Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Societal Challenges in Accepting Scientific Realities
It wasn’t that long ago when I remember jumping in a pick up truck with my brother, grandparents (and great grandparents!) to ride the back roads of Downeast Maine in hopes of seeing a moose. When someone would spot one, you’d hear, “Look, look! There he is!” and everyone would ooh and ah! I distinctly remember my grandmother, mentioning that, “One day there may not be a single tree for a deer or a moose to stand behind, if they keep clear cuttin’”. She was on to something at the time (late 70s). At this time, conservation wasn’t as much of a concern for large corporations, except maybe Paper mills who thought little of dumping sludge and more about spruce budworm, which was decimating their prospects for an endless supply of pulp and paper.
Soon after my grandfather passed away, I rode with my cousin to Bangor to pick up my Uncle at the airport so he could attend the funeral. Along the way on Rte 6, somewhere past Musquash, on the left hand side of the road, we stopped on the shoulder to see a huge bull with massive paddles knee deep in a bog. He was eating wet grasses that left shoe laces of green dripping from the corners of his mouth as he turned broadside to look at us. I imagined that he came out the rut victorious in more ways than one. My grandfather passed away in November. It was a very crisp, cold, sunny Autumn day. He would have loved seeing this bull.
Fast forward to today. Novembers are definitely warmer. And, moose aren’t as easily spied along rte 6, or any route in Maine for that matter.
In fact, according to Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, “winter ticks wiped out nearly 90% of the moose calves scientists tracked in part of Maine…” We’re currently holding our breath about 2023’s impacts. More on this in a moment but, wrap your head around that 90% number!
Climate change represents one of the most daunting challenges facing us today. It impacts weather patterns and global temperatures and has far-reaching effects on biodiversity. The intersection of climate change with species loss (both plant and animal) should be a critical area of concern for everyone because ecological systems are disrupted and the loss of biodiversity leads to devastating outcomes like increased risks of extinction for many species. This cascading crisis is vividly illustrated in localized scenarios such as the decline of moose populations in Maine. It’s a heartbreaking outcome for all Mainers especially for those of us who see the majestic animals as emblematic of our Great State and the generations of Mainers who have seen them in the same way.
Maine Moose
Moose (scientific name: Alces alces) are not only the largest members of the deer family but also pivotal in maintaining the ecological balance and supporting the economy through tourism here. Moose are well-adapted to harsh, cold climates with their large trunk size, thick wire-y fur, and long, long legs. All of these traits help them to run in deep snow and forage where-ever food is available in Maine’s rugged wilderness. With that said, their physical (and behavioral) adaptations also render them particularly susceptible to the warming climate. Here in Downeast Maine, this vulnerability has direct and indirect impacts and we’re seeing it unfold in real time.
Direct Impacts of Climate Change on Moose
1. Heat Stress and Reproductive Decline
With the rising temperatures, moose experience significant heat stress. This is evident from increased respiration rates and reduced foraging efficiency. This physiological stress affects their health by depleting the fat reserves they need to survive the winter months and it also negatively impacts their reproduction. Warmer years correlate with a decline in moose reproduction and colder years correlates with higher reproduction. This is suggestive of a pretty grim outlook for sustaining the population as global temperatures continue to rise (McCann et al., 2013).
2. Increase in Parasite Loads
Another critical concern, as I mentioned, is an increase in parasite loads, particularly from winter ticks. These parasites thrive and reproduce more successfully in milder winters. Moose infested with ticks experience severe blood loss, leading to anemia and heightened calf mortality, thereby impacting population regeneration (Samuel, 2004).
Indirect Effects of Climate Change on Moose Habitat
1. Altered Vegetation and Food Sources
Climate change has significantly shifted vegetation patterns in Maine’s forests. For example, there’s been a shift from cold-adapted species like balsam fir and white birch with more temperate species. This threatens the availability and quality of moose forage which also stresses the population for all the reasons we mentioned above (Dale et al., 2001).
2. Water Resource Variability
Moose also depend quite heavily on bogs. They need them for a few reasons–to drink, for relief from biting insects, and to cool off from mid-summer heat. Changes in Downeast Maine’s rain patterns and the reduced snowpack have altered their water availability and their habitat overall. There’s a delicate balance deep in the Maine woods between not enough and too much standing water. Too much standing water leads to an increase in the breeding of biting insects like mosquitoes, and higher disease and parasite transmission rates. Not enough water and moose don’t have enough to drink, can’t feast on the aquatic plant life, and can’t cool off.
3. Conservation Efforts and Societal Engagement
These are only few of the multifaceted challenges faced by moose in Maine. Therefore, conservation efforts need to be just as adaptive and robust. Currently, there’s a focus on habitat management, enhanced monitoring and research, and proactive policy-making. But, those aren’t the only ingredients necessary to make sure these strategies are successful. Public awareness and political support are fundamental to making these efforts realized.
4. Intersection with Global Biodiversity Challenges
The decline in moose populations due to climate change mirrors the larger global trend of biodiversity loss in other areas. Increasingly, many species are simply unable to cope with the rapid environmental changes the planet is experiencing. The declining moose population in Maine should be a critical case study about how local wildlife challenges are indicative of larger ecological shifts. Without understanding the bigger picture, the urgency cannot be fully understood. This naturally means that society must collectively agree that biodiversity loss is indeed a problem.
Evidence of Mass Extinctions
Recent scientific studies, replete with significant data and evidence, have indicated that the Earth is currently experiencing its sixth mass extinction event, primarily driven by human activities, including habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and, climate change impacts (Ceballos et al., 2020). The rate of species extinction is now hundreds, and, in some cases thousands, of times higher than the natural background rate typically seen throughout the planet’s history. Climate change increases the rate by altering habitats and environmental conditions faster than species can adapt. My Nana was more prescient in her prediction than she even realized.
Coral reefs, pinnacles of biodiversity, are suffering from rising water temperatures. This has led to coral bleaching. As a result, scientists and fishermen are witnessing the collapse of entire reef ecosystems. This heart-breaking event impacts both the marine species that depend on them and the human fishing communities that rely on them for food and livelihoods (Hughes et al., 2017).
Amphibians like the the golden toad of Costa Rica is a notable example of a species believed to be extinct due to climate-related changes in its cloud forest habitat (Pounds et al., 1999). As one of the most vulnerable groups to climate change, amphibians face threats from changing moisture regimes, increased pathogen spread, and altered breeding cycles. They’re incredible sensitive to change.
Birds have had their migratory patterns and breeding times disrupted by climate change which has led to mismatches in food availability. This has caused population declines in numerous bird species across the planet, including Maine’s own puffins. They have suffered from reduced fish stocks due to warming ocean currents (Wilkinson, 2019).
Societal Challenges in Accepting Scientific Realities
The Anti-Science Movement
Despite a strong scientific consensus on the impacts of climate change, a significant portion of the population remains skeptical. This aversion to science is often influenced by political, social, and media-driven polarization. All of this skepticism poses substantial barriers to implementing the policies necessary to save species like Maine Moose.
Importance of Education and Communication
Combating anti-science views necessitates effective education and strategic communication. Promoting science literacy and critical thinking at an early age, along with engaging communities in meaningful conservation efforts, might possibly bridge the gap between scientific recommendations and public policy. But, sadly, we’re no where near the level of discourse needed to be effective in saving our moose population. Most people chalk it up to “out of their control” or not meaningful enough to them on a personal level.
At Rime Farm, experiencing the simple joys of seeing moose in their natural habitat enriches our understanding of our ecosystem’s value. We’ve seen moose on our back 40 just once in the last several years AND…what’s more is that we abut the Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge dedicated to Moose and birds where there have always been moose!
Advocating for sustainable practices—supporting local farms, reducing chemical use, and minimizing our ecological footprint—helps protect our planet. We also urge our leaders to comprehensively address these critical issues. By doing so, we not only aim to preserve these majestic beings and their habitats but also ensure a sustainable future for the coming generations.
Losing our moose to extinction would be an unimaginable tragedy. We simply cannot let this happen.
Here’s local Maine news coverage about the plight of Maine moose.
REFERENCES
Ceballos, G., et al. (2020). ‘Vertebrates on the brink as indicators of biological annihilation and the sixth mass extinction.’ Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(24), 13596-13602.
Dale, V. H., et al. (2001). ‘Climate change and forest disturbances.’ BioScience, 51(9), 723-734
Hughes, T. P., et al. (2017). ‘Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching of corals.’ Nature, 543, 373-377.
McCann, N. P., et al. (2013). ‘Effects of winter temperatures, spring degree-day accumulation, and habitat on moose survival in northeastern Minnesota.’ Journal of Wildlife Management, 77(8), 1667-1675.
Pounds, J. A., et al. (1999). ‘Biological response to climate change on a tropical mountain.’ Nature, 398, 611-615.
Samuel, W. M. (2004). ‘White as snow: Winter ticks and moose.’ Natural History, 113(9), 29-33.
Wilkinson, C. (2019). ‘Impact of climate change on migratory patterns and breeding success of birds in North America.’ Journal of Avian Biology, 50(1), 00145.
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