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Rachel Hess

Prof. Lawrence

Writing 101

11 November 2014

Invasive Species Proposal

According to the National Wildlife Federation, an invasive species is any type of living

organism—an amphibian, plant, insect, fish, fungus, bacteria, or even an organism’s seeds or

eggs—that is not native to an ecosystem and causes harm. Species that reproduce quickly, and

spread aggressively with potential to cause harm, are labeled as “invasive”. They threaten

ecosystems, habitats, other species, and assist in human-caused global environmental change

(Pejchar, Liba, and Mooney, Harold A., 497). It is estimated that a total of 50,000 alien species

have been introduced into the United States and that number is increasing. They escaped or were

released into the wild and many have become pests by preying on native animals and grazing on

vegetation (Pimental, David, 276). Once established, they are noted for their capacity to rapidly

transform both structural and functional properties of ecosystems over remarkably short time

scales (Marbuah, George, 502). Many people have actually never heard of the term “invasive

species”. I propose to inform my family, friends, and community about the many global issues

they present as well as ways to decrease and limit their advancement.

“Intentional and unintentional introductions of invasive species into new environments

have had and continue to have profound ecological, human, social, and economic effects at

national, regional, and global scales” (Marbuah, George, 501). The natural habitats of indigenous

species have been disturbed, degraded, and impaired due to these biological invasions. Invasive

species are a problem to the global ecosystem because they cost an extreme amount of money to

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control, spread disease, alter ecosystems and agriculture, prevent native species from

reproducing, harm habitats, transform evolution, and cause extinction of other animals. In the

United States, the total cost of damages due to these invasive species is between $121 and $131

billion every year. Diseases such as AIDS, syphilis, influenza, and West Nile Virus have all

been brought to the U.S. by invasive species. These invaders often carry new pathogens into the

new environments, which can initiate multiple ailments, causing a substantial threat to the native

humans and organisms. The evolutionary pathways of native species are also being altered due to

the migration of species among continents. Before the Age of Exploration, dispersal of

organisms across these great biogeographic barriers was a low-probability event; however, today

this has been made normal. Transporting species to different zoos among the continents, ships

carrying aquatic organisms in their ballast water, shipping wood products that contain insects,

and trading rare types of pets are some ways that they can spread. Finally, one of the most

dramatic impacts they have on the environment is extinction. This long-term outcome can be

seen as a race between the demographic process of extinction and the genetic process of

adaptation (Phillips, B. L., and Greenlees, M. J., and Brown, G. P., and Shine, R., 53).

Ecologists, conservation biologists, and managers widely believe that invasions by non-native

species are a leading cause of recent species extinctions (Gurevitch, Jessica, and Padilla, Dianna

K., 1). They agree that the spread of non-native species has become a global crisis as invasive

organisms are increasingly altering terrestrial and aquatic communities worldwide. Native

species declines often occur simultaneously and in the same place as invasion by non-native

species, resulting in the loss of biodiversity.

But what characteristics make these invasive species so damaging that they need to be

under such a close watch? One example is the highly toxic Cane Toad, listed as one of the

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world’s worst invasive species. It is native to Central

America and was brought to Australia in 1935 in an

attempt to control the cane beetle population in sugar

plantations. Ultimately there was no evidence that they

killed a single beetle. Instead, the toads took over and

today still continue to spread at around 34 miles per year.

They have thrived in this new environment so well

because they have no predators. The reason why they

hold such dominance is because when other animals try

to eat them, sacs that run down their sides secrete a

poison that takes effect within minutes. Their large

appetite depletes resources for other native animals, and

they have become a hassle to humans—known to steal pet food from bowls left outside houses.

Weighing up to 3lbs and measuring up to 6 in. long, these toads are serious threats to ecosystems

in not only Australia, where they number in the hundreds of millions, but also in Florida and

parts of Texas. Australia alone has spent more than $20 million on attempts to eliminate the

toads, but there are just too many of them.

Another species that causes a great deal of damages throughout the world is the European

starling. It is a type of bird that travels in large chaotic droves of up to 1 million and were first

introduced in New York City in 1890, when a drug manufacturer’s dream was to introduce every

bird mentioned by Shakespeare into North America. The songbirds prospered in their new home

and can devour up to 20 tons of potatoes in one day. They consume plant matter, a wide variety

of invertebrates, forage in fruit orchards, and flock to dairies and urban landfills where food is

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abundant. Once established at a preferred feeding site,

they are difficult to eliminate and will endure tremendous

efforts by humans at keeping them away. Their droppings

are also believed to carry many infectious diseases which

have already been spread to pigs and cattle ranging at

annual costs of over $267 million. These pesky birds are

also known to damage fruit and grain crops as well as

pose hazardous to aircrafts. They have caused an aircraft

to crash in Boston due to their body density and flocking

behavior, killing 62 people. When seeking warmth in the

winter, large groups of starlings nest in buildings and

industrial structures, causing filth, noise, odor, health and

safety hazards, and $200,000 in cleanup costs (Linz,

George M., and Homan, Jeffrey H., and Gaulker, Shannon M., and Penry, Linda B., and Bleier,

William J., 383).

A final example of a problematic invasive species is the Northern Snakehead. It is a

carnivorous fish with sharp teeth and the ability to walk on land. It is originally from Asia but in

2002 it appeared in a small Maryland town,

where it had obliterated wildlife in a pond. It is

nicknamed “Fishzilla” and is capable of

surviving up to four days out of the water. It

travels on land by wiggling its body back and

forth, similar to a snake. It has been seen

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everywhere from New York to California. The real question is how did it get into the pond? It

turns out that a local resident ordered two snakeheads from a fish market in New York City’s

Chinatown and then released them. State of Maryland biologist Bob Lunsford quoted: “It’s the

baddest bunny in the bush. It has no known predators in this environment, can grow to 15

pounds, and it can get up and walk. What more do you need? If you catch it, kill it. It’s not a

dead or alive thing, we want it dead” (Chew, Matthew K., and Laubichler, Manfred D., 52). The

Northern Snakehead is an obvious problem for this ecosystem and it clearly does not belong in

bodies of water within the U.S.!

Natural selection suggests the idea of survival of the fittest, meaning those who are fittest

are those who survive (Chew, Matthew K., and Laubichler, Manfred D., 52). When humans

encourage species to become invasive, this can ruin evolution forever. Take the Northern

Snakehead for example. It was purchased in Asia and then released into a pond. The temperature

and oxygen levels of the water are different as well as the accompanying organisms and fish. The

Snakehead may endure in a way that could be harmful to us in the future. This carnivorous fish

may eat all of the other fish in the pond, changing its nutrition, diet, and level of energy. It may

grow bigger from eating the other fish and eventually grow as big as the pond allows—because

some fish are known to grow and match the size of their environment. These fish can get out of

water and travel by land. Can you even imagine how the future could be? They are like present-

day dinosaurs may end up being harmful to us. Efforts toward prevention must take place.

About three years ago, when I was still in high school, I went hiking with a friend to the

area of Halifax, Pennsylvania, which is twenty-five minutes away from our hometown. On that

hike, we discovered a small greenish brown frog which we watched hop around and found quite

amusing. I had always wanted a frog and I decided to put it in my backpack to take home and

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treat as a pet. However, when I got home I realized I did not know what type of food it ate and I

felt extremely guilty for taking it out of its habitat. I confessed what I did to my neighbor who is

an animal lover, and she suggested that I release it into the neighborhood pond. To this day, I

still feel horrible about giving into my ego and taking the frog, even though it was not mine to

begin with. This situation could have been prevented if I were more knowledgable of invasive

species. I was not aware of them until I did extensive research for this paper. Hopefully this

rueful event will prevent others from making the same mistake in the future.

One of the biggest problems with invasive species is that people are unconscious of their

own actions toward them. They mistakenly encourage their growth and it becomes widespread

across many areas. A solution would be to inform them about the structural damages, health

risks, and severe ecological changes they cause. The public needs to be aware so they can

determine invasive species in their own environments to notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service as well as to prevent the release of foreign animals into nonnative habitats. Another way

people can help is to be educated. The most influential approach is educating ourselves and each

other about invasive species and their global effects. Awareness of invasive species should be

taught to children as young as in middle school. I have only learned about them recently because

of my own desire to understand their underlying causes and effects. It would also be beneficial to

consider the long-term effects of these species, and keep records of their universal impacts. One

should consider how it will effect evolution, extinction, and spread of diseases in the future. It

may be useful to look back at field notes, observations, and data of these species to devise

planning. To reinforce prevention of spreading these species, the Environmental Protection

Agency should identify high-risk areas for the establishment of non-indigenous species and

create massive fines so that people are more careful. The fees should be aimed toward people

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who knowlingly obtain nonnative species and release them into an environment by large

quantities. Another strategy would be effective prevention programs at airports, seaports, and

other ports of entry in the U.S. Investments made to reduce the introduction of potentially

harmful exotic species should be focused on educating the public and inspectors at airports and

seaports concerning the threat of invasive plants, animals, and microbes to the U.S. environment

and economy (Pimental, David, 283).

Many people may think that their solutions alone do not make a difference. However, this

is not true. Everyone can make a difference with even a little effort. Learning how to identify

invasive species in your area, reporting sightings, informing your community, planting native

plants and removing any invasive plants from your garden, regularly cleaning your boots, gear,

boat, and tires to remove insects and plant parts that may spread to new areas. Also when

camping, use firewood near your campsite (within 30 miles) instead of bringing your own

because invertebrates and plants can easily attach onto firewood you haul to or from a campsite.

I know that on the Appalachian Trail, rest shelters require you to use only the logs provided, and

one other reason for this could be that there is a fungi that when transported, kills the

surrounding trees.