Transcript Invasive Alien Species: Future Challenges Jamie K. Reaser ____________

Invasive Alien Species:
Future Challenges
____________
Jamie K. Reaser
Ecos Systems Institute &
Smithsonian Institution
The Global Supermarket
and other things
Levetin and McMahon, 1996
Lufthansa
Problem Definition(s)
“Alien Species”
“with respect to a particular ecosystem,
any species, including its seeds, eggs,
spores, or other biological material
capable of reproducing that species,
that is not native to that ecosystem.”
(E.O. 13112, 3 February 1999)
exotic, non-native, non-indigenous
Problem Definition(s)
“Invasive Species”
“an alien species whose introduction does or
is likely to cause econ. or environmental
harm or harm to human health”
(E.O. 13112) invasive alien species, alien invasive species
What Makes a “Good”
Invader?
Some examples • rapid growth rate
• great dispersal capabilities
• large reproductive output
Western Extermination Company
• broad environmental tolerance
Problem Definition(s)
“Vectors”
“the means by
which an invasive
species is moved”
modes
(NISC = limited to disease/parasite)
Freight Solutions Int’l.
Problem Definition(s)
“Pathways”
“the routes along
which an invasive
species is moved”
(NISC = means of movement)
Problem Definition(s)
“Intentional
Introduction”
“Unintentional
Introduction”
USGS
“Stowaways” “Hitchhikers”
Causes - “The 3 Ts”
Globalization
Trade -Travel -Transport
More - Faster - Further
Causes - Environmental
Land Use Change
Global Climate Change
Consequences - Environmental
Invasive species are the 2nd
or 3rd most significant
driver of environmental
change globally (Sala et
al. 2000).
Invasive species are the 2nd
greatest threat to
Threatened and
Endangered species in
the U.S. (Wilcove et al.
1988).
Consequences - Environmental
Significant impact on the
structure and function of
ecosystems – and their
resultant services.
• Fire regimes
• Nutrient cycling
• Hydrology
• Energy flow
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
Consequences - Environmental
Recreation
• Boating
• Fishing
• Hiking/Camping
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
Consequences - Economic
Introduced from Latin America as
a high protein food source, the
golden apple snail caused losses to
Philippine rice crops during the
1980’s of @ $1 billion (Naylor
1996).
Losses to agriculture globally:
$55-248 billion/year.
Costs to U.S. estimated to be
at least $100 billion/year
(Pimentel et al. 2000).
Consequences - Human Health
Disease epidemics
Increased pesticide use
Food and water shortages
Consequences - Human Health
Giant African Snail (Achnatina fulica)
Thought to have been introduced into
Pacific Basin during military activities
associated with WWII. Now in pet trade.
Now established in Hawaii and Guam (D.
Robinson pers. com.). Florida?
Intermediate host for “rat lungworm”
(Angiostrongylus cantonensis) which can
infect the human brain, causing
headache, fever, paralysis, coma, and
even death (Roberts and Janovy 1996).
Consequences - Political
Barriers to
Sustainable
Development
• Food Security • Water Security
• Human Health • Poverty
• Regional Conflict • Migration
Consequences - Political
Opportunities for Sustainable Development
• Food Security
• Water Security
• Employment
• Education
• Health Care
South Africa’s Working for Water Programme
Consequences - Political
Invasive alien species could prevent
governments and industries from:
• Selling some types of food products
• Selling “living” commodities
• Using certain kinds of containers
Barriers to
international trade
and economic
growth
Freight Solutions Int’l.
Consequences - Political
Biosecurity
Deliberate attacks
using biological
agents
• Humans
• Wildlife
• Domestic animals and
agriculture
Addressing the Problem
• Established by
Executive Order
13112 in 1999.
• Non-Federal Invasive
Advisory Committee
• National Invasive
Species Management
Plan released Jan.
2001.
National Invasive
Species Council (NISC)
www.invasivespecies.gov
Management Plan
Plan contains 57
actions items, plus
many subelements
Government-wide
action
Two year time period
One of the first in the
world
Thematic Coordination
Federal Interagency
Committee for the
Management of Noxious
and Exotic Weeds
(FICMNEW)
http://bluegoose.arw.r9.fws.gov/ficmne
wfiles/ficmnewhomepage.html
Aquatic Nuisance Species
Task Force (ANSTF)
http://www.anstaskforce.gov
Addressing the Problem
GOALS
Prevention
Early Detection
Eradication
Control
Restoration
Addressing the Problem
Processes
Risk Assessment & Management
Research - Monitoring - Education
Policy & Regulation - Information Management
International Cooperation & Capacity Building!
Addressing the Problem
More than half of the States have some sort
of invasive species council/committee.
Addressing the Problem
The Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP)
SCOPE - IUCN - CABI
Informing policy
and translating
policy into practice
IISD
http://www.gisp.org
GISP PHASE I PRODUCTS
Future Patterns/Trends
Increases in:
• rate
Trade
• volume
Travel
• species diversity
Transport
• vector diversity
Globalization
• pathway diversity
of invaders
Future Patterns/Trends
Markets
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
Technologies
Future Patterns/Trends
Synergies
Climate Change
• Establishment of new IAS
• Increased burns – drier
conditions/types of invasives
• Increased disturbance from
burns…yet more invasives
• IAS impacting climate change
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
GMOs/LMOs
Super Critters
Enhancement of traits
that contribute to
invasiveness
Future Patterns/Trends
Ecosystems
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
Cascading changes in:
• Composition
• Structure
• Function
• Services
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
(c) Jamie K, Reaser
Increasing spatio-temporal scales of impacts
Future Patterns/Trends
“Protected” Areas?
(c) Chuck Savall
Future Patterns/Trends
Novel
Species –
Level
Interactions
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
Future Patterns/Trends
Cross-Over Problems
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
Future Patterns/Trends
Areas of Impact
Islands
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
Freshwater Systems
Disease
Future Patterns/Trends
Conflicts
Land Use
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
Messaging/Decision Making
Barriers/Opportunities
Knowledge of what to do in
science and management is
NOT the primary barrier!
NISC, ANSTF, FICMNEW, indiv.
agencies, State Councils, NAS,
IUCN, GISP, CEC, CBD,
Ramsar, IPPC, 8 regional
workshops, numerous meetings
and publications….
Barriers/Opportunities
Socio-Political
Lack of will!
Lack of coordination
Lack of awareness
Conflicting policies
Policy gaps
Costs
Barriers/Opportunities
Ethical
Animal rights
Risks of pesticides
Risks of biocontrol
Barriers/Opportunities
Scientific
Complexity
Uncertainty
Mobility
Time lags
Definition
Barriers/Opportunities
What is an invasive species?
=
?
(c) Jamie K. Reaser
“…this shift of focus to invasion stages
renders moot the issue of whether the
taxa involved are native regionally or
originate from other biogeographical
areas.” (Colautti and MacIssac 2004, Diversity and
Distributions)
Priorities
Prevention
14. By December 2003, the Council will develop a fair, feasible,
and risk-based comprehensive screening system for evaluating
first-time intentionally introduced non-native species. To
accomplish this task, appropriate Federal agencies will take the
lead in developing and testing the screening system based on input
from other Council members, ISAC, State governments, scientific
and technical experts and societies, and other stakeholders -including affected industries and environmental groups. The
system will include recommendations regarding implementation
issues, including: the scope of taxonomic coverage, the degree of
initial screening coverage, and the role of appropriate regulatory
and non-regulatory risk-reducing tools.
Species – Pathways - Ecosystems
Priorities
Prevention
20. By January 2003, the Council will implement a
system for evaluating invasive species pathways and
will issue a report identifying, describing in reasonable
detail, and ranking those pathways that it believes are
the most significant. The report will discuss the most
useful tools, methods, and monitoring systems for
identifying pathways, including emerging or changing
pathways, and for intervening and stopping
introductions most efficiently.
Pathways report October 2003
Priorities
Early Detection/Rapid Response
21. The Council will improve detection and identification of
introduced invasive species, recognizing the need for
jurisdictional coordination, by taking the following steps: (c) By
January 2003,USDA, Interior, Commerce, and EPA will institute
systematic monitoring surveys of locations where introductions of
invasive species are most likely to occur (e.g., ports, airports,
railroads, highway rights-of-way, trails, utility rights-of-way,
logging and construction sites). In addition, by January 2002,
highly vulnerable sites that may warrant more intensive and
frequent monitoring than other sites will be identified….
(www.hazardmaps.org)
Priorities
Information Management
22. Starting in January 2001, Interior (especially
USGS/Biological Resources Division) and USDA, in
cooperation with the NSF and SI, will expand regional
networks of invasive species databases [e.g., the InterAmerican Biodiversity Information Network, (IABIN)] and
produce associated database products, to cooperate with the
Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) and other
partners to establish a global invasive species surveillance
and rapid response system.
Be Effective!
Profile for Success
“You can not solve a problem at the
level it was created.” Albert Einstein
Systems Thinking
Results-oriented
Proactive
Flexible
Long-term….vision and commitment
Decisive
People-oriented
People – Programs - Institutions
Be Effective!
People are the
solution – the only
solution
We must “manage”
people’s values,
beliefs, and
behaviors