1. BIOLOGICAL POLLUTION: THE NONINDIGENOUS AQUATIC SPECIES PROBLEMBy
Bob McMahon
Professor of Biology
Dean of the Honors College
The University of Texas at Arlington

2. The University of Texas at Arlington Great Minds, Great Futures
The Honors College
The University of Texas at Arlington
Great Minds, Great Futures

3. The Honors College Program
Advanced academic programming for exceptional students
3.2 GPA required, average GPA of 3.5 among our 700 students
Honors degree awarded in addition to degree in major
Renewable scholarships ranging from $500 – 12,000 per year
Small classes taught by award-winning faculty
Final year thesis based on research supervised by faculty
Subsidized study abroad (individual and group)
Service learning
Summer stipends to assist faculty members with research
Bridge to Graduate School fellowship program
Honors Academy dual credit program
Advanced Placement Summer Institute

4. What is a Nonindigenous Species?
A ‘nonindigenous species’ (NIS) is one which has been introduced to areas outside of its native (natural) distribution range
Dispersal into nonnative habitats may be by natural or human mediated vectors

5. Types of Nonindigenous Species
Terrestrial and Aquatic Plants & Algae
Terrestrial Vertebrates
Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals
Terrestrial Invertebrates
Mollusks, Insects
Aquatic Vertebrates
Fishes, Amphibians, Mammals
Aquatic Invertebrates
Mollusks, Crustaceans
Animal Pathogens
Plant Pathogens

6. Impacts of Nonindigenous Species (NIS)
Benefits of NIS
Harmful Impacts of NIS
Agricultural Crops
Negative Economic Impacts
Livestock
Agricultural Pests
Pet Industry
Forestry Pests
Nursery Industry
Macrofouling Pests
Fish and Wildlife Management
Aquaculture Pests
Biological Control
Negative Human Health Impacts
Ornamental Plants - Gardening
Negative Environmental Impacts
Ecosystem Alteration
Extinction of Indigenous Species
Reduction in Biodiversity
Environmental Degradation

7. Vectors for NIS Introduction and Dispersal

8. Basic Difference between Chemical/Particulate Pollution and Biological Pollution
The technology for mitigating and controlling chemical and particulate pollution is available and readily applied - release of chemical and particulate pollutants is readily abated
Once established, NIS are almost impossible to remove from the environment
NIS disperse to new habitats after establishment by natural and human mediated means
Control of NIS is often equally or more harmful to nontarget, indigenous species
Once the genie of a nonindigenous species is let out of its box, it is almost impossible to put it back again

9. Some Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Impacting or Potentially Impacting
Northeast Texas
Aquatic Habitats

10. Golden Algae Prymnesium parvum
Esturaine crysophyte alga introduced to brackish lakes in Texas river drainages. Toxic blooms cause massive fish kills.

11. Eurasian Water
Milfoil

12. Hydrilla verticillata

13. Water Hyacinth

14. Asian Clam

15. Nutria

16. Some Aquatic Nonindigenous Species potentially Impacting
Northeast Texas
Aquatic Habitats
If Introduced

17. Giant Salvinia

18. Purple Loosestrife

19. Tamarisk
(Salt Cedar)

20. Zebra Mussel

21. Limnoperna (Golden Mussel)

22. Asian Swamp Eel

23. Northern Snakehead Fish

24. Asian Carp
Bighead Carp
Silver Carp

25. Why Should We Worry About Nonindigenous Species Introductions?

26. Cumulative Numbers of Nonindigenous Species of Foreign Origin in the United States
200
Plant Pathogens
100
180
Molluscs
Terrestrial Vertebrates 90
160 80
Fish
140 70
120 60
Cumulative Number of Species
100
Cumulative Number of Species 50 80 40 60 30 40 20 20 10
1790
1830
1870
1910
1950
1990
1790
1830
1870
1910
1950
1990
Year
2000
Year
1800
Plants
1600
Insects
1400
1200
1000
Cumulative Number of Species
800
600
400
200
1790
1830
1870
1910
1950
1990
Year

27. Reported Effects of Nonindigenous Species in the United States
Terrestrial Vertebrates (n = 125)
Insects (n = 1,059)
Harmful Effects
Benefits
32%
31.3%
Benefits
Harmful Effects 8%
35.4%
Bene/Harmful
24%
36%
33.3%
Neutral
Neutral
Fishes (n = 111)
Molluscs (n = 88)
Harmful
Effects
Benefits
Harmful Effects
43.4%
28%
Bene/Harmful
30%
3.0%
25%
17%
53.5%
Neutral
Bene/Harmful
Neutral

29. U.S. Congress Office of Technology NIS Report Recommendations
More effective screening of imported fish, wildlife and their diseases
More stringent evaluations of new plant introductions for their potential as harmful weeds
Better rapid response to emergencies and better means of setting priorities

30. Approaches to NIS Species Regulation
Dirty or Black Lists:
NIS listed as harmful cannot be imported or released
Found to be harmful only after introduction and establishment
Regulator determines if NIS is harmful
Reactive - Poor! Does not prevent new NIS
Clean or White Lists:
All NIS are prohibited unless determined to be acceptable prior to release
Places burden of proof on the importer to demonstrate that a species is not harmful
Proactive - Good!
Gray List:
Combination of Black and White list approaches
Best!

31. Many Thanks
for Your
Attention