The introduction of the nutria rat into other areas was supposed to provide economic benefits, but instead in Louisiana, they caused damage to cane, rice fields, and wetlands. Nutria rats live in “brackish marshes and wetlands and feed on vegetation that is vital to sustaining the Louisiana coastline” (“Nutria, Eating Louisianas Coast” 1). When they feed on the vegetation it is called eat-outs which end up making “openings in the marsh vegetation, and they are currently affecting an estimated 100,000 acres of coastal wetlands” (“Nutria, Eating Louisianas Coast” 1). Most of the wetlands were “converting to open water at a rate of 25-35 square miles (65-91 square kilometers) each year” (“Nutria, Eating Louisianas Coast” 1). At this rate, the…
An ecological organization completed a data analysis on the biological diversity in Central America. The organization completed an inventory of two species of sloths in order to observe for regular and irregular movement patterns of sloths. There are two types of sloths that are predominant in the area which is observed. Both these sloths choose niches based on their movement patterns and their preferences for biotic and abiotic factors.…
MacDougall AS and Turkington R. 2005. Are invasive species the drivers or passengers of change in degraded ecosystems? Ecology 86: 42-55.…
The average adult Nutria eats at the least ¼ of their own body weight. “In most of the world, the animal is called coypu, but in North America, the animal is called nutria. In the rest of the world, nutria is the name of the fur of the animal”. (Nutria.com)…
On to its eating habits, it is a bottom feeder, isn’t that gross? Anyway they eat insects and other gross stuff found in the water with a little mud and gravel to help them chew it up. Platypuses live in rain forests in Australia and they are not easily seen by people because they do not like being around people.…
To analyze the dangers posed by pythons in Florida, one looks at the information on case study, location, statistics, dangers to the ecosystem, methods of control and laws. It is a fact that large pythons do pose a major threat to numerous aspects of life. Wildlife biologist Skip Snow states, “We’re bringing them into the country under the idea that they’re all innocent until proven guilty” (Kessler 8). Since there are many uncertainties about just how much of a problem the pythons truly pose, officials feel that measures are necessary to further understand them. However, much data and information is available about the pythons; still, there is a great deal that is unknown about their biology and natural behavior.…
When the early settlers came to Australia, they removed lots of native bushland and Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat‘s habitats for building Houses and cities, they also made farms and agriculture areas where the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat’s lived. The Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat was known as a “pest” to many Farmers in that area. The Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat used to eat many crops and vegetation, dig burrows on farming areas and even damage fences. This was an unusual environment for the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat and lead to many Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat’s dying because they did not have their natural habitat, and they did not have native plants and grasses that the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat eats.Farmers would shoot the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat because of its damage to the farm and agriculture. This is also another reason why the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat species is nearly…
Invasive species are organisms that infiltrate ecosystems that are unable to support their alien lifestyle and diet. Their initial invasion may seem inconsequential and, frankly, insignificant at first, but their numbers will quickly grow and multiply, so much that the future outcome takes a drastic turn for the worst. Florida, in particular, has been attacked by numerous invasive species because of its accessibility to foreign cargo and material. The Burmese python, Cuban treefrog, and lionfish are just a few of the infamous invasive species growing in prominence throughout Florida. Even though these species seem incredibly different, they have one thing in common - an ability to tear down entire ecosystems by just being alive! It is important…
To begin, Burmese pythons don’t have many predators. As a result, the pythons have been killing large numbers of opossums, raccoons, bobcats, and bird species. In the newspaper article “Florida’s Python Hunt” the text states in paragraph one, “With no natural predators, these eating machines appear to be wiping out huge numbers of opossums, raccoons, and bobcats, as well as many bird species.” Basically, there are giant monsters killing everything on the menu! Pythons are vicious snakes that can afflict great damage to the food chain.…
The kudzu problem, also known as the invasive species Pueraria montana var. lobata, currently rages across the Southern US, drowning out the native vegetation and covering anything in its way, including human architecture. However, the kudzu faces the same upcoming trials as we do—climate change. Will the kudzu, having already stood the test of migration, handle the coming climate shift just as well? To answer this question, we examine the three characteristics of kudzu that allow it to succeed as an invasive species, outcompeting both native species and human landowners, and how these same characteristics…
The Florida panther The Florida panther is a beautiful panther,but is the only subspecies of a panther in the East Coast. This mammals population in the 1800s was approximately 1,360. It has dramatically declined to 100,but it is slowly increasing. Disease,inbreeding and human interaction are the main reason why the Florida panther is endangered. It is sad that the Florida panther is endangered.…
Sus scrofa, commonly known as feral hogs, have been present in North America region since the arrival of the earliest settlers in the sixteenth century (Ditchkoff and West 2007). Colonist’s originally released feral hogs because of the high adaptability of this species to their surrounding habitat and ability to survive thus being a ready food supply for settlers. Due to their high adaptability to new habitat, this solution species for the survival of settlers has now become a problematic species within the ecosystem today. Feral hogs currently occur in 40 of the 50 states, can strongly influence ecosystem processes, and often directly or indirectly affect native flora and fauna, as well as crops and soil (Mayer and Brisbin 1991, Ditchkoff and West 2007, Kaller et al. 2007, Hartin et al. 2007). Due to the strong and often negative effects feral hogs have on natural systems, as well as economically valued commodities, managers are often tasked with developing and implementing control programs for this species (Engeman et al. 2007, Rollings et al. 2007).…
An invasive species is a species that does not naturally take place in a particular area and with its arrival brings economic, environmental or human harm (1). Recently there has been a bigger emphasis on invasive species (1). They are threatening our agriculture and forests and causing major impacts to our cities (1). The characteristics that make the species thrive in their environment vary with each. Their characteristics in general can be the lack of predators they have, their fast growing and their ability to alter soil and habitat conditions to better suit their own survival (2). Of the many invasive species there are to talk about, the one focused on will be the Mexican fruit fly.…
“Altering water flows and the natural pattern of wildfires allowed exotic plants to invade 1.5 million acres of the Everglades.” These nonnative plants were able to grow and invade 1.5 million acres of the Everglades because of the native plants struggles to receive water.. The nonnative plants have also been able to thrive because they have no natural predators in the Everglades. Some nonnative plants, even, become a small part of the landscape. Others thrive at damaging native plants and wildlife. “Animal invaders, like the Burmese python, start breeding throughout the park after being released by pet-owners who could not take care of them.” This leads to animal invaders to compete with or prey on native species. For example, “the Cuban tree frog eating smaller native frogs, the Nile monitor eating burrowing owls and crocodile eggs, and the Burmese pythons preying on alligators.” These invasive species don’t have natural predators to stop them from overgrowing in the Everglades. Invasive or nonnative plants and animals have taken over the Everglades because its ecosystem is struggling, so nonnative species take advantage of this and make the Everglades their new…
In many opinions, invasive species becoming introduced to a different environment is not deemed acceptable. With many situations incorporating these species, they are sought to be pests, only trying to make lives difficult for others. Many also have come to believe, from experience, that these insidious species cause harm to the environment of which they are newly exposed to. The businesses and/or government agencies that bring invasive species to a new environment must consider many measures before transferring and following through with brings the species forth to a new location. With careful considerations of transportation, other natural predators, the actual environment and the sole purpose, the business and/or government agency must vigilantly take into consideration the actions it is about to partake in.…