The Galapagos Islands have been infested with an invasive species of rat. The rat has infested other spots and they have used poisoned blue bait to get rid of the rat. The bait only attracts the rat and does not attract the other inhabitants of the Galapagos. After the rats are gone, scientists will work on the less invasive species that inhabit the island. The bait is only putting the Galapagos hawk at risk because the hawk can eat the rats that have eaten the poison bait. Scientist captured 20 hawks just in case. The rats pose a threat to the tortoises, iguanas, and 50 different land and sea birds. These rats originally came to the island and wiped out the black rat.
When I read this article I was shocked that rats could pose such a threat. I always figured rats were not that important in the environment. I think the scientists are really inventive to make the poison bait. It could get rid of all the rats and not affect the animals a lot so the ecosystem could repair itself more.
1) Why do you think the rats pose a threat to so many species?
2) Why is is it important to ensure the Hawk survives?
3) Do you think there is a better way to get rid of the rats?
1. I think they pose a threat to so many species because rats are known for carrying many diseases.
ReplyDelete2.It is important to ensure the hawks survives because if the hawk dies off it will affect the rest of the ecosystem.
3.I think there can be a better way to get rid of the rats that won't affect the hawks.
1. I think the rats are such a problem because they are taking the other specie's food which is causing food shortages. Also like Shea said, they are probably carrying around alot of diseases.
ReplyDelete2. Since the hawk is very high up the food chain and there is a smaller number of them, if they all die it will have a huge impact on the rest of the ecosystem.
3. I think that scientists should find a substance that is poisonous to rats but not to hawks.
1. I think the rats pose a threat to so many species because rats carry many diseases and are very small which makes them hard to capture.
ReplyDelete2. It is important to ensure hawks survive because if hawks were to die it would cause an overpopulation of rats. This would not be good because the poison that the rats contain would spread.
3.I don't think there is a better way because any other way will most likely affect the hawks.
1. I think the rats pose a threat because like Phil said, they are hard to capture. Also i think they pose a threat because if they eat all the food that the native species rely on, then some of those species will due out.
ReplyDelete2. It is important for the hawks to survive because they regulate the food chain. They make sure there isn't an over population or an under population of any certain species.
3. I don't know if there is a better way to get rid of the rats, because any other way might harm animals or plants, other than the hawks.