The Next 30 Minutes. . .

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The Next 30 Minutes. . .
Look at the overall Invasive Species problem

• What is an Invasive Species, anyway?

• How do invasive species differ from non-native
  species?
• Why should we be concerned?
• How do invasive species get introduced?
• Sample organisms (aquatic/terrestrial,
  plant/animal, pathogen)

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Invasive Species
Species which have been transported
intentionally or unintentionally into a
geographic region outside their native ecosystem
and which have become established (reproducing in
self-sustaining populations) in that new
environment, often causing significant harm (or
potential of harm) to the environment, the
economy, and/or to human health
What They Arent

• Non-indigenous Species / Non-Native Species
• Exotic Species / Alien Species
• From other locations
• Not necessarily invasive or harmful
• Many support human livelihoods or preferred
  quality of life

• Nuisance Species
• Harmful but not necessarily non-native or invasive

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The Invasive Species Problem
As of 2000, almost 5000 nonindigenous species
have established free-living populations in the
U.S.

• Compromise biological integrity - cause
  ecological instability upset biodiversity
• ?15 have caused severe harm to agriculture,
  industry, human health, and environment

• Cost of damages and control estimated at 123
  Billion annually (Pimentelle 1999)

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Characteristics of Invasive Species

• High abundance / high fecundity

• Short generation time
• Ability to occupy broad diversity of habitats
  wide range of food
• High genetic variability
• Proximity to transmittal vector

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Invasive Species Pathways
Transportation Related Pathways Includes all
pathways related to the transportation of people
and goods

• Subcategories include
• Plane, train, car, trucks, buses
• Items Used in Shipping Process (cargo holds,
  ballast water, containers, packing material,
  baggage, travelers)
• Travel/Tourism/Relocation
• Mail/Internet/Overnight Shipping

ISAC 2003
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Invasive Species Pathways
Living Industry (Plant and Animal) Pathways

• Subcategories include
• Food Pathways (market ready for immediate
  consumption)
• Non-Food Animal Pathways (aquarium trade, pets,
  non-food livestock, aquaculture, labs)
• Plant Trade (aquatic and terrestrial)

ISAC 2003
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Invasive Species Pathways
Miscellaneous Pathways

• Other aquatic pathways (canals, interbasin
  transfers)
• Ecosystem disturbance (highways, railways,
  pipeline utility ROWs)

• Natural Spread of Established Populations of
  Invasive Species

ISAC 2003
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Geographic Source Regions
90
80
70
60
50
Number of Species
40
30
20
10
0
Asia
India
Africa
Pacific
Eurasia
Europe
Atlantic
Australia
Gulf Coast
Unknown
Arctic Ocean
New Zealand
Southern U.S.
South America
Newfoundland
Central America
Mississippi Basin
Various/Widespread
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Introduction Vectors
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1810 2007
175 Species Introduced
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Vector - Canals
Dissolved barriers between basins (Interbasin
Migration)
1825 Erie Canal

• Gov. Clinton dumps Lake Erie water into NY Harbor
• Lake Erie-bound boats carried NY Harbor water
• Foreshadowed large-scale future ballast transfers

• Lake trout, walleye, cisco
• Collapse of commercial fishing late-1940s/early-5
  0s
• 20 Million/year (NYS ISTF 2005)

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Vector Intentional Introductions

• Introduced Ornamental Plants

• Government Sanctioned Sportfish

• Government Agency - Fishery Enhancement

• Government Agency - Fight Insect Pests

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Vector Canals (Solid Ballast)
Plants

• Flowering rush (Butomis umbellatus)
• Weeping alkali grass (Puccinella distans)
• Sedge (Carex flacca)
• Yellow flag (Iris pseudocorus)
• Creeping yellow cress (Rorippa sylvestris)
• European water horewound (Lycopus europaeus)
• European brooklime (Veronica beccabunga)

Invertebrates

• Faucet snail (Bithynia tentaculata)
• European valve snail (Valvata piscinalis)
• European pea clam (Pisidium amnicum)

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Vector Release from Cultivation
Medicinal Plants

• Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
• Spearmint (Mentha spicata)

Food Plants

• Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum)

Forage Crop

• Redtop (Agrostis gigantea)

Ornamental Plants

• White willow (Salix alba)
• Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
• Black alder (Alnus glutinosa)
• Glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula)
• Garden loosestrife (Lysmachia vulgaris)
• True forget-me-not (Myosotis peltatum)
• Bergamot mint (Mentha cintrata)

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Zebra Quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.)

• Lake St. Clair 1988

• Direct physical impacts on infrastructure

• Impacts beach use

• Impacts navigation, recreation, angling

• Food/habitat competition

• Extirpation/extinction of native species

• 1 - 1.5 Billion since 1988 22 states, 2
  provinces (NANSC 2006)

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Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

• Highly invasive
• Invades shallow spawning grounds
• Outcompetes native cattails sedges
• Little food value for animals
• Thick stands ? serve as wildlife cover
• 45 Million/year (CRS 1999)

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Common reed (Phragmites australis)

• Highly invasive
• Dominates disturbed landscapes
• Spreads rapidly, displaces natural, diverse plant
  communities
• Rhizome monocultures 7,000 acres

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Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum )

• Highly invasive
• Aggressive competitor
• Reduces biodiversity
• Reduces spawning habitat
• Dense mats impair water uses

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Water chestnut (Trapa natans)

• Collins Lake, NY 1884
• Highly invasive
• Outcompetes natives
• Impenetrable mats
• Severely limits light penetration
• Reduces oxygen levels
• Little value to water fowl

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Bufflegrass (Cenchrus ciliaris)

• Dense thickets, out-competes/displaces native
  species
• Highly flammable, wildfires kill off native
  grasses
• Cannot be controlled (cutting/grazing increase
  plant growth long roots inhibit digging out
  herbicide fire tolerant)

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Asian Long-Horned Beetle

• Wood packing material NY (1996). Chicago (1998)
• Attacks horse chestnut, maples, hardwood trees
• gt Damage than Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight,
  gypsy moths

• 13-40 Million/year in NYC and Long Island (NYS
  ISTF 2005)

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Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

• Mid-1800s - early-1900s Eurasia into estates,
  parks, zoos
• gt 22,000 live in along Atlantic coast Great
  Lakes
• Feed on submerged aquatic vegetation, reduce food
  for natives
• Aggressive toward other waterfowl displace
  native species
• Attack kayakers and canoers

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West Nile Virus (Flavivirus)

• 1999 2001 149 human cases, 18 deaths

• January - October 2002 2977 human cases, 162
  deaths

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Chronic Wasting Disease

• Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
• Attacks brain nervous system of deer and elk
• Similar to mad cow disease

• CO captive mule deer late 1960s - wild elk 1981
• WI wild deer 2002
• NY captive wild deer 2005

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Dutch Elm Disease

• 1930 Nationwide except for desert SW
• Caused by fungus Ophiostoma ulmi
• Transmitted by 2 species of bark beetles
• Destroyed gt half elm trees
• 100 Million/year control costs (Pimentele 1999)

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Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii)

• Ontario 1996 - Niagara Co. 2005
• Feeds on cruciferous crops (cabbages,
  cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
  rutabaga, turnip, radish, horseradish)
• Causes severe crop losses (up to 85)

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For More Information
Chuck ONeill Cornell Cooperative Extension - NY
Sea Grant cro4_at_cornell.edu
National Aquatic Nuisance Species
Clearinghouse http//www.aquaticinvaders.org
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