Topic #1 Invasive or Alien Species Invasive or alien species have decimated natu

Question

Topic #1 Invasive or Alien Species

Invasive or alien species have decimated natural ecosystems and cost us untold millions of dollars in environmental damage.

Define what constitutes an invasive or alien species.

Why, in general, do invasive species pose such a serious problem for natural ecosystems?

Select one invasive species from the list below (be sure it is different from your classmates) address the following:

Where did this species come from and where and how was it introduced?

What effect has this species had on the ecosystem?

Provide one new interesting or surprising fact about your species.

Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata)

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta)

Asian Swamp Eel (Monopterus albus)

European Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)

Northern Snakehead (Channa argus)

European Spruce Bark Beetle (Ips typographus)

Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

Cane Toad (Bufo marinus)

Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas)

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

Curly Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)

Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)

Africanized Honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata)

Mile-A-Minute Weed (Persicaria perfoliata)

Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

Quackgrass (Elymus repens)

Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata)

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta)

Asian Swamp Eel (Monopterus albus)

European Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)

Northern Snakehead (Channa argus)

European Spruce Bark Beetle (Ips typographus)

Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

Cane Toad (Bufo marinus)

Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas)

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

Curly Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)

Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)

Africanized Honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata)

Mile-A-Minute Weed (Persicaria perfoliata)

Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

Quackgrass (Elymus repens)

Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

Explanation / Answer

An alien or invasive species are any kind of living beings which are non-native to the ecosystem under consideration. These unwanted species may be plants or animals which may disrupt an ecosystem by dominating a region, wilderness, particular habitat or wildland-urban interface land. They colonize an area which often adversely effects the ecosystem because of their unmatched ability to take advantage and outgrow other native species of that area.

Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)- This fresh water mussel was native to the lakes of Southern Russia. These mussels are still found nearby, as Pontic (Black Sea) and Caspian species.However, the zebra mussel has been accidentally introduced to numerous other areas, and has become an invasive species in many different countries worldwide. Zebra mussels are filter feeders and their shells are very sharp. Therefore, people have to wear water shoes or else their feet will be cut by their hard shell. Zebra mussel are believed to be the source of deadly avian botulism that has killed thousands of birds of these great lakes since 1990s.

"A malaria biologist"

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