Although all parts of an ecosystem are important for its long term sustainability, several species can be selected out which are essential to the operation of the whole system.
- herring
need for controls on over-harvesting
- salmon for forest health..(Tom Reimken’s work on distribution of nutrients to the forest by birds and mammals.)
- eel grass..replanting in log boom areas to mitigate habitat loss.
- kelp beds as nurseries
- The role the above play as part of ecosystem services:
- The role of the members of a food web.. energy flow.
Ways these can be impacted:
- overharvesting,
- competition from introduced species
- habitat loss.
- toxic materials
How to mitigate this..
- increase in research, baseline standards
- moratorium on marine system development,
- need to restore lost habitat
- need for large areas to be set aside as parks or reserves for habitat now while it is available, later it may diminish.
- complete detoxification of all run-off waters.
- “a no negative impact” is the only option for marine developments.
- recognition of interconnectivity in management of resources.