1. Invasive Species

2. What is an Invasive Species?  A species that has been introduced or is not native to an environment  Invasive species are generally harmful to the local habitat or native species  Unwanted pest

3. More Examples of Invasive Species  Grey squirrel  American beaver  Cane toad

4. INVASIVE SPECIES PROBLEMS  World-wide problem  Increase in travel and trade open routes  In U.S. costs $137 billion dollars per year  Approximately 42% of Threatened or Endangered species are at risk due to non-native, invasive species.  Raise havoc in ecosystems and threaten species diversity

5. Estimated annual costs associated with non-native species: Group costs (in millions) Plants (purple loosestrife, weeds) 34,000 Mammals (feral pigs, rats) 37,000 Birds (pigeons, starlings) 2,000 Fishes 1,000 Arthropods (ants, termites, other pests) 19,000 Mollusks (zebra mussel, asian clam) 1,200 Microbes (plant pathogens, animal disease) 41,000 All organisms over $136 billion per year Source: Pimentel et al. 2000 BioScience

6. Terminology  Native – species found within its natural range  Non-native (introduced, alien, exotic, non-indigenous) – a species living outside it native distribution range which has arrived there by human activity either deliberate or accidental.  Note: non-native, introduced, exotic, non-indigenous and alien are often used interchangeably.  Feral (released pets, livestock and game animals) – an animal living in the wild but descended from domesticated individuals  Human commensal or subsidized (out of control natives) - native species that benefit from our land use (disturbance)  Invasive species - species that spread subsequent to establishment usually at some cost. US legal definition - an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

7. Overview of Situation

8. Causes of Invasion  Introduced as a result of human activity – estimated 50,000 exotic organisms released in US every year – globalization has increased individual and commercial long distance travel and trade resulting in the altering of important waterways. Non-native species are introduced as a result and some species become invasive species.  10% Rule Only 10% of introduced exotics will live at all due to wrong climate, food availability and other factors; of the 10% that live, only 10% will actually breed and become invasive – EPA estimates. 6,500 established invasive species in the U.S. (USGS)  10% Rule – Only 10% of introduced exotics will live at all due to wrong climate, food availability and other factors; of the 10% that live, only 10% will actually breed and become invasive – EPA estimates. 6,500 established invasive species in the U.S. (USGS)

9. Different Routes of Invasion Most invasions are due to human activities:  Plant or pet trade  Commercial shipping  Tourism …and many other routes…

10. Vectors or Modes For Invasion

11. Quiz: What Characteristics Make A Good Invader?  Rapid reproduction  Fast growth  High dispersal  Tolerant to many different conditions  Able to live off many different foods  Used by humans

12. Intentional Release Intentional Release- Release of Target Species into the Environment  Economic Purposes – nutria  Plants for Agriculture  Plants for Forestry  Plants for Soil Improvements - fire suppression, erosion control  Aesthetic reasons – honeysuckle, purple loosestrife  Ornamental Plants  Cultural Purposes – starlings, Asian Shore crabs  Birds and Mammals for Hunting  Misguided Environmental Projects – Kudzu, Multiflora rose  Biological Control – species intended as controls become invasive  Released Pets and Pet Trade  Naturalization societies  Shakespeare fans – plan to release all birds mentioned in works of Shakespeare – 12 birds released including European Starling  Domestic animals  Release of lab animals or plants – by science teachers and researchers

13. Accidental Release Accidental Releases - Release of Non-Target Species  Ballast water in ships (Green crab, Zebra Mussel, Comb Jellyfish)  Canals – as St. Lawrence River & Great Lake system  Timber – unprocessed wood  Accident release of organisms – gypsy moth, “Killer” African bees  Contaminants of Seed Stock  Fruit Shipments  Transfer in packing material (European Green Crab to CA, Horned Asian Beetle)  By-pass natural barriers  Cars and Planes  Tourists, Luggage  As Hitchhikers with Packing Material, Cargo  As Contaminants or Hitchhikers with Produce  As Contaminants or Hitchhikers with Ornamental Plants  As Contaminants or Hitchhikers with Aquaculture

14. Effects of Invasive Species on Ecosystems  Direct competition with native species  Lose of species diversity – may cause native species to become endangered  Short-circuit interactions in natural communities & disrupt natural food web  Affect entire ecosystem functions as water availability and nutrient cycle

15. Billions of dollars in damage to forests, property values, agricultural productivity, public utility operations, native fisheries, tourism, outdoor recreation Billions of dollars in programs by federal and state agencies to control invasive speciesBillions of dollars in programs by federal and state agencies to control invasive species $137 billion in damages per year$137 billion in damages per year ECONOMIC EFFECTS

16. INVASION PROCESS

17. EXAMPLE OF INVASION PROCESS The St. Lawrence Seaway is the common name for a system of canals that permits ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the North American Great Lakes, as far as Lake Superior. Niagara Falls was a major challenge – Weland Canal lock system set up to bypass falls The Seaway opened in 1959 and cost $470 million US

18. Results of St. Lawrence Seaway  The creation of the seaway also led to the introduction of foreign species of aquatic animals, including the sea lamprey, alewife, and the zebra mussel as well as plant species into the Great Lakes Basin.  These organisms were introduced via ballast water from oceanic vessels.

19. Ballast Water Problem

20. Zebra Mussel Spread

22. Also attaches to boat hulls, docks, locks, breakwaters and navigation aids, increasing maintenance costs and impeding waterborne transport. One of the most expensive exotic species Will biofoul and restrict the flow of water through intake pipes (drinking, cooling, processing and irrigating water)

23. They have a free-living planktonic larval stage— veliger Can attach to hard surfaces Females can produce 40,000 veligers These are typical characteristic of marine species

24. Veligers are easily transported in bait buckets and livewells and anywhere else water collects Adults can attach to hulls and survive outside of water for several days. Cover most hard surfaces

25. Negative effects on native clams Zebra mussels cover them and prevent them from feeding and moving

26. Empty all water before leaving site Never dump bait buckets!! Before leaving site, inspect gear, boats and trailers for exotics Let equipment dry for several days (does not work for species with resting eggs) Rinse your boat and equipment with high pressure hot water, especially if moored for more than a day

27. Characteristics of Invasive Species

28. Invasion Curve

29. Timing for the Control of Invasive Species

30. Controlling Invasive Species  Controlling invasive species once they have become established is difficult.  Control is also usually very expensive!  There are ways that invasive species are controlled:  Prevention  Eradicating potential invaders soon after invasion  Physical (manual & mechanical)  Cultural – Ecosystem Management  Biological – natural enemies  Chemical - pesticides  Integrated Pest Management – Uses a combination of methods – OFTEN MOST EFFECTIVE

31. Side Effects of Control Methods  Biological – control species can become invasive  Chemical – may kill native species  Physical – may miss removing some of the invasive species  Prevention – apathy and lack of awareness

32. Physical Control of Invasive Species Controlling plants:  Mechanical – excavation, strimming, etc.  Removal of plants by hand  Installation of growth barriers Controlling animals:  Culling  Trapping and hunting  Putting up barriers or fences

33. Chemical Control of Invasive Species  Chemical control involves applying poison to eliminate invasive species  E.g. Eradication of rats on Henderson Island  Use rodenticide (rat poison)  Insecticides & pesticides to control insect pests  Herbicides (weed-killer) to control plants

34. Biological Control of Invasive Species  Uses a living organism to control invasive species  This organism may eat the invasive species or cause it to become diseased  Biological control agents must be carefully assessed before release to ensure the control species will not become invasive itself Seven-spot ladybirdHarlequin ladybird

35. Preventing Invasive Species  Prevention is better than cure!  Preventing invasive species from being introduced somewhere in the first place, or preventing them from spreading if they do arrive, is the key to avoiding long-term harm to ecosystems

36. Barrow Island Case Study  Barrow Island is a small island off the NW coast of Australia that is home to many species that have become rare or extinct on the Australian mainland This is partly due to a rigorous Quarantine Management System (QMS) operated by Chevron, which prevents invasive species from becoming established on the island

38. Laws & Regulations - Federal  NISA  NISA – National Invasive Species Act - ANS “Aquatic Nuisance Species” Task Force  Executive Order 13112  Executive Order 13112 on Invasive Species – coordinates activities of government agencies  The Lacy Act  The Lacy Act – regulates import and transport of species  USDA APHIS  USDA APHIS – US Dept. of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service  CDC  CDC – Center for Disease Control

39. Laws & Regulations – State & Local  Individual States have laws and regulations to control and prevent the spread of Invasive Species http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/laws/statelaws.shtml  Check with your local extension agency or government agencies before collecting any invasive species

40. National Invasive Species List  Organized by groups of organisms  Organized alphabetically by common name within the group to match USDA National Invasive Species List of Profiles  http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/index.shtml http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/index.shtml  Browse in Animals for Insects/other Invertebrates, Aquatic Species for Animals & Plants, Plants, and Microbes for Fungi and Viruses  USDA profiles also have other resource links

41. More Examples Asian Long-horned Beetle - attacks and kills many native trees Found in Chicago in 1998

42. Mammals  Goats and pigs  in Hawaii wiped out native plants  Horses in Grand Canyon  causing erosion  Game animals  “Texotics” “Texotics” Oryx Photo: Dr Mike Hill

43. Plants Kudzu Introduced into the U.S. in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition promoted as a forage crop and an ornamental plant until 1953 kills other plants by smothering them under a solid blanket of leaves

44. Plants Garlic mustard Buckthorn garlic mustard outcompetes native plants by monopolizing light, moisture, nutrients, soil and space. Not as good food for herbivores as many native species poses a severe threat to native plants and animals

45. Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) Found in Maryland in 2002 Giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes) found in Wisconsin in 2003 Fish