Ode to explorers everywhere
We went for a great overnight run (or perhaps
walk) up Mt Somers this weekend. Mt Somers is a beautiful
extinct volcano with native bush covering the lower slopes and open mountain
terrain facing the Southern Alps. Along the track we ran
into a couple of hunters carrying guns. They had been off track
to hunt deer in the area. On this occasion they were no
carcasses strung over their shoulders. There are many deer,
wild pigs, possums and rabbits around the mountains as well as many
introduced plants. How did our countryside get filled with
introduced wild animals and plants?
 |
| View from Mt Somers |
Like all countries, ours is filled with
introduced animals. Some have obviously invaded or stowed away
on ships that came exploring. However many species were intentionally
introduced by well meaning colonial explorers throughout the world.
Early explorers such as Christopher Colombus started
a massive sharing of plants, animals and subsequently, disease.
Soldiers missionaries and privateers followed the soldiers, who let off
livestock at every island and port they passed, so that they may have a food
supply wherever they travelled. In many places, the introduced
animals and plants had no competition and bred like rabbits. They also
carried pests and disease that obliterated some native species and damaged the land.
The colonists who followed quickly added more species.
Plants were introduced that thrived with careful
attention back at home, but turned into invasive weeds in a different climate.
Broom was introduced in the early 1800s as a cheap hedging plant for farmers.
It is unpalatable to stock, seeds energetically and has a dense habit, all
of which seemed positive to the farmers. Environment Canterbury now
lists it as one of our most troublesome introduced plants which has
invaded most of New Zealand. The most optimistic local councils
list its management as "controlled containment", which means that the
further spread of it is hoped to be limited.
Biosecurity has been a fascinating topic to research.
I have often wondered when out in the mountains, how a plant
or animal managed to make its home there. During my research I
ended up reading the book "A plague of rats and rubbervines:
the growing threat of species invasions" by Yvonne Baskin. This book
gave a great entertaining discussion on how and why species came to be where
they are now. I ended up reading the whole book! It
certainly has helped me understand why there were hunters on the top
of Mount Somers hoping to take home some wild venison.
References
Baskin, Y. (2002). A plague of rats and rubbervines: The growing threat of species
invasions.
Washington, DC: Island Press.
Environment Canterbury. (n.d.). Gorse and Broom. Retrieved
from://ecan.govt.nz/advice/your-land/plant-animal-pests/managing-plant-pests/Pages/gorse-broom.aspx
It is really interesting to think about how many of these species, many of whom were introduced to serve a specific purpose or function, have gone on to seriously impact our native flora and fauna. I guess they had no way of knowing just how well those possums, goats and rabbits (and so on) would take to the New Zealand environments - it's a shame we've had to learn the hard way!
ReplyDeleteThe explorers did introduce these animals and plants with the best of intentions. They did not understand about the damage that these pests could do in a different environment. In their own countries these animals and plants were controllable and farmable.
DeleteDid you interview the hunters about 1080? Actually I find it's best not to have those kinds off conversations with people carrying guns. The overlap of issues around biosecurity, pests, and pollution is a sad story alright, looking back from the 21st century I find it's hard to put myself in travellers' and settlers' shoes and think I would make the same decisions about gorse, possums and STOATS. Tragic.
ReplyDeleteNo Liz I didn't. They seemed the strong silent types and just gave us a friendly, manly nod. I think the guns and hunting dogs made us slightly nervous. The dogs were all alive though, so no 1080 poisoning for them this time.
DeleteToo often it can be taken for granted that the species we see in our environment, such as deer, has always been here in NZ. However, you know better than most following your research that many commonly sighted species have been introduced. Some successfully, but for many they have eaten and destroyed our native fauna. Deer, rabbits and possums are prime examples of this. In the case of Broom it has dominated over native species and out competed them to take prime position and flourish.
ReplyDelete