Invasive Species

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Invasive Species
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Definition

• Invasive alien species are plants, animals, or
  other organisms that
• are introduced to a given area outside their
  original range and
• cause harm in their new home.

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• Because they have no natural enemies to limit
  their reproduction, they usually spread
  rampantly.

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• Invasive alien species are recognized as one of
  the leading threats to biodiversity and impose
  enormous costs to agriculture, forestry,
  fisheries, and other human enterprises, as well
  as to human health.

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• The cost to control invasive species and the
  damages they inflict upon property and natural
  resources in the U.S. is estimated at 120
  billion annually.
• Just one invasive species, the Formosan
  subterranean termite, is estimated to do
  500,000,000 in damage in Louisiana annually.

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How do they get here?

• Boats, planes, accidental or intentional release

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Invasive Species in Louisiana A Quick Look

• Louisiana has been invaded by a number of harmful
  exotic plants and animals. Here is a quick look
  at
• some of the worst current and potential invaders

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Zebra Mussel

• Mollusk
• Originated Caspian Sea (region of Asia)
  accidentally released into Lake St. Clair in 1988
  in ship ballast water
• Found in Mississippi through its entire length in
  LA

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Damage

• Voracious filter feeders that out-compete native
  animals fouls boats clogs intake pipes at
  power plants and municipal water sources

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Nutria

• Mammal
• Originated South America escaped captivity
  in1930s after attempt at ranching for fur
• Occur through much of coastal LA TX, and
  elsewhere.

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Damage

• Damage sugarcane and rice fields, and cause major
  damage to coastal marshlands, which are important
  for flood control and wildlife

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Fire Ant

• Insect
• Originated South America accidentally
  introduced to Alabama in 1930s
• 300 million acres of Southern U.S., including all
  of Louisiana!

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Damage

• Aggressive, multiple biter with painful venom and
  chance of allergy may also damage electrical
  boxes, fruits, berries and young crops ant
  mounds are a hazard to farm equipment.

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Formosan Subterranean Termite

• Insect
• Originated China and Japan ships returning from
  WWII probably brought it to U.S. coastal cities.
• Found in 11 states, including most of southern
  Louisiana.

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Damage

• These termites live in enormous colonies and eat
  all kinds of wood trees, telephone poles, and
  homes. Considered a huge threat to New Orleans
  historic buildings.

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What is being done?

• Trapping and extermination
• Task forces established at ports
• Limiting ballast releasing
• Regulations on pet trade

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The Pet Trade

• Many invasive species are the result of
  irresponsible pet ownership!!
• Escaped/ released
• Aquaria dumping, water gardens

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• Biologist Skip Snow handles a python captured in
  Florida's Everglades National Park. He says the
  snakes are a threat to five endangered species.

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• Though they're often kept as pets, Nile monitor
  lizards have gone wild in Cape Coral, Fla.,
  threatening local species.

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Snakeheads Story

• 28 species
• 25 from eastern Asia, 3 from Africa
• ability to breathe air and live out of water for
  days
• Snakehead can breathe with both their gills and a
  lung-like organ that, in fact, requires them to
  breathe (or gulp) air at the water's surface
  otherwise they will drown.
• Reach 80 cm!!

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• Bought for aquariums or consumption,
  accidentally/intentionally released in our
  waterways
• Now found in California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine,
  Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maryland
• voracious predators and with no known natural
  enemies