Mudpuppies
What ways should be used to increase mudpuppy population while keeping the triple bottom line in mind?
Background
Mudpuppies range in the Midwest as well as a little into the South and into the East Coast. The decrease in their populations in becoming an issue because there are other species need them to survive, specifically the salamander mussle which is endangered (Grace).
These creatures are not found very often, and when they are it is usually on accident by fisherman and Ichthyologists. This means that specifically working on studying Mudpuppies is incredibly difficult.
Mudpuppies shave been found to be killed by lampricides, which are a type of chemical used to target lampreys but have negatively affected other species, too; and chytridiomycosis which is a form of fungus that affects amphibians (Kapfer). This is a market failure related to pollution and destruction of habitat.
Mudpuppies are interesting because they are the only fully aquatic salamander, plus the fact that they are so hard to spot makes them more interesting.
These are locations that mudpuppies have historically been spotted in Minnesota. These spotting's have mostly been by fisherman who have accidentally caught mudpuppies
Stakeholders
Possible Solutions
The possible solutions include decreasing pesticide use and conserving their habitat. These would both be possible because decreasing pesticide use would decrease the pollution in their habitat. Conserving their habitat would allow for the ability to live there safely.
Analysis
Pesticides
Environmental
This is an environmentally sustainable as seen in other countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and England which have decreased their pesticide use and it has had a good effect on the environment (Ongly). By limiting pesticide use, and in turn decreasing water pollution from runoff, it would increase biodiversity because it would allow species who were pushed out from to polluted waters to return.
Economic
It costs more money to use pesticides on crops than it produces through the yield, making it a lower opportunity cost. It would address the market failure because it would decrease the amount of polluted runoff. It would be more economically sustainable to convert to organic farming than to continue with large amounts of pesticide use. This would affect the food industry, and while might affect supply for a very short amount of time while farmers transfer to organic farming, it would increase again as farmers learned how to specifically work this way. Stakeholders would like it as it would decrease harm to humans and as the UN has seen, it's already doing good. It’s of low cost the switch and the benefits for humans, and wildlife increase with less use.
Social
By decreasing pesticide use, it decreases the likelihood of humans becoming sick from polluted water and also from the pesticides themselves. This would decrease accessibility to the pesticides themselves, however it would also increase the accessibility to clean water as it would remove the barrier of polluted water. Stakeholders, such as homeowners, would approve of this because it would create economic freedom to find non-polluted water and increase the accessibility to it. However farmers would not like this as much because they use pesticides on their plants.
TEK
There has not been any indigenous opinions recorded on this idea that have been located. This solutions follows the TEK concepts of interconnectedness and reciprocal relationships because by being more connected to the environment, and using planting strategies that don’t require the use of pesticides, and providing for the earth and gaining healthy food in return.
Conservation
Environmental
This solution is environmentally sustainable as by increasing native plant growth, which increases the biodiversity by allowing more option for pollinators, and reducing litter, wetlands are preserved and require less human interaction to exist. They also create living shorelines which will help combat erosion and provide an environmental service (Fish and Wildlife Service).
Economic
The economic cost could be high due to the ned to purchase materials. However, it is also possibly to use volunteers and money from the lottery to help keep it sustainable. This would solve the market failure because it would keep their habitat alive and safe. Stakeholders would like this solution because landowners value well cared for land, and fishermen value healthy waterways.
Social
This will impact human health by increasing social health from healthier land which increases mental health. This solution allows access to better natural areas and increase accessibility to them. This solution would be appreciated by landowners and other stakeholders because increased natural areas are better for human beings.
TEK
Tek
Solution
The management solution that I propose is to conserve the habitat. This includes both limiting and watching pesticide use, as well as general habitat conservation. By protecting and keeping their habitats healthy, it also increases societal health as people have historically valued natural areas. It would also assist other species as then they too have a healthy habitat. Also, as seen during COVID and other times when individuals are inside for a long period of time, nature is helpful in increasing mental health. This can be kept up with volunteer work and also financial commitments that can be taken from the nature fund. Healthy ecosystems are also less likely to be severely impacted in environmental changes such has large storms, which will help it stay alive. This plan, it started with only really thinking about pesticides and runoff, but it expanded into more protecting the habitats because it will help the mudpuppies, and also the other animals and plants in the areas.
