invasive species. d efinitions native species plants, animals, and other living things that have...

INVASIVE SPECIES

DEFINITIONS

NATIVE SPECIES

Plants, animals, and other living things that have always lived in a certain area

DEFINITIONS

INVASIVE SPECIES

Plants, animals, and other living things that have been introduced to an area where they don’t belong

Invasive species cause damage to the environment

HOW DO INVASIVE SPECIES GET HERE?

Introduction by early European settlers for food, medicine, or something to remind them of “home”

Release of ballast water from ships (e.g. spiny waterflea)

Escape from fish farms (e.g. Atlantic Salmon in the Pacific)

Use of live bait when fishing (e.g. round goby)

Release or escape from aquarium or water gardens (e.g. fanwort)

Boating and water sports (e.g. zebra mussels)

Internet and mail ordering

WHY ARE INVASIVE SPECIES A PROBLEM?

Compete with native species for food, shelter and space

Can “take over” and crowd out native species

Can change the way native species use the environment

Don’t have natural predators in new area

Can interfere with human activities

Can interfere with farmers’ crops

Cost a lot of $$ to remove

CHARACTERISTICS OF INVASIVE SPECIES

Able to live in a wide range of conditions

Grow quickly

Have lots of young/produce lots of seeds

Able to move away and live in new areas

Broad diet (eat many different things)

Able to adapt to changing conditions

May eat/grow/breed at different times than native species

COMMON REED (Phragmites australis)

Native to Europe

Brought to North America in ballast material of ships in 1800’s

Has spread across entire continent

DAMAGE CAUSED BY INVASIVE PHRAGMITES

Crowds out native plants

DAMAGE CAUSED BY INVASIVE PHRAGMITES

Crowding out native plants can change the ecosystem:

the kinds of plants that grow

the animals that live in and use the area

DAMAGE CAUSED BY INVASIVE PHRAGMITES

Changes the flow of water through the ecosystem

Changes the way nutrients move through the system

Increase the chance of fire

DAMAGE CAUSED BY INVASIVE PHRAGMITES

On Wasaga Beach:

Block nice views of the shoreline/water

Make it hard for people to swim and fish

Keep people from using the beach

Threaten Piping Plover nesting areas

DAMAGE CAUSED BY INVASIVE PHRAGMITES

HOW DO WE CONTROL INVASIVE SPECIES?

PLANTS:

- Pesticides

- Cutting/mowing, pulling, burning

- Insects

ANIMALS:

- Trapping

- Poison

- Barriers

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

DON’T MOVE PLANTS OR ANIMALS!!!

Be a responsible boater/fisher

Follow warning/information signs

Buy native plants for your garden

Get involved in your community

Learn more about invasive species!

SEA LAMPREY

http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/fish/sea-lamprey/

ZEBRA MUSSEL

http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/invertebrates/zebra-and-quagga-mussels/

ROUND GOBY

http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/fish/round-goby/

GIANT HOGWEED

http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/plants-terrestrial/giant-hogweed/