Introduced and invasive species Brown marmorated stinkbug Mute

Introduced and invasive species Brown, marmorated stinkbug Mute swan, purple loosestrife in background

Which of the following species are native to North America? • Dandelion • House sparrow • Brown trout • Honeysuckle • Honeybees • House mouse • Ring-necked pheasant • Gypsy moth • Multiflora rose • Wild boar • Starling Answer: none of the above

Definitions: Introduced species (also called nonnatives, aliens and exotics): an organism that is released into a new location; for example, the Burmese python is an introduced species in Florida Invasive species: one that tends to spread, reproduce rapidly, and alter the environment for other species; for example, purple loosestrife is a locally invasive wetland plant

What makes an introduced species successful? Characteristics of the invader itself: • • Rapid reproductive rate/maturation For plants, having multiple ways to reproduce Compete aggressively for resources Being a generalist rather of a specialist in its niche – for example, rats are successful worldwide partly because they eat a wide variety of foods • Adaptable to varied climates Environmental circumstances: • Free from natural predators/parasites in home range • May find an underutilized niche – for example, the brown tree snake was introduced to Guam, which had no similar, predatory snake • Native species may not be adapted to compete with invader

Invasive Species: Means of transport/introduction: • Deliberate: ornamental plants; animals or fish for food/sport; plants for food, erosion control; biological control species • Released pets/accidental escapes • Ballast water • Stowaways in cargo ships or planes • Diseases/fungi/parasites on deliberately imported organisms • Some introductions occur naturally

Invasive Species: Environmental and economic impacts • Competition with native species • Alter habitats (ex: purple loosestrife drying wetlands) • May carry diseases or parasites • Disrupt natural cycles – ex: forest fire patterns • Over $500 million spent on Asian longhorned beetle control by APHIS (a federal agency) • Control of zebra mussels - $300 -400 million/year in Great Lakes alone • Invasive weeds on grazing lands – lost forage area

Invasive Species: What can be done? Ballast water: • Ballast water exchange • Filtration • Treatment with chemicals • Sterilization- UV light, electricity, ozone gas…

Improved customs inspections Fumigation of shipping containers

Once an invasive is established… • Biological controls • Pesticides/herbicides • Mechanical – pulling weeds, harvesting aquatic plants • Hunting – used for wild pigs, for example

Asian longhorned beetle Gypsy moth caterpillar and forest damaged by caterpillars Hemlock woolly adelgid Japanese beetle

Phragmites Asiatic daylily “butter and eggs” Japanese barberry Eurasian watermilfoil

Spotted knapweed Honeysuckle Kudzu Purple loosestrife Water chestnut

Sea lamprey Starling Pigeon/rock dove Zebra mussel House sparrow

Zebra mussel spread in the U. S. – https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=xt 5 Xr 6 ete. OY Asian carp in the Mississippi River – https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=r. Peg 1 tb. Bt 0 A Sea lamprey in the Great Lakes – https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=9 JQ 6 o. Hjpeq. U

Common carp Rainbow trout Brown trout Shiner

Brown tree snake (Guam) Round goby Cane toad (Australia)

Northern snakehead

Domesticated animals turned loose or escaped

Mongoose, Norway rat

Burmese pythons; breeding population in the Everglades

Ring-necked pheasant – introduced for hunting

Red-eared slider