Solomon, Christopher. “Researcher Finds Way to Fight Cheatgrass, a Western Scourge.” The

New York Times. The New York Times, 05 Oct. 2015. Web. 21 Nov. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/science/researcher-finds-way-to-fight-cheatgrass-a-western-scourge.html?ref=topics&_r=0>.

Cheatgrass is known as the most successful invasive species in North America. This type of weed inhabits every states of the U.S. and has become the dominant plant in the West. The weed has become a physical problem and an agricultural problem since it can reduce yields dramatically. Recently however, a soil scientist with the Agricultural Research Service has discovered a stain of soil bacteria that can constrain the growth of cheatgrass and leave native plants untouched.

This article confirms that not all native species can harm native environments. Sometimes the introduction of new species can benefit the state of an environment and provide equilibrium. However, a lot of research needs to be dedicated to this types of invasive species to prove their reliability and the effects they would have on a native environment, especially if this type of species is some type of bacteria or fungi.  

American Society for Microbiology. “Fungus causes emerging snake disease found in Eastern US.”

ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 November 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151117112047.htm>.

Researcher in the United States identified the offender responsible to a deadly skin disease in snakes from the eastern U.S. The culprit is a fungi known as the Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. This fungus does not need the help of a host to survive, which means that even when the host population begins to decline it can still persist in the environment and harm other native species. Snakes from nine different states were diagnosed with this fungal disease and in most of the different species there is 100% mortality rate.

Bacteria and fungi are types of invasive species that can dominate and environments and its inhabitants and cause destruction, since they can reproduce easily and exponentially. As the research suggested in this article, these types of species can still thrive on in environment even when they have consumed the majority of their host species, and move on and harm other species. That is why it is very important to be aware of these organisms and their impact on the native populations.

Garvey, Kathy. “Managed Bees Spread and Intensify Diseases in Wild Bees.” ScienceDaily.

ScienceDaily, 5 Nov. 2015. Web. 21 Nov. 2015. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151105152147.htm>.

Recent studies done in the University of California has examines the effects imported bees and bumblebees have on native bees. Research showed that imported bees carried diseases that affected the state of the native. Even though, not all of the managed bees carry diseases it’s been proven that they still stress local bees which can easily affect and cause trauma in the native species. The article also mentioned that there are not enough regulations on the import and export of bees, which can make it easier for these diseases to spread all around the world which can have a dangerous impact in our agricultural industry.

This article focused on the importance of bees to our survival. Many people sometimes do not realize the heavy reliance we have on this one species. Without them our agricultural industry would suffer as well as us. There should be more regulations when importing these managed bees to different types of the world. Screening tests should become mandatory to make sure that the species does not carry any harmful diseases that might otherwise harm the state of native bees.

Forbes, Andrew. “Caught in the Act: New Wasp Species Emerging.” ScienceDaily.

ScienceDaily, 29 Oct. 2015. Web. 21 Nov. 2015. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151029185553.htm>. 

In a new recent scientific research done by many prestigious universities, finds that the North American fruit fly has evolved and that it can join the havoc that  three new different wasp species have done to apple farms in the United States. The fruit fly had been a problem in apple farms every since the 1850s. Researchers found that the fruit fly had changes in feeding and mating habits which has caused it to become two diverse species. This is all because of the different time cycles it takes for apple trees to grow.

This article not only talks about the atrocious effects invasive species can have in our agriculture industry, but that also these species can become dominant enough to evolve and create more havoc in the future. With new research emerging in regards to invasive species, our environmental consciousness might rise.

Visser, Nick. “New Guinea Flatworm, One Of The World’s ‘Worst’ Invasive Species, Found In

Florida.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 23 June 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/23/new-guinea-flatworm-invasive-species_n_7645346.html>.

This article talked about a recent invasive species that has invaded the state of Florida. This species is known as the New Guinea Flatworm and has been considered one of the 100 worst invasive species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The species most likely spread through international trade of plants, since the worm can only move a couple hundred yards a year. The flatworm is known for putting native worms in danger. Although the United States has very strict rules relating to the import of foreign goods, once products are in the mainland there are no strict regulations. This can allow the worm be transported very easily to other states as well as other parts of the American continent.

This article show the importance of regulations for the import and export of products. Most of the invasive species that are transported to their non-native environments is with the help of humans. Invasive species are known for being able to thrive in their new environments. This is why more initiative needs to be taken in order to stop the import of goods that could potentially cause harm to the country.

4. Research on Invasive Species

INRA-France. “A first in tree research: European trees planted in China to identify potentially

invasive species in our forests.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 June 2015.

<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150603083202.htm> .

INRA scientists from France worked alongside Beijing scientists to study the invasion of insects on trees over the years. Many European tree species have been invaded by Asian insects, larvae, and fungi. The group of scientists planted seven species of European trees in two different locations in China. About 400 trees were planted at the Beijing site and 700 on the Fuyang site. These trees were regularly monitored over the course of four years, making sure to record the amount of insects and damage done to the trees. The results showed that out of 104 insect species, 38 were invasive species.

This research project provides really good information. It shows how fast invasive species can take over an environment and thrive. It also shows how any species of wildlife can be harmed not just animals. The research also showed the mortality rate of the trees planted on each site. Only 99 trees remained at the Beijing site from the 400 that were planted, and this only took three years. When this example is applied to real wildlife, it could mean the potential of having an extinction of the tree completely. It’s great to see research efforts put into effect and giving good information.

3. Extermination of Invasive Species

Rivin, Gabe. “Getting Rid of Invasive Species With a Little Electric Shock – D-brief.” Dbrief.

Kalmbach Publishing, 24 Nov. 2014. Web. 22 Aug. 2015.

<http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/11/24/invasive-species-electric-shock/#.VdlCqvlVhBc>.

This article talks about a new way of getting rid of invasive species of fish that take over certain aquatic ecosystems. One example is the Brook Trout, which took over the upper Missouri River basin, leading a fight with the native species, the westslope cutthroat trout. Fishermen were debating whether or not to use toxic chemicals, called piscicides,  to get rid of these invasive fish, but of course the possibility of harming the good fish was very likely. Instead fishermen turned to backpack electrofishing. These backpacks have generators powered by 24 volt batteries. These generators are attached to wands that fisherman can use to put in the water and shock the fish. The fish are only temporarily shocked, and while on this process the invasive fish are picked out from the native ones. So far the method has proven to be successful over the course of 13 years.

This method is definitely better than using hazardous chemicals that not only harm the fish but also have the possibility of harming the ecosystems. However, when it comes to the management of this method it can be very hard since it is done by individuals and it takes a long time. Also there is a possibility that the native fish that are electrocuted and survive, have other difficulties. Nothing has been tested on the state of the native fish after they are electrocuted and that’s something that is very important to consider.