HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuang, E DEIS.pdf December 6, 2010
To: Trustees of Cayuga Heights:
Re: DEIS; Deer"Management"Plan
There has been repeated mention of a concern for biodiversity with great attention paid to
songbirds and wildflowers. However,biodiversity is a concept that encompasses much
more than just a handful of species. It addresses all species in an ecosystem, animal,
plant, those that can sing and those that cannot.
I have previously brought to the attention of the trustees, research that shows reducing
deer can lead to a reduction in reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, members crucial to
the health of any ecosystem. Yet the DEIS shows that no consideration has been given to
these species.
Even if for the moment we just consider birds, research has shown that reducing deer can
lead to a reduction in ground nesting birds. Other research has shown significant
decreases in bark-foraging birds such as woodpeckers. Yet another study has shown
decreases in species such as Blue Jays,Northern Cardinal, and Carolina Wren when deer
are reduced.
The point is, as one researcher concluded: "management actions taken to regulate deer
densities could have the unintended effect of reducing local animal diversity."
It is also revealing that requests under the Freedom of Information Law for
documentation of consideration of biodiversity in the approval of development projects,
has returned zero results.
Therefore, if biodiversity is indeed a sincere concern for the trustees, I call on them to
perform the necessary field studies to measure and quantify biodiversity in the village
before proceeding with this environmentally impacting plan.
Eric Huang, Ithaca
Greenwald K,Petit L,and Waite T,2008.Indirect effects of a keystone herbivore elevate local animal
diversity. J.Wildl Manage 72(6):1318-1321.
Casey D,Hein D, 1983.Effects of heavy browsing on a bird community in deciduous forest.J. Wildl.
Manage.47: 829-836.
McShea WJ,Rappole JH,2000.Managing the abundance and diversity of breeding bird populations
through manipulation of deer populations. Conserv. Biol, 14:1 161-1 170.
McShea WJ,200. The influence of acom crops on annual variation in rodent and bird populations. Ecology
81:228-238.
A.Rutherford et al.,2010.Regional-Scale Assessment of Deer Impacts on Vegetation Within Western
Connecticut,USA. School of Forestry and Environmental Studies,Yale University.J. Wildl Manage
74(6):1257-1263.