An article in the Onion was written about a massive food chain mix-up when an Osprey had allegedly attacked and eaten a lion. Of course, the Onion is not a reliable news source and is quite humorous, but I believe this article discusses some underlying issues about conservation and the interconnectedness of nature. The food chain is an important part of conservation because it reveals how everything biotic is related and dependent on all other biotic organisms. The slightest change in the cycle of energy could potentially alter and disrupt other parts of the web. This is seen through examples like DDT contaminating fish which are then eaten by birds who die. The Onion's exaggerated example of a bird devouring a lion could also hold potential of disrupting the entire chain. At the end of the article, there is a concern about where humans fit into the food chain now that any animal is eating whatever it wants. An EJ critique of conservation biology is that it does not account for the role humans play in nature; humans are only a destructive force. The Onion article makes light of this point by showing how humans are actually involved in changes in the environment, and they are not the only cause of change.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/osprey-devours-lion-in-massive-foodchain-shakeup,26773/
No comments:
Post a Comment