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Invasive species impact on ecosystems
The impact of invasive species on ecosystems
Thesis on management and control of invasive species
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Invasive species are a leading threat to native species and biodiversity, are an important driver of global ecological and evolutionary change, and have caused significant economic damage. In response, many governments are developing management strategies for prohibiting new introductions and reducing the impacts of aquatic invasive species. The task is daunting: landscapes to be managed are vast, there are numerous invasive species, and resources available for invasive species management activities are limited (Zanden, 2008). In the meantime, research studies are being conducted to learn more about these invasives and how best to manage them in a humane and responsible way. For example, a recent study done by Wojtal-Frankiewicz, Bernasinska, Frankiewicz, Gwozdzinski, and Jurczak showed how the antioxidant defenses of zebra mussels were affected in the presence of different …show more content…
The findings could be taken into account in the selection of parameters used in biomonitoring research and in the interpretation of their results, and may be particularly important for criteria used in studies of the invasive potential and distribution of zebra mussels in other parts of the world. Studies like this are important in gaining knowledge of the environments that zebra mussel populations can survive and thrive in, and helping threatened and invaded ecosystems to move away from those conditions. The susceptibility of an aquatic ecosystem to becoming infested with an invasive species is also a topic of interest in the research of how zebra mussel populations spread. A study done on aquatic invasive species implies that resistance of a native community to invasion by non-native species is related to competition, predation, and parasitism. (Havel, et al., 2015)
As if there weren’t enough problems for scientists trying to save the Great Lakes Eco System. Many non-native species have entered the eco system and many of them are harmful. Every species in itself has played a role in the eco system. These non-native species make it increasingly difficult for the Great Lakes Eco System to be regulated.
Did you know that you happen to be surrounded by invasive species? These species are animals that come into areas they do not belong in. The articles, “Invaders among Us,” and “Invader Alert,” show this. They harm the environment, cost tons of money in damage and extermination, and they have to be prevented.
...bility to multiply fast and to attach to almost any hard surface they are a hard species to handle (“Zebra Mussels,” 2013, para. 3). They can ruin ecosystems and ruin economies with their effort to eradicate them. It is unfortunate that at present time there’s no really good or safe way to get rid of them and return lakes and rivers back to normality. Until then we have to take the necessary measure to ensure that the spread of Zebra Mussels is at halt. The people who work at Lake Pueblo and the DOW have done a great job in making sure Zebra Mussels are not a threat. Since the first incident no Zebra Mussels or larvae have been found at Lake Pueblo or in any other water in Colorado (“Pueblo Chieftain,” 2008, para. 12). Hopefully the Zebra Mussel is a thing of the past here in Colorado but a watchful eye must always be present just in case they do ever show up again.
A common inference made by scientists predicts that the zebra mussel will continue spreading passively, by ship and by pleasure craft, to more rivers in North America. Trailered boat traffic is the most likely cause for invasion into North America. This spread can be preventable if boaters thoroughly clean and dry their boats and associated equipment before transporting them to new bodies of water. Since no North American predator or combination of predators has been shown to significantly reduce zebra mussel numbers, such spread would most likely result in permanent establishment of zebra mussels in many North American waterways.
Picture this: you're having a nice weekend at the lake with your family, fishing, swimming, and having an all-around great time. But then you notice that your boat isn't running as well as it should, especially considering you just cleaned it and made sure everything was in perfect condition before leaving your house. Puzzled, you take your boat out of the water to notice that the hull and motor is covered in tiny clam-like creatures, making your pristine white boat look like something that was just drug out of the bottom of the lake. What are these animals that ruined your weekend of fun? They are zebra mussels, and are found in lakes, rivers, and other bodies of freshwater across the U.S. Normally found in Eastern Europe, the first group of this invasive species hitched a ride in the ballast tanks of ocean liners in the 1980s, and quickly spread. Regulations are in place to stop the spread, but removing them from places that have already been infested is tricky. Today we will talk about the damages zebra mussels cause, how this problem is managed, and what you can do to help.
In conducting my research, I observed activity on a rocky shore off the coast of Washington in the Northwest United States (workbook). This environment inhabits 10 species in shallow water nearly on top of each other. Each species helps form a complicated ecosystem where species protect, consume, and compete for space with other species. Out of the 10 species there are three producers, three sessile consumers (otherwise known as filter feeders), and four mobile consumers- one of which is an invasive species. In this environment the producers are Nori Seaweed (Porphyra), Black Pine (Neorhodomela), and Coral Weed (Corallina). Producers make their own food through sunlight, so only have predators and competition for space. Coral Weed is the strongest
Nonnative species can also be called alien, exotic, or nonindigenous. Their presence is due to humans dispersing them to other locations beside their native habitat, or by humans creating environmental conditions that allow their growth. When nonnative species begin to take over a new habitat and displace native species, they are then termed an invasive species. Nonnative invasive species are one of the biggest threats to ecosystems in North America (Cox, 1999) because they are able to have an impact on many levels, including ecosystems, communities, and populations (Cushman, Tierney, & Hinds, 2004).
Invasive species are organisms that harm a new environment that they are not native to. Many invasive species like Eurasian milfoil are easily able to reproduce and can do so fast. Due to this, the limited space in a body of water or area of land is quickly taken over by the invasive species so other native plants face the risk of death or even extinction. Overall, these invasive species can do great harm to an ecosystem or an economy, causing problems that are destructive to numerous organisms.
With more primitive ocean species occurring more in our oceans many problems are posed by them. One thing is that they interfere more and more with the cycle that our oceans go through the animal’s way of life is changing. For example the Australian algae has definitely disrupted ecosyst...
Niskern, Diana. Invasive species. Washington, D.C. (101 Independence Ave., S.E.): Science Reference Section, Science, Technology, and Business Division, Library of Congress, 2004.
When people think of invasive species, they normally do not think of the human species, but why not? There is a large debate about whether or not humans are an invasive species. Before people debate whether or not the human race is an invasive species, they should know the definition of one. The legal definition of an invasive species in the United States is “an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” (Zielinski). The International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, defines an invasive species as “animals, plants or other organisms introduced by man into places outside their natural range of distribution, where they become established and disperse, generating a negative impact on the local ecosystem and species” (Zielinski).
Modern-day genetic technology has granted mankind with the opportunity to bring back extinct species from the dead. If humans have come to possess the DNA from an extinct animal population, it is possible to create an identical clone of the animal in question, effectively “bringing it back from the dead”. Many ethical dilemmas surround the practice of de-extinction, and rightfully so. Recreating an extinct species could produce groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs, generating exciting opportunities for future genetics-based research. However, there could also be monumental consequences: the newly revived, once-extinct species might destroy the ecological equilibrium of modern Earth
Invasive alien species are disrupting and changing the normal ecological functions of biomes, ecosystems, and the biosphere as a whole (CBD, 2009). They are a threat to biodiversity and can cause damage to, or even eradicate native species which natural cycles and other organisms depend on. While disrupting energy flow, food chains, and shaking the structure of ecosystems to the core, invasive species create not only ecological, but also a whole host of social, economical, and health issues that affect the livelihood of almost every organism on earth, including humans (CBD, 2009).
Introducing exotic species has been a highly debated issue. Why should we bring another animal or plant into a region to eradicate another species? That’s the question that people have been asking for ages. Of course, there are positives to bringing in another species, but many times, there are just as many negatives. Also, these species can be introduced accidentally or intentionally. The new organism may cause no obvious problems and eventually, it will be considered “native” to the area. For example, corals are “perhaps the oldest animals on the planet, and these long-lived corals have evolved in one of the Earth’s most stable environments” (Eichenberg, p.2). If a new type of fish were to be put into the ecosystem with the corals, the coral would be affected. First, the fish might eat the coral. Second, they could use the coral for shelter, and possibly damaging it that way. Third, the fish could bring predators that might also eat the coral. Introducing an exotic species has the “rippling affect” of dropping a stone into a pool of water. Everything outside the epicenter is affected. A study was done at Cornell University, and they estimated that $120 billion per year are spent fixing the problems caused by exotic species” (Chiras, p.
nuclei was then inactivated and substituted with dead nuclei from the extinct frog. Some eggs started to grow and divide to early embryo stage (a tiny ball of m...