Transcript invasive species Attack! Looking at invasive species and their impact on

invasive
species
Attack!
Silver flying carp
by:
Brendan Ambrose
Dawei Tang
Eleanor Cota
Eric Highfield
Janae Hill
Michael Morrison
Vytas Pabedinskas
Looking at invasive species and their impact on
wetland and aquatic environments
Invasive Species
Introduction
“Invasive” concept: outdated? outmoded?
Emotional vs Rational Approach: is it worth the price to
remove introduced species to maintain idyllic conditions
Lack of research indicating populations of native species are
affected and that species diversity suffers (?????????)
What is the value of a native species? Does it represent
evolutionary fitness or ecological naivity?
Inappropriate to equate introduced with invasive. Many
introduced species can be useful and be managed to prevent
negative impacts
Commonality between species: frightening literature
Invasive Species
Asian Carp
-2 species originating in China, imported into
the US for Aquaculture in the 1970’s
-Used to clean up aquaculture facilities, feed on
algae and plankton
-Escaped and started colonizing their way
up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers
-Threatening to invade the Great lakes, a 7
billion dollar per year recreational fishery
-Bighead carp
(Hypophthalmichthys
nobilis)
-Silver carp
(Hypophthalmichthys
molitrix)
Invasive Species
Asian Carp
-First imported to Arkansas and Mississippi to clean up fish farms
-Studies indicate that Carp constitute 96% of the fish biomass in some
parts of the Mississippi river
Invasive Species
Asian Carp
-Silver carp jump from the water when startled
-1.5 meter projectile fish have caused numerous injuries to humans
-Preventative measures are being taken by the Army core of
Engineers to prevent the spread into the great lakes, primarily an
underwater “electro fence to prevent further penetration
-It is possible that carp have already populated parts of lake
Michigan, as carp DNA has been found in parts of the lake
Invasive Species
Common reed
Scientific Name: Phragmites
australis
Description: Tall perennial grass
with elongated leaves that are
about one inch wide at their
widest point and stems contain
bushy purple or gold colored
flowers.
Invasive Species
Common reed
HISTORY: Non-native strains
made their way to the Atlantic
coast in ballast material in the
late 18th or early 19th centuries.
THREAT: High biomass blocks
light to other plants and
occupies all the growing space
below ground thus choking out
other vegetation.
Invasive Species
Common reed
Vineyard
Option:
Roasted Phragmites
Recipe
Ingredients:
12 Phragmites rhizomes
½ teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
Wash thoroughly, bake
in oven at 350 degrees F
for 25-30 minutes.
Sprinkle with sea salt
before serving.
Remediation:
Brushcutting, herbicides,
mowing, and prescribed
fire
Invasive Species
Crayfish
• Introduction
as source of food
• Generalist
• High Fecundity
• No predators
•Spread through negligence
Invasive Species
Crayfish
Status of Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)
as of July 2010:
Presumed not present.
Status of Red Claw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)
as of July 2010:
Presumed not present.
Invasive Species
Crayfish
Control techniques
Trapping
Awareness
Mandatory techniques
for movement
Invasive Species
Feral pigs
Definition
•Feral: Once was domesticated, but now wild due to release
or escape.
• Sus scrofa: Old world family Suidae
Origin
•Brought over by early Explorers
Distribution
•44 of 50 states have populations
Invasive Species
Feral pigs
•Problems
•Rooting
•Destroys littoral zone vegetation -- Eutrophy
•Causes erosion issues
•Wallows – Regulate body temp
•Vectors for many diseases, E. coli
•Plum Creek, California Spinach
•Diet
•Opportunistic feeders; EAT ANYTHING
Invasive Species
Feral pigs
Solutions
•Hunting - authorized 365 days/year, 24hrs.
•Regulations - Black Bass Act
•Euthanasia of captured pigs
•Used to feed starving families
Invasive Species
Giant Reed
Scientific name: Arundo donax
-Largest member of genus (8m)
-Native to freshwater of eastern
Asia
-Hydrophyte that can use 2,000L/m,
growing up to 5cm per day
- Can produce 20 tons/ha above
ground dry mass
- A cultivated species that has
travelled the world
- Used for musical instruments,
fiber production, fences, thatch for
roofs
Invasive Species
Giant Reed
Brought to southern California from the
Mediterranean in 1820s for erosion control
In North America species only spreads
through fragmentation of roots during
flooding events, strictly asexual
Changes riparian to zone
defined by fire and not
flood events; roots easily
survive fire, replacing
natives
Invasive Species
Giant Reed
-Removal is labor
intensive, and has
to include roots
- Rodeo ®
herbicide
- Biological control
species specific
herbivory
Arundo wasp
Tetramesa romana
Native plants quickly
recover when A.
donax is removed,
indicating that it
does not occupy an
abandoned niche
Invasive Species
Snakehead carp
Family Channidae, within 2 genera,
28 species:
- Channa (snakeheads of Asia,
Malaysia and Indonesia), and
- Parachanna (African snakeheads)
Long and cylindrical with enlarged
scales on their head, hence the
common name of snakehead.
Compete with native species for
food at all life stages for food.
They are air-breathers and are
capable of overland migration.
Invasive Species
Snakehead carp
Four species are found
in California, Florida,
Hawaii, Maine,
Massachusetts,
Maryland and Rhode
Island. Reproducing
populations have been
documented in Florida
and Maryland.
How did they get here?
• Via releases by aquarium owners;
• Via the live food fish trade by individuals releasing
these fish to establish a local food source.
Invasive Species
Snakehead carp
Snakeheads (family Channidae; 2
genera (Channa and Parachanna)
totaling 28 known species) are
currently in the Injurious Species List
of Fish and Wildlife Service.
This prohibits the importation and
interstate transport of all 28 species.
Cost-benefit analysis done by the
USGS research shows the damage
significantly outweighs the benefits
generated by markets.
Invasive Species
Zebra Mussel
Invasive Species
Zebra Mussel
Invasive Species
Zebra Mussel
Invasive Species
Conclusion
Survival of the fittest?
References available upon request
-No single solution
or approach
- Creativity is key
- Humility to revisit,
rethink strategies
and recognize their
shortcomings
- Constant vigilance
because no one can
predict how a
species will react in
a new setting
(geographic or
temporal)