arnold says: do it now! what is an exotic species?

Arnold Says: Do it now! What is an exotic

species? What is an invasive

species? Do you know any

examples?

What is an Introduced (exotic) Species?

Organisms that have either intentionally or accidentally been released into this country that are (non-native)

Ring Neck Pheasant

Brown Trout

What is an Invasive Species?

Invasive Species- Exotic organism that takes over an environment and disrupts the community by out-competing or destroying native species.

Overall negative impact to ecosystem.

Kudzu Also known as the vine that

ate the south- can grow 1 foot a day.

Introduced from Vietnam in the southern US to control erosion.

Quickly got out of control and spreads 150,000 acres annually.

Negative Impact: Chokes out native plants

Asian and Silver Carp Imported

from Asia for food and algae control

Can grow to 100 lbs and jump 10 feet out of the water.

What impact do they have on the environment?

Ouch! Asian Carp Video Turn a Negative into a positi

ve

European Gypsy Moth Introduced by that

guy to try and make silk Defoliate trees,

leaving them weak and eventually they die

All over NE US Eat 1 square foot

per day per bug

Purple Loosestrife

Occurs in every state except Florida

Forms dense coverage of wetland habitat that displaces native veg and is of a lesser nutritional value

Each plant can produce up to 3 million seeds per year!

Introduced for ornamental and medicinal purposes and STILL SOLD TODAY!

Chestnut Blight

A fungus transported from an Asian nursery delivery

Devastated all American Chestnut Trees in early 1900s. 1 in 4 hardwood trees in the Appalacian Range used to be an American Chestnut, but they are all gone

Enters the tree through wounds and cracks and quickly spreads killing the tree.

A few small trees survive, but are eventually killed.

European Starling

Introduced by Shakespeare enthusiasts in 1890

Outcompetes native species and destroys crops

Spreads rapidly, extremely successful in North America

Stink Bugs! Introduced

accidentally around the summer of 1998, possibly on container ship from Asia.

First seen in US in Allentown, PA

No natural predators because of the smell and distaste to other animals

Negative Impact: Agricultural pest and indoor pest (seeks warm during cold weather).

Red Imported Fire Ant

Attack and eat a variety of ground nesting animals

Spread via mating flights and accidentally by humans

Video Electricity Raft

Zebra Mussles Mollusk from Russia Has invaded the Great

Lakes Negative Impact:

Clogs drains and covers beaches, boats, and other animals.

What is a vector? Vector- This is the

medium (method) through which an invasive species gets to a location.

How does the Zebra Mussel affect the food web in the Great Lakes?

LionfishOuch!!! Ouch!

!!Ouch!!!

Vector?

Burmese Python Released by pet

owners that can’t handle them.

Everglades similar to home environment.

Negative Impact: Outcompete the top predators.

Python v. Gator Video

Get out your HW! What is an invasive species? How is it different from an exotic? What is a vector? Give 3 examples.

What would you do…? Before the bell rings…start on this below. In your notes, write down and describe at

least 4 ways you would control an invasive species in your area? Be creative.

Control Methods

Manual Chemical Biological Cultural APHIS-Animal Plant Health Inspection

Service

What are common characteristics of most invasive species?

Rapidly reproduction Not many (if any) limiting factors Outcompete native species for resources No “natural” predators in new environment.

Snakehead Fish Read the following article and answer the

questions about the snakehead fish. Please do this on your own. You have about 10 minutes.

Northern Snakehead Distribution

Video of Snakehead Fish Sightings in US since 1997 by USGS Video of Snakehead v. Large Mouth

Bass