invasive

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invasive species Attack!
Silver flying carp
by Brendan Ambrose Dawei Tang
Eleanor Cota Eric Highfield Janae Hill
Michael Morrison Vytas Pabedinskas
Looking at invasive species and their impact on
wetland and aquatic environments
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Invasive Species
Introduction
Invasive concept outdated?
outmoded? Emotional vs Rational Approach is it
worth the price to remove introduced species to
maintain idyllic conditions Lack of research
indicating populations of native species are
affected and that species diversity suffers
(?????????) What is the value of a native
species? Does it represent evolutionary fitness
or ecological naivity? Inappropriate to equate
introduced with invasive. Many introduced
species can be useful and be managed to prevent
negative impacts
Commonality between species frightening
literature
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Invasive Species
Asian Carp
-2 species originating in China, imported into
the US for Aquaculture in the 1970s -Used to
clean up aquaculture facilities, feed on algae
and plankton
-Escaped and started colonizing their way up the
Mississippi and Illinois rivers -Threatening to
invade the Great lakes, a 7 billion dollar per
year recreational fishery
-Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys
nobilis) -Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys
molitrix)
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Invasive Species
Asian Carp
-First imported to Arkansas and Mississippi to
clean up fish farms -Studies indicate that Carp
constitute 96 of the fish biomass in some parts
of the Mississippi river
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Invasive Species
Asian Carp
-Silver carp jump from the water when
startled -1.5 meter projectile fish have caused
numerous injuries to humans -Preventative
measures are being taken by the Army core of
Engineers to prevent the spread into the great
lakes, primarily an underwater electro fence to
prevent further penetration -It is possible that
carp have already populated parts of lake
Michigan, as carp DNA has been found in parts of
the lake
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Invasive Species
Common reed
Scientific Name Phragmites australis Description
Tall perennial grass with elongated leaves that
are about one inch wide at their widest point and
stems contain bushy purple or gold colored
flowers.
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Invasive Species
Common reed
HISTORY Non-native strains made their way to the
Atlantic coast in ballast material in the late
18th or early 19th centuries.
THREAT High biomass blocks light to other plants
and occupies all the growing space below ground
thus choking out other vegetation.
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Invasive Species
Common reed
Remediation Brushcutting, herbicides, mowing,
and prescribed fire
Vineyard Option Roasted Phragmites
Recipe Ingredients 12 Phragmites rhizomes ½
teaspoon sea salt Directions Wash thoroughly,
bake in oven at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.
Sprinkle with sea salt before serving.
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Invasive Species
Crayfish

• Introduction as source of food
• Generalist
• High Fecundity
• No predators
• Spread through negligence

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Invasive Species
Crayfish
Status of Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)
as of July 2010 Presumed not present.
Status of Red Claw Crayfish (Cherax
quadricarinatus) as of July 2010 Presumed not
present.
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Invasive Species
Crayfish
Control techniques Trapping Awareness Manda
tory techniques for movement
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Invasive Species
Feral pigs

• Definition
• Feral Once was domesticated, but now wild due to
  release or escape.
• Sus scrofa Old world family Suidae
• Origin
• Brought over by early Explorers
• Distribution
• 44 of 50 states have populations

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Invasive Species
Feral pigs

• Problems
• Rooting
• Destroys littoral zone vegetation -- Eutrophy
• Causes erosion issues
• Wallows Regulate body temp
• Vectors for many diseases, E. coli
• Plum Creek, California Spinach
• Diet
• Opportunistic feeders EAT ANYTHING

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Invasive Species
Feral pigs

• Solutions
• Hunting - authorized 365 days/year, 24hrs.
• Regulations - Black Bass Act
• Euthanasia of captured pigs
• Used to feed starving families

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Invasive Species
Giant Reed
Scientific name Arundo donax
-Largest member of genus (8m) -Native to
freshwater of eastern Asia -Hydrophyte that can
use 2,000L/m, growing up to 5cm per day - Can
produce 20 tons/ha above ground dry mass - A
cultivated species that has travelled the world -
Used for musical instruments, fiber production,
fences, thatch for roofs
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Invasive Species
Giant Reed
Brought to southern California from the
Mediterranean in 1820s for erosion control
In North America species only spreads through
fragmentation of roots during flooding events,
strictly asexual
Changes riparian to zone defined by fire and not
flood events roots easily survive fire,
replacing natives
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Invasive Species
Giant Reed
-Removal is labor intensive, and has to include
roots - Rodeo herbicide - Biological
control species specific herbivory
Arundo wasp Tetramesa romana
Native plants quickly recover when A. donax is
removed, indicating that it does not occupy an
abandoned niche
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Invasive Species
Snakehead carp

• Family Channidae, within 2 genera, 28 species
• - Channa (snakeheads of Asia, Malaysia and
  Indonesia), and
• - Parachanna (African snakeheads)
• Long and cylindrical with enlarged scales on
  their head, hence the common name of snakehead.
• Compete with native species for food at all life
  stages for food.
• They are air-breathers and are capable of
  overland migration.

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Invasive Species
Snakehead carp
Four species are found in California, Florida,
Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland and Rhode
Island. Reproducing populations have been
documented in Florida and Maryland.

• How did they get here?
• Via releases by aquarium owners
• Via the live food fish trade by individuals
  releasing these fish to establish a local food
  source.

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Invasive Species
Snakehead carp
Snakeheads (family Channidae 2 genera (Channa
and Parachanna) totaling 28 known species) are
currently in the Injurious Species List of Fish
and Wildlife Service. This prohibits the
importation and interstate transport of all 28
species. Cost-benefit analysis done by the USGS
research shows the damage significantly outweighs
the benefits generated by markets.
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Invasive Species
Zebra Mussel
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Invasive Species
Zebra Mussel
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Invasive Species
Zebra Mussel
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Invasive Species
Conclusion
-No single solution or approach - Creativity is
key - Humility to revisit, rethink strategies and
recognize their shortcomings - Constant vigilance
because no one can predict how a species will
react in a new setting (geographic or temporal)
Survival of the fittest?
References available upon request