Closing Summary

Climate change is greatly affecting the biodiversity and species composition of Vermont's natural ecosystems. Both terrestrial wildlife and plant species have been faced with new threats related to warmer winters that are displacing them from their current ecosystems. As temperatures warm, current sites for these species become less ideal and they are forced out. Specifically in Vermont these changes include the loss of moose populations and changes in forest type. The state of Vermont is making an effort to combat some of these changes, but climate change is inevitable.

Invasive species, aquatic and terrestrial, have greatly contributed to habitat loss in their respective ecosystems. A local expert on this topic is Dr. J. Ellen Marsden from the University of Vermont. A wealth of knowledge with a charming English accent, Dr. Marsden supported the concern that humans are largely to blame for the dispersion of invasive species. She also spoke of current invasives that are threatening Vermont such as zebra mussels. Our own Adrien Plouffe dug a little deeper to uncover published facts about zebra mussels and their impacts on Vermont. Vermont, however, is not the only region dealing with invasive species. In Rachael DeWitt's hometown of Skaneateles, NY, a lot is being done to eradicate established invasives and prevent new invasives from entering. Though humans are causing these invasions, with careful planning we can be a solution or at least lessen the effects of invasions.

The rapid pace of energy development and intrusive methods of energy extraction pose substantial risks to Vermont’s cherished mountains, water bodies and wildlife. Although hydraulic fracturing has been outlawed in Vermont, fracked gas pipelines risk spills and contaminating local habitats. A spill would entail migration of chemicals into drinking water and can decimate aquatic ecosystems by affecting the organs of individual organisms and depleting dissolved oxygen levels in the water. It also causes increased water temperatures and pH levels. These changes make aquatic environments unsuitable for many sensitive organisms.  These changes also allow for new species to thrive and take over while the native species, unable to adjust, slowly become replaced.

Unfortunately, forms of green, renewable energy also harm local habitats. Wind farm establishment entails deforestation of ridge tops and habitat fragmentation caused by the grading of land to create level swatches suitable for the farm. Hydropower creates a barrier for fish migration and floodplain that can destroy native organisms. Solar energy, on the other hand, requires minimal land alteration and is suitable almost anywhere. Despite the negative impacts of these renewable forms of energy extraction, they are still less harmful than the use of fossil fuels. The reality is that all forms of human activity impacts the environment negatively in some way.  

Roads are the #1 cause of habitat fragmentation in VT, preventing the natural movement of wildlife and segregating habitats into smaller patches. Fragmentation of habitats affects all  forms of wildlife including plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. The effects of roads on wildlife populations can lead inbreeding, decline in genetic diversity, and in worst case scenarios, local extinction of species populations.  Although there are many initiatives to install wildlife crossings such as culverts, overpasses, and volunteer handling, there is much work to be done to reduce and reverse the negative impact of habitat fragmentation. Other initiatives such as public education about environmental issues could provide additional help in beginning the reduction of these impacts.

Impacts on habitat loss have primarily come from human development and interaction with the natural world.  In terms of agriculture, for example, forest clearing via clear-cutting is especially problematic for many of the native species that require a forested habitat, particularly migratory birds.  The second major problem with agriculture is runoff of nutrients into surrounding water bodies, causing eutrophication, and creating an unsuitable habitat for the aquatic species in the ecosystem.  However, legislation continues to be implemented in order to mitigate these destructive actions on habitats.