Scaryus eatumupisScaryus eatumupis

Over past 200 years, several Over past 200 years, several thousand foreign plant & animal thousand foreign plant & animal species have become established in species have become established in the US!the US!

1 in 7 has become INVASIVE1 in 7 has become INVASIVE

Push aside native speciesPush aside native species

Harm human health and the Harm human health and the environmentenvironment

Reduce productivity & ecological Reduce productivity & ecological balancebalance

Where do they come from??Where do they come from??

Enter the United States by:Enter the United States by:• Cower in cratesCower in crates• Snuggle in shipsSnuggle in ships• Hide inside fruits, vegetables, & meatsHide inside fruits, vegetables, & meats• Carried on clothingCarried on clothing

““Hitchhiking Pests and Diseases”Hitchhiking Pests and Diseases”

Where did it Come From? Where did it Come From?

1869: a French Monk brought some 1869: a French Monk brought some Gypsy Moths to the U.S. to Gypsy Moths to the U.S. to experiment with them. Some experiment with them. Some escaped.escaped.

1993: a ship docked in North 1993: a ship docked in North Carolina, opened its cargo hold, and Carolina, opened its cargo hold, and dozens of Gypsy Moths were dozens of Gypsy Moths were released.released.

Discussion Time!Discussion Time!

Red Fish go to corner #1.Red Fish go to corner #1. Seahorse go to corner #2.Seahorse go to corner #2. Shark go to corner #3.Shark go to corner #3. Manta Ray go to corner #4. Manta Ray go to corner #4.

How could you have stopped the spread of How could you have stopped the spread of the moths?the moths?

Would you have warned anyone about Would you have warned anyone about their release?their release?

Where did it Invade?Where did it Invade?

The first Gypsy Moths invaded The first Gypsy Moths invaded Massachusetts and now reside in 15 Massachusetts and now reside in 15 states.states.

1993: invasion originated in NC and 1993: invasion originated in NC and has spread through the South has spread through the South Eastern U.S.Eastern U.S.

Niche?Niche?

4 stages of life: egg, larva (caterpillar), 4 stages of life: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, adult. pupa, adult.

Eat leaves and spends its day foraging for Eat leaves and spends its day foraging for food.food.

It has no known predators in the U.S.It has no known predators in the U.S.

Talk to your tableTalk to your table: If there are no : If there are no predators in the US, do you think they predators in the US, do you think they have predators in other countries? Why? have predators in other countries? Why? What animals can you think of?What animals can you think of?

Effect on Environment It InvadedEffect on Environment It Invaded

Current U.S. Gypsy Moth population could Current U.S. Gypsy Moth population could eat all of the leaves on 13 million acres of eat all of the leaves on 13 million acres of trees in 1 season.trees in 1 season.

How could this be a devastating effect on How could this be a devastating effect on the forest ecosystem? Talk to your table.the forest ecosystem? Talk to your table.

Caterpillars crawl on homes and fall in Caterpillars crawl on homes and fall in pools making outdoor activities hard to pools making outdoor activities hard to enjoy.enjoy.

Where did it invade?Where did it invade?

1984: European cargo ship was 1984: European cargo ship was emptied in Lake Huron. It emptied in Lake Huron. It accidentally let loose the water flea accidentally let loose the water flea that was trapped inside.that was trapped inside.

1987: it could be found in all five 1987: it could be found in all five Great Lakes.Great Lakes.

Niche?Niche? Reproduce rapidly =10 babies every 2 Reproduce rapidly =10 babies every 2

weeksweeks

Lay eggs in winter & hatch in summerLay eggs in winter & hatch in summer

Eat planktonEat plankton

Predators cannot eat the flea because the Predators cannot eat the flea because the barbs on its tail choke the fishbarbs on its tail choke the fish

Crustacean Crustacean

Effect on the Environment it Effect on the Environment it Invaded?Invaded?

The threat posed by the flea is not completely The threat posed by the flea is not completely understoodunderstood

High reproductive rateHigh reproductive rate

Devour native planktonDevour native plankton

What do you think the loss of plankton means What do you think the loss of plankton means to the environment? Talk to your table. to the environment? Talk to your table.

Damage to lake’s ecosystem causing harm to Damage to lake’s ecosystem causing harm to other species in the food chain.other species in the food chain.

Where is It From?Where is It From?

Nutria are native to Argentina, Nutria are native to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.Uruguay.

1899: Brought to US to be used in 1899: Brought to US to be used in the fur tradethe fur trade

Where Did It Invade?Where Did It Invade?

1930: nutria were released on an 1930: nutria were released on an island in Louisiana to start a island in Louisiana to start a commercial breeding farm. Several commercial breeding farm. Several animals escaped.animals escaped.

Spread throughout the Southern U.SSpread throughout the Southern U.S

Can be found throughout the entire Can be found throughout the entire U.SU.S

Niche?Niche?

Live in streams, lakes, ponds, and Live in streams, lakes, ponds, and swampsswamps

Eat both water and land plants.Eat both water and land plants. Reproduce rapidlyReproduce rapidly

Swim and have buck teeth like beaversSwim and have buck teeth like beavers

Hosts for many parasitesHosts for many parasites

Effect on Environment It InvadedEffect on Environment It Invaded Eat all the plants and leave nothing but mudEat all the plants and leave nothing but mud

Native species have nothing to eatNative species have nothing to eat

Eat agricultural crops like cabbage and Eat agricultural crops like cabbage and lettucelettuce

Host many parasites and pass parasites to Host many parasites and pass parasites to native wildlife and humans leading to native wildlife and humans leading to outbreaks of disease!outbreaks of disease!

Discussion Time!Discussion Time!

Talk to your tableTalk to your table: How do you feel : How do you feel about this? Talk about your feelings about this? Talk about your feelings both positive and negative so far both positive and negative so far about non-native species. about non-native species.

Where Is It From?Where Is It From?

Native to the Sahara in East AfricaNative to the Sahara in East Africa

1966: a boy smuggled 3 African 1966: a boy smuggled 3 African snails into the U.S. as petssnails into the U.S. as pets

Where did it Invade?Where did it Invade? Miami, Florida: His grandmother Miami, Florida: His grandmother

eventually released the snails into eventually released the snails into her garden.her garden.

7 years later more than 180,000 7 years later more than 180,000 snails were found in Florida.snails were found in Florida.

It took the state of Florida 10 years It took the state of Florida 10 years and over $1 million to get rid of and over $1 million to get rid of these pests!these pests!

Talk to your table!Talk to your table!

From this example, is it easy for just From this example, is it easy for just one person to introduce a new one person to introduce a new species to a new environment?species to a new environment?

Niche? Niche? Much larger than native snails and Much larger than native snails and

therefore out competes themtherefore out competes them

Hibernate to survive the cold monthsHibernate to survive the cold months

Reproduces fast = 1,200 eggs per year!Reproduces fast = 1,200 eggs per year!

It eats 500 types of plantsIt eats 500 types of plants

Host for many parasitesHost for many parasites

Effect on Environment it InvadedEffect on Environment it Invaded Can pass on diseases to humans and wildlifeCan pass on diseases to humans and wildlife

Lives a long time (9 years)Lives a long time (9 years)

It can out-compete native snails for foodIt can out-compete native snails for food

Eats melons and papayaEats melons and papaya

Hibernates = can survive almost anywhere Hibernates = can survive almost anywhere in the U.S.in the U.S.

Discussion Time!Discussion Time!

Each table: person whose first name Each table: person whose first name is the longest go to corner #1is the longest go to corner #1

Person whose first name is the next Person whose first name is the next longest got to corner #2longest got to corner #2

Person whose first name is the next Person whose first name is the next longest go to corner #3longest go to corner #3

Remaining person go to corner #4Remaining person go to corner #4

QuestionQuestion

What have you learned so far about What have you learned so far about non-native species? Be prepared to non-native species? Be prepared to share with the class! share with the class!

Where Did It InvadeWhere Did It Invade

Invaded the island of Guam (a U.S. Invaded the island of Guam (a U.S. territory)!territory)!

Since WW II, the snake has taken Since WW II, the snake has taken over almost all of the island!over almost all of the island!

There are as many as 12,000 snakes There are as many as 12,000 snakes per mile on Guam!!per mile on Guam!!

Where Is It From?Where Is It From?

The Brown Tree Snake is native to The Brown Tree Snake is native to Australia.Australia.

It was brought over concealed in a It was brought over concealed in a WW II military transport plane.WW II military transport plane.

Niche? Niche?

Mildly venomous and kills its prey by Mildly venomous and kills its prey by injecting venom.injecting venom.

Very good climber as it forages for Very good climber as it forages for food and water.food and water.

NocturnalNocturnal Eats lizards, birds, and small Eats lizards, birds, and small

mammals.mammals. Lays 12 eggs at a time 2 times each Lays 12 eggs at a time 2 times each

yearyear

Effect on Environment it InvadedEffect on Environment it Invaded

Too late to save Guam’s wildlife from the snake. Too late to save Guam’s wildlife from the snake. It has decimated the native population of birds, It has decimated the native population of birds, mammals, and amphibians.mammals, and amphibians.

Climb along electric wires causing power outages Climb along electric wires causing power outages every 6 days!every 6 days!

Raid homes killing pet birds!Raid homes killing pet birds! Reached carrying capacity on Guam and are Reached carrying capacity on Guam and are

searching out habitat elsewhere! searching out habitat elsewhere! Climbed aboard ships and made it to Hawaii 6 Climbed aboard ships and made it to Hawaii 6

times. (Luckily they were caught…it would only times. (Luckily they were caught…it would only take one pregnant female…….)take one pregnant female…….)

What a great movie this would make!What a great movie this would make!

Time to talk!Time to talk!

Corner #1: Whose birthday month Corner #1: Whose birthday month comes first at your table!comes first at your table!

Corner #2: Whose birthday month Corner #2: Whose birthday month comes second!comes second!

Corner #3: Whose birthday month Corner #3: Whose birthday month comes third!comes third!

Corner#4: Whose birthday month Corner#4: Whose birthday month comes last!comes last!

Discuss!Discuss!

Why do you think people bring non-Why do you think people bring non-native species into other countries?native species into other countries?

Do you think they really know the Do you think they really know the consequences?consequences?

What can you do to help?What can you do to help?