Author: tarwa

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Adirondacks Invasion

Petrequin, Jay. “Report: Over 450 New Infestations in Adirondacks in 2021.” NEWS10 ABC, NEWS10 ABC, 2 Feb. 2022, https://www.news10.com/news/north-country/report-over-450-new-infestations-in-adirondacks-in-2021/. 

Adirondacks, a 6-million acre park, has recently suffered from 450 new infestations. The park is coveted by its own New York, however, despite so much effort to protect the park, invasive species keep attacking. Last year the Adirondacks team partnered with scientists to better the chances of the park’s survival from invasive species, although it was to little avail. Currently, invasives like ash borer beetles, garlic mustard, the hemlock wooly adelgid, among many others run amok at the park. The culprit of these infestations is likely travelers accidentally bringing them to the park by clothes, bag, or boat. At the moment, a park team is currently fighting the crisis. By releasing a beetle known to hunt ash borer beetles, their population has dropped around 40% in targeted areas. Overall, I think this park has a bright future but what’s to say another large outbreak of infestation won’t happen next year? Should tourists be temporarily banned? 

Overall, I’ve found this article to be incredibly informative. This park is a very big reminder that no matter how we try to stop invasive species, there is always the chance that they’ll prevail whatever preventative measure we take.  It also highlights the danger of tourists entering parks nowadays. The best thing for the park right now may be to limit tourists, or at least monitor what comes and goes into the park better. This article also mentions how a new beetle was introduced to fight the current invasive species. To me, this seems like fighting fire with fire, but it’s produced positive results. I think the risk is much too high of inviting new species, since history has shown that we’re not the best at predicting their effects. 

 

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Dangerous Weeds invade the San Joaquin River

Edinger, Marie. “Invasive Species Endangers Boaters in San Joaquin River.” KMPH, KMPH, 3 Feb. 2022, https://kmph.com/news/local/invasive-species-endangers-boaters-in-san-joaquin-river. 

In the San Joaquin River located in California, invasive weeds have been growing restless. Specifically, Hyacinth, a weed known for it’s beautiful purple flowers, is the culprit responsible for covering up the San Joaquin. Brady Weldon, a local, has seen in first person how devastating the effects of hyacinth can be. His boat, which is designed to run on water like that of the river’s, can no longer function because of the hyacinth. Moreover, hyacinth has trapped garbage in the water as well. The plant has spread so much that garbage can now float on it, because the hyacinth has created a layer between it and the river. Fish and other local animals are at risk of getting tangled in the roots of hyacinth, but also are losing room as the forage expands. Humans are at risk too. There really is no benefit from this plant. 

I think that this article highlights the importance of tackling invasive species early on. In the article, Local Brady Weldon mentioned how little Hyacinth there was two years ago. He describes it as only existing on the very sides of the river, before completely taking it over. If the plant had been eradicated early on, this mess may have never happened. While we can’t always judge how dangerous an invasive species is going to be in a new habitat, history tells us that it will most likely be bad. While there is usually a cost to fighting these species early on, it usually pales in comparison to cost after an invasive species has become destructive. The article also mentions how hyacinth has spread across the globe. If that’s the case, surely there must be some effective techniques to get rid of it. Also, how did Hyacinth go under the radar for so long if it’s so renowned?

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Hawaii’s Invasive Species Problem

Lund, Casey. “Invasive Species a Big Pain, but There Are Success Stories in Fight against Them.” Https://Www.hawaiinewsnow.com, https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/02/04/dlnr-works-raise-awareness-growing-problem-invasive-species-hawaii/. 

Kahoolawe, one of the smaller islands of Hawaii, has been fighting against invasive species. While many still persist, there have been some success stories. Sheep, Goats, and cattle have been removed from the island, subsequently preventing topsoil erosion from these animals. On the contrary, Fire ants, axis deer, Albizia trees, and many other species still remain. Erin Bishop, a member of the invasive species committee, urges citizens to take action. By submitting images, sound files, and asking questions directly to the committee, not only is the public being educated but the invasive species committee can pinpoint locations of targeted species better. Because Hawaii is a group of islands, not all the invasive species are the same and vary from island to island. Due to Kahoolawe’s small size, there is a higher chance of successful species eradication. 

I think the article brings up a question that Hawaii’s probably faced when countering invasive species: Should we fund eradication on the bigger and more prominent islands, or the smaller and more often wild islands? While the bigger islands do have more people, invasive species can move through smaller islands quicker than bigger ones, just as they can more often be eradicated faster. On the other hand,  bigger island projects are usually more expensive and can take longer. So which island would you save? Personally, I think the best approach to this would be to attack whichever invasive is the most dangerous to human populations and ecosystems. While this may not always work, it’ll usually be the safest. Secondly, I also think this article does a good job of highlighting the importance of public participation when it comes to eradicating an invasive species. Not only is public participation cost efficient, but it’s very effective when a large sum of people join in. 

 

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Western Gray Squirrel vs Eastern Fox Squirrel

Lund, Casey. “Invasive Species a Big Pain, but There Are Success Stories in Fight against Them.” Https://Www.hawaiinewsnow.com, https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/02/04/dlnr-works-raise-awareness-growing-problem-invasive-species-hawaii/. 

In Gresham, Oregon a war between natives and invasives are being fought: the fight between native Western Gray Squirrels and the invasive Eastern Fox Squirrel. The western gray squirrel has become victim to several different imperiling factors: High Road Death rates, habitat loss, and disease. The latter reason exists in large part because of the Eastern fox Squirrel, who have a high transmission rate of disease between Western Gray squirrels. Besides that, the Eastern fox squirrel is exploiting resources at a much quicker rate than the native squirrel populations. This is because of the Eastern Fox squirrels’ rapidly growing population, which is spurred by their ability to reproduce at any time of the year, unlike Western Gray squirrels who have mating seasons. Moreover, Eastern fox squirrels are also “aggressive” and willing to move near humans in order to find food, unlike Western Gray squirrels. Eastern Fox squirrels came to the region due to the fur trade and as an aesthetic for parks. Their population has become more scarce due to the previously mentioned factors, on top of competing with an invasive species. 

Overall, this article is pretty simple and straightforward. There is much you can say to defend the presence of eastern fox squirrels in this case due to their high drawbacks and very limited upsides. So, I definitely think that we should focus on removing these species as quickly as possible. However, the article doesn’t mention any way to eradicate the species. I think this is due to the obvious reason that there isn’t one yet. The mentioned squirrels live among humans, so it makes it incredibly hard to use traps and other potentially dangerous methods of capture. Other than signs warning drivers to watch for the presence of squirrels, the state is likely to route money to other issues rather than use it to save a squirrel population. I think this article definitely highlights how hard certain species can be to remove. 

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Rhode Island’s Struggle Against Invasive Specie

Detz, Jo. “Invasive Plants Have Rhode Island’s Native Life in Stranglehold.” EcoRI News, EcoRI News, 28 Jan. 2022, https://www.ecori.org/natural-resources/2022/1/20/invasive-species-tighten-grip-on-ocean-states-native-plants. 

Rhode Island is likely the worst state when it comes to enforcing and passing laws prohibiting invasive species. As of right now, the state doesn’t have a list of invasives for terrestrial plants due to pushback from the public and the Rhode Island Farm Bureau. This pushback has been generated because Many businesses in Rhode Island are profiting off selling invasive species, and an instantaneous ban of many species could ruin their companies. Similarly, the Rhode Island Farm Bureau is also hesitant to ban species out of fear that Farmers would bear the brunt of fines for accidentally importing invasive species. There is some hope, as the DEM (Department of Environmental Management) does have a ban list for aquatic invasive species. However, there is still no end in sight for if the DEM will include terrestrial invasive species in it’s banned species list. As one could expect, invasive species are running rampant in Rhode Island, especially Bruning Brush, Japanese Barberry, Japanese Knotweed, and many others. 

Personally, this whole situation frustrates me. I can understand how we can’t ban species in rhode island instantly since it harms business, but if nothing ends up happening ecosystems are going to continue to falter. The fact that terrestrial invasive species are not even banned goes to show how radical Rhode island is in the fight against invasive species. The main reason aquatic species have been banned is because they aren’t prominent in plant growing businesses. After all, not a lot of people can grow aquatic plants in their backyard. But another reason is due to the aesthetic of many invasive species. This fight will probably make Rhode island a bit more dreary if we were to completely remove invasive species. As silly as it may seem, aesthetic invasive plants have the highest demand in plant–growing businesses. Still, it’s better to keep Rhode Island healthy.   

 

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Invasive Caterpillars Invading Maine

 

Jiménez, Jesus. “Maine Residents Fend off Poisonous Caterpillars.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 June 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/06/13/us/maine-browntail-moth-caterpillar.html. 

 

This article talks about browntail moth caterpillars which have been infesting Maine in recent months. Scientists have noted that browntail moth caterpillars have been in Maine for nearly 100 years, but climate change and a more arid climate has allowed their population to thrive. The caterpillars themselves are somewhat poisonous and can cause skin rashes as well as breathing problems for certain people. The caterpillars’ are native to cape code and maine’s coast, but have recently been found in all 16 of Maine’s counties. Scientists believe the caterpillars hitchhiked their way into Maine 100 years ago. Infestations are supposed to only get worse as climate change creates a more ideal environment for them. 

 

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this article is climate change’s role in invasive species being able to thrive. Climate change has obviously played a role in changing environments but what many forget is that this can cause damage to existing ecosystems, plants, and animals. In turn, other invasive species have been given a better chance to survive in new environments. While some may argue that this can still benefit already existing species, it can also damage other existing species. Many of the ecosystems we see today have existed for hundreds of years and have been stabilized to create a healthy cycle. Climate change is one of  the biggest deterrent to keeping ecosystems stable.  

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Japanese Beetle is More Costly than Pretty

Roach, Margaret. “The Japanese Beetles Are Back.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 July 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/07/07/realestate/japanese-beetles-how-to-kill.html. 

 

Japanese beetles are an invasive species that appeared in the US around 1916. As one would expect, the insects’s native region is Japan. Although japanese beetles share a beautiful  iridescent green color, they have been known to have an appetite that includes over 300 different types of plants. Part of why the beetle is able to do this is because of strong stomach enzymes which allow it to consume everything from blackberries to milkweed. The Japanese beetle is also economically devastating to the US, considering the U.S.D.A estimates they cause $460 million in damages. The beatles’ also reproduce roughly 40-46 times in a lifetime, which is about once a day. Considering they lay around 6 eggs each time they reproduce, their population is incredibly hard to eradicate.

 

Perhaps the most significant point in this article about invasive species is how devastating they can be to the US. The article mentioned that japanese beetles alone may cost around $460 million in annual damages. Considering that japanese beetles are only 1 of thousands of invasive species across the US, it definitely makes one wonder how much extra money the US could have. This article also demonstrates how difficult it can be to eradicate invasive species. Japanese beetles reproduce at an exponential rate compared to most species, and based on the math some can even give birth to over 276 larva in a single lifetime.

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Bird-Killing Ants Ravage Hawaii

Jones, Caleb. “’Crazy’ Ants That Kill Birds Eradicated from PACIFIC ATOLL.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 23 June 2021, apnews.com/article/hi-state-wire-ants-birds-29990f306c96a43fa1051b14c0275b6b. 

 

Earlier this summer, an invasive ant species known as yellow crazy ants were eradicated from Johnston atoll national wildlife refuge near Honolulu, Hawaii. The ants posed a serious threat to wildlife in the area, especially seabirds, which were a common victim. The ants were known to spray acids that could seriously injure prey and even blind them if the encounter didn’t result in death. Yellow crazy ants, native to Southern Asia, have accidentally made their way to regions in the pacific through various methods including boats or excess debris. This event marks the first time an invasive ant species has been eradicated over such a large area (120+ miles). While the island’s closest neighbor is Honolulu, it is the only area to house tropical birds in a nearly 1.5 million square kilometer radius. 

 

This article shows how invasive species, even something as small as ants, can pose a serious threat to wildlife. In this case, even animals as large as seabirds were victims of yellow crazy ants. This trend relates to the US considering how passive people can be towards invasive bugs because of their small stature and size. In reality, insects can pose a serious threat to areas due to their ability to quickly reproduce and incredibly voracious diet. Moreover, this article details how drastically different environments are around the world, and what can happen when a dangerous species enters a helpless ecosystem. The US tends to house less dangerous environments, leaving it incredibly susceptible to invasive species from other parts of the world. 

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Poisonous Hemlock Flourishes in US Soil

Bowman, Sarah, and London Gibson. “Toxic Invasive Poison Hemlock Is Spreading into US Parks and BACKYARD GARDENS.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 3 Aug. 2021, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/08/03/poison-hemlock-us-parks-gardens-beware-toxic-plant/5465780001/. 

 

Hemlock, a plant native to Europe has recently gone on a rampage in the US, and is quickly becoming a serious threat to the environment and people. Hemlock is an extremely poisonous plant that was introduced into the US about a year ago. The plant thrives in damp soil and moist areas, however it has been spotted in nearly every state. Perhaps the scariest thing is that every part of the plant – from seeds to leaves – is poisonous even when in contact with one’s skin. Touching Hemlock can cause serious blisters and welts, and actually consuming the plant can be lethal. Because of it’s poisonous aspects, the US has struggled to eradicate hemlock. It also doesn’t help that the plant can release 30,000 seeds in one go, and considering that the months of spring and summer are when this plant tends to thrive, the spreading of hemlock is now at an exponential rate. 

 

This article is one example of how reluctant humans are to stopping the spread of  invasive species, and perhaps even more importantly the environment. While there have been many examples of invasive species threatening the environment, people rarely decide to take action until it’s too late or until it affects themselves. With better laws and regulations against invasive species, thousands of ecosystems could become significantly healthier, and extinct ecosystems may have had a chance to survive. This would also greatly benefit the environment, since unhealthy ecosystems can cause places to go on a rapid decline by killing of native species, plants, and the entire area as a whole.

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New Zealand’s Battle Against Invasive Species

Arnold, Naomi. “An Island Nation’s Audacious Effort to Save Its Unique Wildlife.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 4 Jan. 2021, www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2020/12/31/island-nation-unique-wildlife/. 

 

New Zealand plans to completely eradicate all mammalian predators, specifically invasive species, in its ongoing multimillion dollar plan “Predator Free 2050”. As one could have guessed, the plan is supposed to end in 2050, which shows New Zealand’s degree of ambition. One island of the New Zealand Coast, Coal island, has faced the implementations of the plan first-hand. Around the 1800’s, a mammal called a stoat was introduced to the region. The original intention of introducing stoats to Coal Island was to kill off the overrun rabbit population, and naturally the mammal soon became a top predator in the region. After the rabbit population died out, Stouts began targeting animals like seabirds, and even the famous Kakapo Parrot. Despite this setback, New Zealand isn’t new to eradicating invasive species. New Zealanders originally eradicate mice from the region by dropping poison cereal across the island. While the plan is still working out, this hasn’t stopped a persistent population of stouts to survive. Climate change has also  introduced a new, warmer climate into areas previously unreachable by stouts, causing them to expand their existing habitats. A project is also going on to introduce haast tokoeka kiwis, a “nationally critical” near-extinct species into the area. While the birds should be able to fend off stoats and populate, this will take a while to happen. 

 

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this article is how hard it can be to extract invasive species from a region. Stoats populated the region incredibly quickly since they were an alpha predator in the region, due to their ability to hunt the overpopulated rabbits of Coal Island. One may also highlight the fact that Stoats are only one of tons of other species introduced to non-native areas, especially in the past. Many people of the past accidentally introduced invasive species through international trade or didn’t consider the effects they would have on the future, resulting in tons of near-extinct animals and destroyed ecosystems.