A Study on Invasive Species

An invasive species is a species that comes out of its natural environment, and enters another. These animals are usually very bad for the ecosystem and may cause an unbalance. These animals usually come in with many competitive advantages and can easily dominate any competition. This will give them the ability to eat as much as they would like without being threatened in any way. This could possibly diminish many populations and end an entire ecosystem.

Invasive species are plants or animals that spread to a non-native ecosystem and cause harm to that area. Common characteristics of invasive species include their ability to permit a variety of conditions, produce lots of seeds or eggs, separate easily, has long growing period or quick reproduction time, and their new environment has comparable conditions to the original habitat. Invasive species most often have negative impacts when they are transported to another environment. A recent study done by the Center for Aquatic Conservation describes the effect some invasive species have. In various states of the U.S, it has been found that invasive species are costing more than “$200 million a year in losses to commercial

An invasive species is defined by Executive Order 122114. They are defined as an alien to the ecosystem, and the introduction of this species could cause or does cause economic or environmental damage or is harmful to humans (“What is an Invasive Species?” 1). It is also important to understand that it is not just animals that can be an invasive species (“What is an Invasive Species?” 1). Plants and microbes are also able to cause much harm (“What is an Invasive Species?” 1). Just how much harm do invasive species do though? Well it seems that these species are able to displace or eradicate native species, alter fire regimes, damage infrastructure, and threaten the livelihoods of people (“Invasive Species…..What are they and why are they a problem?” 1). In fact they are currently causing changes in

The book entitled, “Ecology of Weeds and Invasive Plants”, opens with a quote from Dr. A. S. Crafts saying, “in the beginning there were no weeds.”. This quote causes one to stop and think about it. What Dr. Crafts meant by this quote was that even though plants have existed for many years, weeds did not exist before humans began to travel about. With all the traveling that humans do the problem of invasive plants has grown tremendously (Radosevich, 1). The impact that invasive species have on the environment is often overlooked or thought of as unimportant. The issue is vast, yet little is done about it. The problem with invasive species is extremely important and will impact the world for generations to come. This paper will explain what invasive species are, show the negative impacts invasive species have on the environment, and what we can do about this issue.

Zebra Mussels are small mussels originally found in Russia, but were introduced into the Great Lakes in 1988. Zebra Mussels have spread throughout every Great Lake, and are prominent in over 100 inland lakes (Home). Ships traveling up the Erie Canal transported the zebra mussel from European waters into the Great Lakes. The zebra mussel quickly spread from Lake Erie to the other Great Lakes. The invading species began to attach itself to almost every solid thing in the Great Lakes. These can stick to boats, damage structures such as docks and piers, and they can clog water intake pipes, which are used for drinking and industrial use. Invasive species like the zebra

The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is a small freshwater mussel. Native to the Black Sea region of Eurasia, the zebra mussel began appearing in European lakes in the late 1700s and early 1800s. It is generally assumed that they were accidentally brought to America in the ballast water from ships carrying their larvae, juveniles or adult mussels. Canals may have also played an enormous role in the unknowing transportation and distribution of zebra mussels between major drainage basins. Within just a few years, zebra mussels have been known to travel to all of the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair and the Mississippi river watershed.

Invasive species are normally introduced by accident by getting on someone or something (boats, animals, etc.) and spreading to a new area. People with good intentions can help the invasives to spread when they are not informed about the proper ways to handle them. Some people think that if they find an invasive species they can put it in the compost and it will not spread. Unfortunately, the truth is that the plant fragments can re-sprout. Many people may not even be aware of what plants are invasive or native. For example, in California, there is an invasive plant called cotoneaster and it is sold in 46% of nurseries in the entire state totaling at about 58 nurseries where they are being sold (The Nature Conservancy). If the owners of these nurseries knew the plants they were selling were an invasive

Armyworms are stout bodied, hairless, striped caterpillars that chew the foliage of grasses and grain crops. Armyworms favorite food is corn and small grains, but they will occasionally feed on turf grasses. In this essay I argue that humans should take action regarding invasive species because many areas don't have enough food as is the case with the Armyworms.

Although the natural ecosystem is a dynamic system that is always changing in response to environmental changes ("Invasive Alien Species in Canada." Government of Canada, Environment Canada. Government of Canada, 19 July 2013. Web. 8 July 2015. . ) . Invasive species affect the ecosystem in a negative way, both in the short term and longer term altering not only the habitat but impacting native species abundance and richness. Invasive species are successful at adapting to new environments so readily because they are generalist. Meaning that they have traits and physiological characteristics that allow them to thrive in variety of conditions, they don’t have any predators in the new environment and they are able to reproduce quickly ("Characteristics of Invasive Species." Web. 8 July 2015. .).

When the first species arrived, there have been many species that have become extinct due to natural disasters, natural selection, or even just the dominance of species fighting for survival. When the Industrial Revolution started in human society, we have been the blame for many extinctions such as the Dodo which was hunted to extinction by sailors and invasive species brought over by the sailors (OneKind). Some of the threats to species due to humans are habitat loss, pollution in the atmosphere, and overpopulation. This could mean another extinct species creating another bullet point on the list of extinction.

Zebra mussels may seem to be small and harmless creators, but these invasive species are taking over the ecosystem. First appearing in the Great Lakes, but over time has spread all across the U.S causing huge problems. Zebra mussels are negatively impacting lakes and rivers, as they are invasive species, and are killing may native species.

According to the Invasive Species Advisory committee, (Committe, 2006), the term, “invasive species” relates to the establishment of a non-native species in an ecosystem. Furthermore, the presence of these species is likely to cause deleterious effects to the economy, environmental or human health. However, this characterization is sometimes contradicted as some non-native species seem to be beneficial either ecologically, economically, or esthetically, in the ecosystems to which they were introduced ( Definitions Subcommittee of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee, 2006). These alien species can include various organisms such as a plants, animal, fungus or bacteria.

The Maryland rivers and bays have seen a rise in the invasive catfish population, more specifically the blue and flathead species. They are native to the Midwest, making up up 75% of fish in the Virginia and Maryland tributaries. These fish are damaging the local ecosystems because of their size and no natural predators. State and local governments have been researching possible solutions to resolve the issues but the populations of these fish spread very quickly. Though it is sorely needed some of the solutions are experimental and could possibly hurt the native species in the process.

Influence on ecosystems range from human causes like the bulldozing of a forest to natural causes like a fire or a flood.  In recent times, the introduction and spread of invasive species has transformed native communities rapidly and, in some cases, created irreversible damages.  In the Earth’s history, changes have often occurred in the ecosystems.  For example, glaciers and the retreat of glaciers cause wide-spread changes.  However, although change is a constant in ecosystems, animals and habitats often cannot adapt to the rapid alterations of non-natural stresses.  Harm to the environment from the introduction of invasive species occurs through changes in the habitat and declines in the native species.  Invasive species

The biodiversity effects of non-native invasive species have been described as “immense, insidious and usually irreversible” (Veitch and Clout, 2002). There is significant evidence proving that invasive species can cause severe economic, environmental and ecological damage (Mack et al., 2000). A lot of time and research has been devoted to dividing the world into regions with distinctive habitats and species. Numerous pathways, mostly anthropogenic, are breaking down these realms and facilitating the ecological and biological invasion of non-native species.