SNC 1D

ALIEN SPECIES

Species that are accidentally or purposefully introduced to a new location

Also known as:Introduced speciesNon-native speciesExotic species

Can also be…..INVASIVE SPECIES

INVASIVE SPECIES Non-native species that cause harm to the

ecosystem in which it has been introduced Often has no predators in new area so they

reproduce faster than native species

How do they cause problems?Take over habitat of native speciesInvade their bodiesDisrupt ecosystemCompete with native species for food and habitat

EXAMPLES OF INVASIVE SPECIES Asian Carp:

voracious feeders can grow to 40-50 kg consuming large quantities of food, muscling out native fish

populations, and altering native habitat

August 14, 2009:○ Reached barrier at

ChicagoJune 22, 2010:

○ Carp caught past barrier in Illinois

Part 1 (7:05 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7zkTnQVaMPart 2 (6:39 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ChwJiKKBdA

EXAMPLES OF INVASIVE SPECIES: Zebra Mussels:

First detected in great lakes in 1988Arrived in ballast water of ship

○ Ballast water: water picked up by ships to stabilize them

while at sea, released at destination

Effects:○ Blocked pipelines○ Cut people’s feet○ Filter feeders, contain high amounts of

pollutants, passed onto predators

EXAMPLES OF INVASIVE SPECIES: Purple Loosestrife:

Introduced from Europe in 1800s as ornamental plant

Invaded wetlands throughout eastern North America, choking out many native species

Altered wetland ecosystem for other species

Invasive Species inCootes Paradise

Carp- Fishway constructed to prevent carp from getting in, but allowing smaller fish- Water level manipulation also used

Purple Loosestrife- beetles released that only feed on purple loosestrife- native predators of loosestrife beetles are ladybeetles, true bugs, predaceous beetles, spiders, and possibly birds, frogs, and lizards

More info - http://jessiealley.wordpress.com/tag/cootes-paradise/

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.062491,-95.677076&spn=66.711008,158.027344&t=f&z=3&ecpose=37.06250381,-95.67706712,19119373.11,0,0,0

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Do not release alien plants or animals (including pets

and live bait) into the wild.

Do not bring fruit, vegetables, plants, or animals with you across borders.

Before taking a recreational trip, inspect and clean fishing equipment, boats, trailers, recreational vehicles, and other items that may harbour hitch-hiking invaders.

Do not transport over long distances firewood or other wood with bark attached.

Reference: Hinterlands Who’s Who: Issues and Topics: Invasive and Alien Species in Canada, http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=220

Consequence Mapping What is it?

- a visual tool for illustrating the many kinds of future effects related to a real or imaginary event, issue or problem- ask a “What if?” question and brainstorm all the consequences- Let’s try an example:

What if we ban cars?

- We can categorize our consequences as social, scientific, legal and ethical, economic, personal or environmental.

Home Fun !:

Complete handout

a) Read pages 59 & 66 and answer the questions

b) Complete the consequence map on invasive species

Cane Toad 1935 introduced in Australia to eat scarab beetles destroying

sugar cane fields only 100 toads imported from Hawaii, soon exploded into 10

000 shortly after introduction, found out that toads unable to fly,

climb or scale sugar cane to eat the beetles that lived in upper portion of cane

toads became voracious predators to almost everything except the beetle

Cane toad videoclip (8:12 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpNl8AAFyL4&feature=related

Snakehead Aggressive can grow to 1.5 meters in length can survive out of water for days can also jump into boats, rip their prey in half

or sever a human arm with their powerful jaws Dubbed “Frankenfish” by U.S. media well adapted to cold water no natural predators in North America

Snakehead videoclip (3:40 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmU7etSYYqI

Snakehead info: http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/snakehead/overview.php

More info: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/snakehead.shtml

Asian Longhorned Beetle 1996 – arrived accidently in cargo from Asia Destroys hardwood trees, including maple

(50% of trees in GTA are maple) Potential to destroy 50% of harwood forests in

North America No known natural enemies in Canadian forests

Video (2:45 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt4LEWiXu3U

More info: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Forests/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_166979.html