Invasive Species: Biological Pollution in New York

2. Invasive Species: Biological Pollution in New York Chuck O’Neill Senior Extension Associate NY Sea Grant / Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida Lake Invasive Species Seminar Syracuse, NY - March 2007

4. The Next 30 Minutes. . . Look at the overall Invasive Species problem: • What is an Invasive Species, anyway? • How do invasive species differ from non-native species? • Why should we be concerned? • How do invasive species get introduced? • Sample organisms (aquatic/terrestrial, plant/animal, pathogen)

5. Invasive Species Species which have been transported – intentionally or unintentionally – into a geographic region outside their native ecosystem and which have become established (reproducing in self-sustaining populations) in that new environment, often causing significant harm (or potential of harm) to the environment, the economy, and/or to human health What They Aren’t: • Non-indigenous Species / Non-Native Species • Exotic Species / Alien Species • From other locations • Not necessarily invasive or harmful • Many support human livelihoods or preferred quality of life • Nuisance Species • Harmful but not necessarily non-native or invasive

6. The Invasive Species Problem As of 2000, almost 5000 nonindigenous species have established free-living populations in the U.S. • Compromise biological integrity - cause ecological instability – upset biodiversity • 15% have caused severe harm to agriculture, industry, human health, and environment • Cost of damages and control estimated at $123 Billion annually (Pimentelle 1999)

7. Zebra Mussels Characteristics of Invasive Species • High abundance / high fecundity • Short generation time • Ability to occupy broad diversity of habitats – wide range of food • High genetic variability • Proximity to transmittal vector

8. Invasive Species Pathways Transportation Related Pathways Includes all pathways related to the transportation of people and goods • Subcategories include: • Plane, train, car, trucks, buses • Items Used in Shipping Process (cargo holds, ballast water, containers, packing material, baggage, travelers) • Travel/Tourism/Relocation • Mail/Internet/Overnight Shipping ISAC 2003

9. Invasive Species Pathways Living Industry (Plant and Animal) Pathways • Subcategories include: • Food Pathways (market ready for immediate consumption) • Non-Food Animal Pathways (aquarium trade, pets, non-food livestock, aquaculture, labs) • Plant Trade (aquatic and terrestrial) ISAC 2003

10. Hurricane damage Human mediated disturbance Invasive Species Pathways Miscellaneous Pathways • Other aquatic pathways (canals, interbasin transfers) • Ecosystem disturbance (highways, railways, pipeline & utility ROWs) • Natural Spread of Established Populations of Invasive Species ISAC 2003

11. Geographic Source Regions 90 80 70 60 50 Number of Species 40 30 20 10 0 Asia India Africa Pacific Europe Atlantic Eurasia Australia Unknown Gulf Coast Arctic Ocean New Zealand Southern U.S. South America Newfoundland Central America Mississippi Basin Various/Widespread

12. Introduction Vectors

13. 35 30 25 20 Number of Species 15 10 5 0 Pre- 1840- 1860- 1880- 1900- 1920- 1940- 1960- 1980- 1839 1859 1879 1899 1919 1939 1959 1979 2007 Time Interval 1810 – 2007 175+ Species Introduced

14. Sea lamprey – Petromyzon marinus Vector - Canals Dissolved barriers between basins (Interbasin Migration) 1825 – Erie Canal • Gov. Clinton dumps Lake Erie water into NY Harbor • Lake Erie-bound boats carried NY Harbor water • Foreshadowed large-scale future ballast transfers • Lake trout, walleye, cisco • Collapse of commercial fishing late-1940s/early-’50s • $20 Million/year (NYS ISTF 2005)

15. Vector – Intentional Introductions • Introduced Ornamental Plants • Government Sanctioned Sportfish • Government Agency - Fishery Enhancement • Government Agency - Fight Insect Pests

16. Blue sedge Vector – Canals (Solid Ballast) Plants • Flowering rush (Butomis umbellatus) • Weeping alkali grass (Puccinella distans) • Sedge (Carex flacca) • Yellow flag (Iris pseudocorus) • Creeping yellow cress (Rorippa sylvestris) • European water horewound (Lycopus europaeus) • European brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) Invertebrates • Faucet snail (Bithynia tentaculata) • European valve snail (Valvata piscinalis) • European pea clam (Pisidium amnicum)

17. True forget-me-not Peppermint Vector – Release from Cultivation Medicinal Plants • Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) • Peppermint (Mentha piperita) • Spearmint (Mentha spicata) Food Plants • Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum) Forage Crop • Redtop (Agrostis gigantea) Ornamental Plants • White willow (Salix alba) • Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) • Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) • Glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) • Garden loosestrife (Lysmachia vulgaris) • True forget-me-not (Myosotis peltatum) • Bergamot mint (Mentha cintrata)

18. National ANS Clearinghouse Zebra & “Quagga” mussels (Dreissena spp.) • Lake St. Clair {1988} • Direct physical impacts on infrastructure • Impacts beach use • Impacts navigation, recreation, angling • Food/habitat competition • Extirpation/extinction of native species • $1 - 1.5 Billion since 1988: 22 states, 2 provinces (NANSC 2006)

19. Buy on Internet Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) • Highly invasive • Invades shallowspawning grounds • Outcompetes native cattails & sedges • Little food value for animals • Thick stands  serve as wildlife cover • $45 Million/year (CRS 1999)

20. Buy on Internet Common reed (Phragmites australis) • Highly invasive • Dominates disturbed landscapes • Spreads rapidly, displaces natural, diverse plant communities • Rhizome monocultures 7,000 acres

21. M. spicatum Buy on Internet Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum ) • Highly invasive • Aggressive competitor • Reduces biodiversity • Reduces spawning habitat • Dense mats impair water uses

22. Water chestnut seed Lake Champlain Buy on Internet Water chestnut (Trapa natans) • Collins Lake, NY – 1884 • Highly invasive • Outcompetes natives • Impenetrable mats • Severely limits light penetration • Reduces oxygen levels • Little value to water fowl

23. Buy on Internet TNC Bufflegrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) • Dense thickets, out-competes/displaces native species • Highly flammable, wildfires kill off native grasses • Cannot be controlled (cutting/grazing increase plant growth; long roots inhibit digging out; herbicide & fire tolerant)

24. Asian Long-Horned Beetle • Wood packing material: NY (1996). Chicago (1998) • Attacks horse chestnut, maples, hardwood trees • > Damage than Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight, gypsy moths • $13-40 Million/year in NYC and Long Island (NYS ISTF 2005)

25. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) • Mid-1800s - early-1900s: Eurasia into estates, parks, zoos • > 22,000 live in along Atlantic coast & Great Lakes • Feed on submerged aquatic vegetation, reduce food for natives • Aggressive toward other waterfowl; displace native species • Attack kayakers and canoers

26. As of 9/13/02 Human infections Avian, mosquito, or animal infections GAO 2002 Range in 1999 GAO 2002 2005 West Nile Virus (Flavivirus) • 1999 – 2001: 149 human cases, 18 deaths • January - October 2002: 2977 human cases, 162 deaths

27. Chronic Wasting Disease • Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy • Attacks brain & nervous system of deer and elk • Similar to mad cow disease • CO: captive mule deer late 1960s - wild elk 1981 • WI: wild deer 2002 • NY: captive & wild deer 2005

28. Dutch Elm Disease • 1930 – Nationwide except for desert SW • Caused by fungus Ophiostoma ulmi • Transmitted by 2 species of bark beetles • Destroyed > half elm trees • $100 Million/year control costs (Pimentele 1999)

29. Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii) • Ontario 1996 - Niagara Co. 2005 • Feeds on cruciferous crops (cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, turnip, radish, horseradish) • Causes severe crop losses (up to 85%)

30. For More Information Chuck O’Neill Cornell Cooperative Extension - NY Sea Grant cro4@cornell.edu • National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse • http://www.aquaticinvaders.org

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