Introduction of

Invasive Species Invasive Species

Invasive Species What is an invasive species? Intentional:
Edition An introduced species that estab-
lishes, expands its range and nega-
 Agriculture
 Hunting
tively impacts the ecosystem and
 Fishing
native species in that area. Intro-
duction usually begins with human  Ornamental
assistance of a non native plant,
animal or fungi.

Why are invasive species a

threat?
 Habitat loss and degradation

 Loss of native species

 Crop damage and disease

Above: Honeysuckle
 Loss of recreation opportunities
Accidental
Includes Facts and  Transport
 Airplanes
Information on Invasive
 Ships
Species  Cars
Along with Questions and  Shoes
Answers  Escaped pets or zoo animals
 Wooden crates
To Get A Smart Start  Firewood
Above: Common Reed (Phragmites)
 Effects on the Key Terms:
Ecosystem Non-target species: Organism affect-
 Widespread loss of habitat ed by a control method that was not the
 Alteration of the habitat intended to be.
 Detrimental effects on native
populations “Exotic” Species: A species living
 Monoculture outside its native distributional range,
which has arrived there by human activity,
either deliberate or accidental.
Invasive Species: An “exotic” species
that establishes, expands its range, and
negatively impacts the ecosystem and na-
tive species in that area.
Generalist: The ability to live off of a
wide range of food types
Above: Kudzo Human commensal: Lives in close
association with humans
Invasive Species
management?
Methods dependent upon type of invasive
species
 Biocontrol
 Treatments
 Chemical
 Physical and Mechanical
Eurasian Boar
Are All “Exotic”
species Harmful?
NOT ALL…
Actually some are considered help-
ful. For instance, a lot of our food
crops like potatoes and wheat are
not native to the United States.
There are some benefits to all spe-
cies -- but invasive species do
more harm than good.
How many invasive
species are there in
the U.S?
The numbers vary widely,
But there is an estimate that there
are 50,000 “exotic” species. Of
those 50,000 about 4,300 have
been considered invasive.
Stopping the Invasion
 Clean and Inspect Clothing, Gear, and
Containers for Weeds and Other
"Hitchhikers"
 Do not bring in exotic species as pets
 Zebra Mussel Range A Harmful Aquatic
Qualities of Invader
Invasive Species What Is It?
 Fast growth Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), A
Freshwater mussel.
 Rapid Reproduction Where is it from?
 Pioneer Species Originally native to Black and Caspian sea
(Southern Russia). They were believed to be
 High Dispersal ability introduced to the United States by mid-1800's
through ballast water, but it is unrecorded.
 Tolerance of a wide range of envi-
Is it harmful?
ronments Zebra mussels can be harmful ecologically,
Here is a map of where Zebra Mussels
 Compete Aggressively for re- are present in the United States. biologically, economically, and human haz-
Damage Zebra Mussels Can ard. They can attach to native species and
sources eventually lead to a decline. They are filter
Cause
 Generalist feeders and take nutrients out of the water
Zebra and away from other species. They also like
 Lack of Natural Enemies to settle on surfaces like pipes and boats,
Mussel
 Human introduction causing damage. Lastly, they have sharp-
clogging a
edged shells and can be a hazard to unpro-
pipe
tected feet.
Where are they found?
They range from local waterways, like the
Hudson River, all the way west to Oklahoma.
How to Prevent?
To prevent the spread of Zebra Mussels eve-
Zebra ryone must inspect their boats and gear.
Cleaning/steaming their boats before putting
mussels
them into another body of water is key
on top of
a native
species
Zebra Mussels
 Giant
Hogweed
What is it?
A large weed that can grow to 14 feet or
more!
Where is it from?
It is originally from southwest Asia and it
arrived in the United States in 1917 as a
garden plant. It is heavily present in west-
ern New York and can be found through-
out other regions of the state.
Is it harmful?
The hogweed can be harmful to humans
through its sap in combination with mois-
ture and sunlight which. This can cause
skin and eye irritation, blistering, scarring,
and even blindness!
Where do they grow?
Hogweeds grow in various areas: along
streams, rivers, roadsides, forests, fields,
and yards. It thrives in areas with good
lighting and moist soil.
How can we stop
the spread of
Giant Hogweed?
This invasive weed can be con-
trolled:
This invasive weed can be controlled:
Mechanically and mechanically
 Root cutting
A map of where Giant Hogweed is  Causes immediate death
present in New York. The yellow
dots have less than 400 plants and  Flower head/seed head removal
the red dots have 400 or more. Blue
 Cutting and mowing
dots have no plants sighted.
 Cut and cover
Through use of herbicides
 Systemic herbicides
 Glyphosphate
 Triclopyr
 Effective
 Cost efficient
Hogweed seeds may still grow after up to
15 years in the soil so monitoring the
area in years to come for growth is essen-
tial….
The Little Green
Tree Killer
What Is It?
Emerald Ash Borer
(Agrilus planipennis), A
green jewel beetle.
Where is it from?
Originally native to eastern
Russia, northern China,
Japan, and Korea. It is not known for
sure, but they most likely came in ash
wood used for stabilizing cargo in ships or
Here is a map of where Emerald Ash Borer
for packing or crating heavy consumer
products.
Damage Emerald Ash Borer Causes
Is it harmful?
The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for
the destruction of tens of millions of ash
trees throughout the United State. What
they do is bore into ash trees feeding on
tissues beneath the bark, ultimately killing
the tree.
Where are they found in the U.S.?
They range of the Emerald Ash Borer is
north to the upper peninsula of Michigan,
south to northern Louisiana, west to Colo-
rado, and east to Massachusetts.
How to Prevent introduction?
To prevent introduction, you should NOT
move firewood outside state lines
Emerald Ash Borer Range
Types of Invasive
Species
Management
Biological: This is a management
method that involves the invasive species’
enemies… This means that another exot-
ic specie who is a known predator, para-
site, or pathogen is brought into play to
control the populations of the invasive
specie. BUT… before bringing in this spe-
cies, we have to make sure that it will
NOT affect non-target species
is present in the United States.
Physical or Mechanical:
This method involves people going
out and physically removing the
invasive species. Some ways of do-
ing this include trapping, creating
barriers, and harvesting. Mowing is
an example for a plant
Chemical Control: This method uses
herbicides, insecticides, fungicides,
piscicides. These are all forms of pesti-
cides, which are chemicals used to kill
pest. Although this method can be very
effective, it can be very dangerous to oth-
er species or to ecosystems. This method
must be used carefully. Like biological
control, we must make sure that the
chemicals will NOT affect non-target spe-
cies.
 Questions Thinking Questions:
Sources:
1. What is an invasive species?  http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/265.html

2. List three examples of how an in-
vasive species is a threat
3. How are invasive species intro-
duced?
4. Which of the following is not an ac-
cidental way of introducing an invasive
species?
A. Transport
B. Wooden crates
C. Firewood
D. Ornamentals
5. Where is giant hogweed success-
ful?
6. How is giant hogweed harmful to
the ecosystem that it takes over?
7. Give one example of a type of in-
vasive species management.
8. What are two examples of why
zebra mussels are extremely success-
ful?
1. Can you think of any more exam-
ples of management techniques for
invasive species?
2.What other invasive species can you
think of in your area?
3.Why is it so hard to get rid of inva-
sive species?
4.What should you do if there is an in-
vasive species growing around your
house?
5. Are there any non-harmful invasive
species in your area?
6. Are all exotic/non-native species
considered invasive?
7. What are some of the reasons
invasive species are so successful?
 http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/
critter/phragmites
 http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/39809.html
 https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/
hogweed.shtml
 Simberloff, D. (2013). Invasive Species: What
Everyone Needs to Know. New York, NY: Ox-
ford University Press.
 https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/
factsheet.aspx?speciesID=5
 http://www.protectyourwaters.net/hitchhikers/
mollusks_zebra_mussel.php
 http://www.invasive.org/weedcd/pdfs/srs/
control.pdf
 http://www.emeraldashborer.info

9. Where do zebra mussels establish 8. What are some proactive ways to

populations? prevent non-native species entering or
A. Forested areas state and from becoming invasive
B. Waterways (ex. Rivers) species?
C. Roadsides