Invasive species are a problem because they harm the environment
Invasive species are a problem because they harm the environment
Introduced species have had a drastic effect on Australian agriculture’s production and economy, and continue to pose an ever-growing threat. Invasive plant species are highly adaptable, resistant to control and spread aggressively. Methods of controlling these invasive species can often be expensive, time-consuming and controversial. Introduced plants can have drastic effects on natural ecosystems by smothering native vegetation, degrading creeks and rivers, and spreading diseases. Sometimes introduced vegetation species provide shelter for native animals. Animal agriculture is greatly affected by introduced species through deterioration of fence lines, poisoning livestock and creating impenetrable fortresses of plant matter, often hindering mustering practices. Lantana camara is destructive, toxic and detrimental to the economy of the agricultural industry. Efforts to control this plant have not been successful.…
Mack, R.N., Simberloff D., Lonsdale, W.M., Evans, H., Clout, M., and Bazzaz, F.A. (2000). Biotic invasions: Causes, epidemiology, global consequences, and control. Issues in Ecology 5. Available online at…
In the article, "The Snake That's Eating Florida" by Lauren Tarshis, it proves that humans have played a big part in the problem of invasive species. The article shows that in the early 1990’s Burmese pythons were actually popular pets, the problem was that these snakes can grow to be almost 20 feet long. It explains, “ Many people end up setting their unwanted snakes loose in the wild.” This caused the snakes to grow in numbers at an alarming rate, and overpopulate the everglades. Another piece of evidence from the short article “Sheepdogs to the Rescue” says that when humans used red foxes for sport hunting they found the penguins to be easy targets.…
A major concern in the Watershed is the presence of Invasive plants. These plant species have caused many problems with native species and seek dominance over plants similar to themselves. Invasive plants are introduced species that can thrive in areas beyond their natural range of dispersal. These plants are characteristically adaptable, aggressive, and have a high reproductive capacity. Their vigor combined with a lack of natural enemies often leads to an outbreak in…
An invasive species are often defined as animals, plants or microbes that are found apart from its native land and affect the economy, ecology and even the way of life for other species. For this reason, the Osteopilus Septentrionalis is now an invasive species to Florida. The Osteopilus Septentrionalis, also known as the Cuban Tree frog, is native to Cuba and has become an amazingly invasive species to the United States, within the last hundred years. It is believed to have come from Cuba as a stowaway in shipping crates from the Caribbean coming to the Florida Keys.…
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…
Invasive species are those that are newly settled in an ecosystem. An invasive exotic species is one that has the ability to outcompete other species when introduced into an ecosystem where it does not naturally occur.…
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…
An invasive species is defined as a species that is non-native or alien to a community or ecosystem that was introduced by humans and has turned invasive, spreading widely and coming to dominate in the community causing economic or environmental harm. The cane toad is an example of an invasive species. It is a large, strong, and healthy amphibian that is native to Central and South America. They are predators of insects and other small prey. The cane toad was introduced to Australia in 1935. The reason that it was brought to Australia was to try to control the pest beetles that were destroying fields of sugarcane before the use of chemicals. It was a catastrophic mistake. The cane toads failed to eat the beetles and they…
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.…
Biopollution can occur very easily, one small plant is imported into the country and it begins to grow. Due to the fact that it has no natural enemies the plant or animal reproduces extremely quick. At this pace the native plant are plants contact diseases and become inferior to the invasive species. A prime example of an evasive species to the Florida everglades is the Schinus terebinthifolius other wise know as the Brazilian pepper. The Brazilian pepper was introduced into the environment of South Florida by landscaping and birds spreading its seeds. The beautiful red color makes for a great landscaping thus was very common in yards.…
“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.…
Burmese pythons specifically the Python molurus bivittatus species are native to several countries in Southeast Asia. But through pet trade, they've found their way into Florida and Puerto Rico. The concern is that they'll overtake other native, smaller snakes. The state of Florida is all-out hunting these creatures down because they're a threat to small kids, pets and farm animals. Burmese python affects the environment in a bad way because it is forcing other animals out their habitat or it is affecting the food chain. Another way to stop the invader is to stop it from being traded in the U.S. If we stop the trade there would be no need for us to waste resources to try and hunt them down. If we don’t stop these snakes they will mess up…
One of the solutions we came up with is for penguins. A man named Swampy Marsh came up with an idea for sheep dogs to guard penguins, from the foxes. He had two guarding them and they were very good at it. Sheepdogs are a type of bread that if it knows what to protect will protect it with their lives. That is exactly what they have been doing from when they had less than 10 penguins now there's over 800. Other invasive animals need to be taken care of to, just like the python that is taking over florida. We are coming up with many solutions, but none of them are quit working. We have tried having competitions, scientists catching them, told people to report sightings, but none have completely worked. Of course we have brought down the population, but it is barely a dent. The medfly is another terrible invasive specie. They hunt down fruit farms that can have any of 250 types of fruit they will eat. They swoop in and take over. The only way we have found that works to get rid of them is quarantining the area that they are found. There are downsides to this, it costs millions of dollars a year and when they come to a fruit farm they will eat it…