Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Invasive Species Act
Ontario passes Invasive Species Act - link below.
How are invasive species a world issue? Provide some examples. In some cases can they be a good thing? How do island nations deal with these situations ? (i.e. Australia, Madagascar, Hawaii, New Zealand, Galapagos, etc.)
How does this relate / connect to biodiversity issues at large?
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2311068
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ReplyDeleteInvasive species are a leading world issue currently. Invasive species are the second largest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss. An invasive species is a species that is of not of the native back round of a particular area and spreads on its own. Invasive species affect our world and cause issues by habitat modification, compete with native species for resources, predation of native species, herbivory on native plants, bring in pathogens and hybridize with natives, leading to loss of genetic diversity. (Source 2)
Most of the invasive species are bad but there can be some beneficial invasive species. “In California, for example, native butterflies feed on non-native plants. In Puerto Rico, alien trees help restore abandoned pastures to a condition suitable for native plants. Even the much-maligned zebra mussel helps filter toxins from lakes.’’ (Source 1) “Islands, such as Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, the Hawaiian Archipelago, and the Galapagos, have a high proportion of endemic and specialized flora and fauna. The geographic isolation of islands limits immigration of new species, allowing established species to evolve with few strong competitors and predators.”(Source 3) Due to the lack of natural competitors and predators that control populations in their native ecosystems these islands are more prone to have invasive species. These islands deal with these invasive species by the government conducting custom checks, inspect shipments and set quarantine regulations. They do this to try to limit the entry of invasive species. This connects and affects biodiversity because the invasive species are a great contribution to the acceleration of Climate change. Species are disappearing 1,000 times the natural rate, this is because of the invasive species that are consuming most of their food and taking away their habitats. Another way invasive species are connected with biodiversity is because “When a non-native species is introduced, it can grow in an uninhibited manner without the natural controls of its original area. Non-native species can be aggressive or vigorous growers and can overwhelm and out compete the local native species. This upsets the natural balance and results in the loss of the native species and sometimes whole communities, thereby lowering the overall biodiversity and health of an area. Invasive plants can lower biodiversity so greatly that they create a monotypic community.” (Source 4) Although invasive have some positive affects to them, overall invasive species have a bad impact and is a leading world issue.
Source 1: http://www.wired.com/2011/02/good-invasives/
Source 2: http://www.shmoop.com/conservation-biology/threats-invasive-species.html
Source 3: http://www.cbd.int/island/invasive.shtml
Source 4: http://www.conservationhalton.ca/invasive-species-and-biodiversity
In Australia, the invasive species have greatly impacted the soil, water, and native plants and animals(1). This is because “Australia’s native plants and animals adapted to life on an isolated continent over millions of years.”(1). Having to compete with new species and plants that have been integrated into Australia’s environment is causing rapid population decreases within species, as well as soil erosion and mass infection of foreign diseases within these species.
ReplyDeleteIn Australia, native animals are being impacted by invasive species because they are preying on the animals native to Australia through forced competition for food and shelter, the destruction of habitat, and the spread of diseases. Invasive species in Australia, also have very few natural predators and are relatively immune to most diseases. This allows for their populations to increase exponentially under peak conditions, as well as making them very difficult to eradicate.(1).
One of the examples of a native animal in Australia which has been threatened by an invasive species is the Bilby.(1). The Bilby feeds mostly on seeds and roots, and requires a constant supply of carbohydrate-rich foods. Rabbits – an invasive species in Australia – graze constantly upon the vegetation which provides food and shelter for Bilbys, which means that the Bilby is placed under greater pressure to survive, despite being a native animal to Australia.
Invasive species are a serious world issue, especially in Australia, which is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world(2). According to the World Conservation Union, “the impacts of alien invasive species are immense, insidious, and usually irreversible. They may be as damaging to native species and ecosystems on a global scale as the loss and degradation of habitats.”(3).
It is because of the monumental toll that invasive species place - not only on Australia’s environment, but on global biodiversity as a whole - that it is most certainly a pressing world issue.
Source 1. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/feral-animals-australia
Source 2. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article12009%E2%80%9310?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=1301.0&issue=2009%9610&num=&view
Source 3. http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/species/problems/invasive_species/
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DeleteThe government of Ontario has re-introduced The Invasive Species Act, which will provide a system to counter act any and all invasive species in the province. Invasive species are known to be a world issue because they can disturb the natural balance of environments, affecting a regions fish or plant populations, which in turn affects that regions economy. A clear example of this is the Nile Perch; a fish that is native to Africa and can grow 2 meters in length and weigh 200kg. In 1962, the Nile Perch was introduced to Lake Victoria for commercial fishing. For many years it was successfully fished without any major repercussions. Unfortunately around 1980 the population of the fish exploded and due to this, many other fish were extinct or pushed to the brink of extinction.
ReplyDeleteAnother invasive species is the European Rabbit, or what have become known as just the Common Rabbit. They are native to Southern Europe and North Africa, but are highly adaptable and now inhabit every continent except for Antarctica and Asia. Australia has been known to be affected the most economically. Where there were once prosperous cow & sheep farms, there are now empty wastelands simply from the rabbits eating all of the grass.
There are some benefits that have come from these invasive species. For starters, the initial decision to introduce the Perch into Lake Victoria was to create more commercial fishing. The fisheries in this are have thrived since, having many employment opportunities directly with the commercial fishing companies and other related jobs. The Rabbit situation in Australia has allowed for large exports of canned rabbit meat and rabbit fur and not to mention the famous phrase "breeding like rabbits".
Governments of island nations and any nations in general, do regular checks, inspect shipments and set quarantine areas to limit or prevent any and all invasive species. Governments also try to educate their general population to make smart decisions on the spread of these species.
Sources
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Lates_niloticus.htm
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Oryctolagus_cuniculus.htm
http://www.cbd.int/island/invasive.shtml