Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
Landscape
Gypsy Moth Control and the Diana Fritillary (Speyeria diana): A Carolina Landscape in Conflict
The Gypsy Moth is an exotic pest and invasive species that feeds on the leaves in the middle branches and crowns of tress, and while populations tend to persist at low levels in some areas for quite some time sudden and as yet unexplained population explosions can lead to massive defoliations (Liebhold 2003). The Speyeria diana, commonly known as the Diana fritillary, is a butterfly species that inhabits the northwest counties of South Carolina and certain surrounding areas, with recent evidence suggesting that populations might be more widespread than previously thought; unlike many other fritillary species the Diana fritillary primarily populates wooded and shaded areas (Scholtens n.d.). The overlap of these two species is fraught with complications that threaten the survival of the Diana fritillary.
Environmental Issues
There are several significant environmental issues that need to be considered when addressing the effects of defoliation on Diana fritillary in the region, and in the development of a treatment plan to deal with the Gypsy Moth population. As an invasive and destructive species, the protection of Gypsy Moth populations is not a cause for consideration, but typical methods for controlling Gypsy Moth population growth and spread have been shown o have a direct impact on Diana fritillary populations (Scholtens n.d.; Liebhold 2003). Closer examination and careful consideration of these issues is necessary in treatment plan development.
Forested areas in the region occupied by Diana fritillary butterflies are already fairly slim and face numerous threats from direct and indirect human activity as well as other issues (National Park Service n.d.; Sterner n.d.). Maintaining forested areas should be the primary consideration in the development of a treatment plan for restoring and maintaining Diana fritillary populations, however the impact of various reforestation and defoliation prevention methods must also be considered in...
Human population centers should also be analyzed and considered in developing a treatment plan, as should wind factors and other influences that can cause a spread of both moth larvae and the bacterial species used to control them (Liebhold 2003; Sholtens n.d.). A full consideration of environmental factors will lead to more effective treatment responses and landscape restoration efforts.
Btk Spraying
The use of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki, a naturally occurring bacteria that can be used very effectively as an insecticide, has been used to control the growth and spread of gypsy Moth species for several decades with a fair amount of success (Liebhold 2003; Sholtens n.d). Some research has suggested, however, that Diana fritillary larvae might also be especially susceptible to Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki infections, and that populations might be decimated by the widespread use of this Gypsy Moth control technique (Scholtens n.d.). The key is in finding a balance between the use of Btk to control Gypsy Moth populations and prevent further defoliation while protecting native species like the Diana fritillary.
As the research has only suggested a susceptibility of the Diana fritillary to Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki during the larval stage, spraying Btk during other periods of the butterfly's life cycle could potentially avoid the negative impacts of such spraying on Speyeria Diana populations while still exerting control over Gypsy Moth population spread and growth (Scholtens n.d.; Liebhold 2003). Additional assistance in this matter is provided by prevailing weather patterns; current Gypsy Moth populations are still considerably north of known Dian fritillary populations, and with the situation of fronts these southerly populations should not be affected by the use of Btk (Scholtens n.d.). Spraying during the early summer, when the Diana fritillary is in its adult stage and long enough before larvae emerge from eggs in the fall, and concentrating spraying in the areas of North Carolina and Virginia where Gypsy Moths…
Any action taken by any federal agency, which includes actions taken on the federal lands include in the targeted region as they are part of the National Forest Service's dominion and thus require federal approval, is required to conduct Environmental Assessments and produce Environmental Impact Statements in accordance with EPA guidelines, as per 1969's National Environmental Policy Act (EPA 2011). The pest management control methods and treatment must be shown to have a minimal expected impact on other populations of both flora and fauna based on available evidence, and the benefits and necessity of these actions must also be demonstrated (EPA 2011). Coordination with other efforts to reforest specific areas of the region, correct other environmental damage, and promote the overall health of the ecosystem must also be a part of the treatment plan development, as well (National Forest Service n.d.). This is not only due to regulatory and legislative concerns but also because such coordination will represent the most efficient and effective use of resources available (National Forest Service n.d.; EPA 2011).
Conclusion
The control of the Gypsy Moth population in the Eastern United States has been a long-running issue since the introduction of the species. The threat the Gypsy Moth represents to the Diana fritillary butterfly is both direct and indirect, and moth population control methods can themselves be harmful to the Diana fritillary. Careful consideration of landscape issues and other concerns is necessary in the development of a treatment plan.
Landscape Modeling Xi, Weimin; Coulson, Robert N.; Waldron, John D.; Tchakerian, Maria D.; Lafon, Charles W.; Cairns, David M.; Birt, Andrew G.; Klepzig, Kier D. (2009). Landscape modeling for forest restoration planning and assessment: lessons from the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Journal of Forestry, 191-198. Retrieved September 10, 2011 at http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/ja_klepzig021.pdf Landscape modeling is a technique used to evaluate the projected outcomes of various land management and restoration scenarios and strategies (Xi et al. 2009:
Therapy is usually applied in cases such as the one exhibited by Kong, following the loss of a loved one. The procedure is outlined below: The Semi-Structured Clinical Interview The informal assessment of individuals faced with the effects of the loss of a loved one such as Kong's case is the semi structured interview. This approach allows the therapist to classify victims according to the symptoms that they exhibit. The approach allows
Diagnosis The relevance of maintaining healthy communities cannot be overstated. In basic terms, communities should be designed and maintained in a way that promotes the well-being of their inhabitants. In so doing, such communities could end up realizing not only the economic but also the social benefits of a happier, healthier, and more productive society. There is therefore a need to assess and diagnose the key health problems specific to
Heart Darkness The Postcolonial Landscape in Heart of Darkness Published in 1899, the novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is to this date described as an absolutely critical text in expanding the scholarly discourse on colonialism and its inherently related forces of racism, exploitation and ethnocentrism. By its intent, one finds a text that delivers an unflinching portrayal of the clearly abusive, unethical and racially-justified atrocities fueled by both the greed
Clinical Assessment of Learners Clinical assessment involves the evaluation of technical skills, communication skills, professionalism, knowledge base, and teaching skills, where applicable, of students who are about to enter independent practice. Technological changes have made it possible to assess clinical performance in ways that are far more advanced than pencil and paper tests relied on in the past (Dauphinee, 1995). In the late 1970s, clinical training programs utilized continuous practical assessments
" (Vossekuil, Borum, Fein, and Reddy, 2008) Stated to be an example of inductive assessment strategy is that of profiling. Profiling involves a description of the 'typical perpetrator' being compiled through use of characteristics that previous perpetrators of that specific type of crime have met. This profile is then used as a template or prototype for comparison of individuals who are believed or suspected to be a potential perpetrator. In contrast,