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Living With Aliens By Sharon Levy

Living With Aliens By Sharon Levy. Presentation by Kelly McGowan. Soapberry bugs have adapted to invasive species; they have grown longer beaks to prey on invasive plants. . Photo:www.scottcarol.org. Invasive species- Problem or not?. Many cause no serious harm

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Living With Aliens By Sharon Levy

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  1. Living With AliensBy Sharon Levy Presentation by Kelly McGowan Soapberry bugs have adapted to invasive species; they have grown longer beaks to prey on invasive plants. Photo:www.scottcarol.org

  2. Invasive species- Problem or not? • Many cause no serious harm • Many cause damage and overwhelm native species in competition for resources • Asian long-horned beetle-larvae feed on inner layer of tree trunks, killing the trees Picture: www.columbia.edu

  3. Possible Solutions • Total elimination • Difficult to do • May cause further damage to ecosystem by introducing more new species • Mongoose introduction to Hawaii • Adaptable native species • Perpetuate natives that have adaptive capabilities to keep the invasive species under control

  4. Soapberry bugs Soapberry bugs introduced to non-native invasives adapt quickly to the plant- in less than 40 years Scientists recommend breeding native insects to prey on non-native plants and release them into troubled areas Soapberry bugs quickly change their breeding cycles to adjust to fruiting patterns of the non-native plants Photo: www.saveourwaterwaysnow.org.au

  5. Success Stories Photo:www.etension.usu.edu Photo:www.idahoweedawarness.org • Native Grasses • Native alkali sacaton grasses that grow among non-native Russian knapweed grow smaller, but have deeper more robust root systems • These alkali sacaton are better equipped to grow amongst other non-natives such as Canada thistle

  6. Success stories Native grasses in Reno have begun to green up earlier, allowing them to better compete with invasive cheatgrass Adaptations have allowed them early and more frequent access to water during dry climate times Photo:www.westernwonder.com Photo:www.renodiscontent.com

  7. Conciliation biology Future conservation and control of invasive species is no longer limited to attempting total elimination-but only time will tell if it is more successful Grass seeds that have had the time to adapt to non natives can be introduced to areas to better compete with the invasive plants Insects such as the different sub-species of the soapberry bug can also be released into troubled areas

  8. Sources Levy, Sharon. (Fall 2011). Living with Aliens. OnEarth,17-18 Lutz, J. 2003. "Herpestesjavanicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 15, 2011 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Herpestes_javanicus.html.

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