant native vegetation and trees near channels of water as this can help prevent soil erosion

- Refrain from building structures on steep slopes (this keeps them in their natural condition) 

- Refrain from cutting down trees and other vegetation close to Atlantic Salmon habitats 

- Release all caught Salmon back to their natural habitat 

- Or better yet, keep that fishing rod reeled in!

Image Reference:

Notice – No Fishing Allowed (Yellow) Sign or Sticker - #4. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://www.victorystore.com/notice-no-fishing-allowed-4.html

Differences YOU Can Make

AMERICAN EEL

As members of society there are many different things that we can do to help reduce commercial harvesting of the American Eel! 

-       Pledge to decrease fishing quotas of the American Eel, purchase less from stores

-       Advocate for fishermen to require a fishing permit for the American Eel

-       Advocate to increase fish licensing fees of the Eel (Using the funds for conservation of the Eel) 

-       Create a petition to implement a policy in which all Eel caught within the Kingston region be returned to the waters (Dead or alive) 

-       We could also develop a moratorium on the American Eel thereby completely preventing fishermen from seeking these fish out

      Increase overall awareness to the public of this threatened species and pledge to get the conversation started!

Major Threats to Our Species in the Kingston Region

The major threat that we believe is more detrimental to the population size for each of our top 5 species in the Kingston Region is outlined below.

American Eel

Major Threat: COMMERCIAL HARVESTING
Ever since the Japan tsunami in 2011, the Asian demand for American eel has increased, causing a drastic decrease in eel populations¹. Locally, turbines also cause a number of deaths in the species, leading to the species’ decline in population.

Pugnose Shiner

Major Threat: POLLUTION
The pugnose shiner requires a clear and vegetated habitat in order to persist easily. Pollution is the main cause to their habitat degradation, leading to murky, unhealthy waters. These polluted habitats prevent this species from navigating, foraging and spawning effectively - ultimately causing a reduction in the population.

Atlantic Salmon

Major Threat: DAMS AND HUMAN AGRICULTURE

Increased human agriculture intensifies soil erosion and reduces the forest cover, which keeps their habitat streams cool in temperature. Atlantic salmon prefer this cooler water to live. The combination of soil erosion and the implementation of dams alters water flow, in turn causing silt to collect at the bottom of rocks in their habitat². This is the prime location for these fish to lay their eggs. The presence of dams also creates barriers for the salmon’s movement.

Grass Pickerel

Major Threat: AGRICULTURE

The Grass Pickerel have suffered from wetland habitat loss due to increased rural land use by humans. Humans have invaded this fish’s habitat for agricultural practices, resulting in homelessness for this species. Loss of habitat is therefore their major threat to population sustainability.

Bridle Shiner

Major Threat: INVASIVE SPECIES

The Eurasian Water-milfoil, an invasive species, clogs spawning sites of the Bridle Shiner, causing the species to drastically decline in population. This plant reduces oxygen levels in water and hinders fish swimming, foraging and spawning.

References:

^1, <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/american-eel-is-in-danger-of-extinction/>

² <http://www.bringbackthesalmon.ca/?page_id=101>

The Bridle Shiner: Endangered? Not Yet...

The Bridle Shiner (Notropis bifrenatus), is a slim, silver minnow that is listed as “special concern”, and therefore may become endangered due to a combination of some threats. This fish can grow up to 6 cm in length and lives for approximately 2 years. They prefer unpolluted and highly vegetated rivers and lakes, where they can spawn, catch prey and hide from predators effectively. Like most minnows, they typically prey on larger fish species such as perch, bass and pike. Chemically polluted runoff has caused these areas, especially in Lake Ontario, to become unclear and toxic. Additionally, the invasive species the Eurasian Watermilfoil has been known to clog the spawning sites of the Bridle Shiner. These two factors combined has caused the Bridle Shiner species to drastically decline over the years. Since this fish is of “Special Concern”and not considered “Endangered” (yet), there are no government oriented protective measures for this species.

Fun fact: Bridle Shiners usually only spawn once and this occurs during the Spring or Summer.

Sources:

http://www.ontario.ca/page/bridle-shiner

http://www.ontariofishes.ca/fish_detail.php?FID=40