Globalization => invasive species proliferation => disturbance on natural balance

Species extinction
One of the most important issues in environmental science is species extinction. A major reason for species

extinction is the introduction of species to locations where they didn't use to be. Introduced or alien species

is the term for those species living outside of their typical geographic range. Global travel by people and goods is

the primary cause of species being introduced to new locations. Here are some examples of introduced species.

Earthworms, common in North America today, were brought over by people from Europe since the last glaciation.

Rats had been carried by ships and spread around the world. There are many kinds of introduced species. One

type of introduced species that causes tremendous environmental degradation is the invasive species. Invasive

species are introduced species that expand rapidly when released. This happens for several reasons, including

their ability to out-compete a native species or the absence of predators. It also can occur because there is an

unfilled space in that ecosystem. Some species have expanded rapidly in recent years and we assume that they

are invasive. We hadn't seen them before and now they're everywhere. Evidence suggests this for kudzu, a vine

native to Southeast Asia that is now invasive in the Southern United States. And that's what we believe about

Asian carp, also called silver carp, an invasive species of fish that has gained notoriety for the way it jumps out of

the water and into boats. There's a species of algae called didymo. Its common name is rock snot. Yes, the

mucus material that lines the nasal passage in American vernacular is called snot. This algae is called rock snot

because it occurs on rocks and has a slimy appearance like mucus or snot. Its abundance leads to a change in

the species composition of river habitats, sometimes adversely affecting the productivity of rivers. It also has

adverse effects on recreation because people don't enjoy walking through rivers that are covered with a slimy

mucus-like material on the river bottom.

Rock snot has become widespread around the United States and many other locations in the world, including

Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. It was commonly assumed to be an invasive species and presumably was

transferred from body of water to body of water on the bottoms of kayaks, canoes, paddles, and boats. Canoeists

and boaters were warned to restrict moving boats from one location to another to prevent the spread of rock snot.

Some scientist believe; Excessive nutrient pollution, particularly from sources like sewage and agricultural

runoff, can create favorable conditions for algae growth, including rock snot. Nitrate and phosphorus are

nutrients that algae need to thrive, so elevated levels of these pollutants in water bodies can promote the rapid

proliferation of rock snot.

Furthermore, changes in global temperature may also play a role in the spread and growth of rock snot. Warmer

temperatures can create more favorable conditions for algae growth, allowing rock snot to thrive in areas where it

may not have been as prevalent before.

Adverse effect of Rock Snot:

These blooms;
 ● can harm the stream ecosystem by reducing stream biodiversity
● choking out the organisms that live on the stream bottom
● affecting the fish that rely on those organisms as a source of food.

● Didymo blooms can also deplete the oxygen in the stream,

● killing off fish and crustaceans.

● Additionally, the gooey mats reduce the appeal of streams and rivers for human recreational
use.

Alteration of habitat: Rock snot can form thick mats or layers on river bottoms and submerged rocks, altering the

physical structure of aquatic habitats. This can disrupt the natural flow of water and impact the availability of

food and shelter for native aquatic organisms.

Changes in species composition: The rapid growth of rock snot can outcompete native algae and other aquatic

plants for resources such as light and nutrients. This can lead to shifts in the species composition of aquatic

communities, potentially reducing biodiversity and altering ecosystem dynamics.

Impacts on recreation: Dense mats of rock snot can interfere with recreational activities such as fishing, boating,

and swimming. The slimy texture of rock snot can make it unpleasant or difficult for people to navigate through

affected water bodies, reducing the enjoyment and accessibility of recreational areas.

Economic costs: The presence of rock snot can have economic implications for industries such as tourism,

fishing, and water recreation. Declines in fish populations or degradation of recreational areas due to rock snot

infestations can result in financial losses for businesses and communities that rely on these activities for

income.

Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata), also known as "rock snot," is a type of algae that forms thick,
slimey, mat-like growths (blooms) on the bottom of stream beds.
Once didymo infests a stream or river, there is little people can do to control or eradicate it.

Didymo was discovered in Canada in 1988, but did not receive significant attention until the 2000s
when it began appearing in the southern United States, and later in Europe, Asia and New Zealand.
Believing it was an invasive species, governments and scientists promoted rules for cleaning boats
and other water equipment to try and stop the spread of the algae. However, scientists have recently
discovered fossilized forms of didymo in various countries across Europe, Asia, and North and South
America, indicating that didymo is not, in fact, an invasive species. So why is it blooming in so many
places today?
Recent environmental changes may be the cause. Unlike many algal species, didymo thrives most in
low phosphorus environments. With increased global temperatures due to climate change, the timing
of seasons and snowfall patterns have changed, reducing phosphorus inputs into rivers and streams.
This story of didymo illustrates some of the challenges environmental scientists face when trying to
understand how the natural world works, and how humans may be influencing it.
Authored by Ellen Irwin