Question of the Day:

1. Question of the Day: • Are humans an invasive species? Give an example of why or why not. • Name two invasive species affecting the Great Lakes. • What negative impacts are invasive species having on the Great Lakes ecosystem?

2. Bioinvasion • Species introduced to a new area • Due to either direct or indirect human actions http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/florida-16-foot-python-deer-photos-pictures_n_1068228.html

3. Non-native Species • Species that are introduced to areas beyond their historic natural range • Alien • Exotic • Foreign • Introduced • Non-indigenous

4. Invasive Species • Aggressive • Spread over large areas • Disrupt natural ecosystems • Interfere with human activities

5. Invasive Species • After destruction of habitat by human activities, invasive species are the worst threat to endangered species and biodiversity

6. Starlings • European starling imported from England in 1890 • Intentionally released in Central Park • Literary societies believed America should have all birds mentioned in Shakespeare • Now most common bird Source: Ross Sea Info

7. Starlings • Congregate in large flocks • Drive native birds from nesting grounds • Compete with native birds for food • Omnivores – insects as well as farm crops • Droppings contain fungus that causes histoplasmosis – a respiratory disease in humans

8. Exotic Newcastle disease • Fatal viral disease that affects ALL birds • Believed to have been introduced to US by parrots from South America • 1971 outbreak affected 12 million birds, all had to be destroyed • Cost $56 million • Except for 3 years, detected every year since 1974

9. Problems with Importing Birds • Big demand for parrots in North America, Europe, and Japan • Combined with habitat loss, taking of birds resulting in population declines • Illegally imported birds can also carry diseases without seeming sick • Affect poultry and native birds

10. Plants • Hundreds of plants brought to US intentionally • Food • Medicine • Ornamental • Others brought accidentally in grain, straw, or soil • Changes landscape

11. Purple Loosestrife • Introduced to US in 1800s • Valued for medicinal and ornamental purposes • Still widely used for ornamental reasons Source: National Park Service

12. Purple Loosestrife • Can produce millions of seeds a year • Also reproduces with rapid growth of underground stems • Eliminated native plants from 1.5 million acres of wetlands • Displaces food supply of many wild animals • Few animals feed on it

13. Purple Loosestrife • Several states prohibit growing, selling, and transport • US Dept. of Agriculture authorized introduction of two insects that only eat loosestrife for biological control

14. Problem with Ballast Water • Water taken in by ships for stability • Necessary in commercial shipping • Often dumped when ship reaches destination • 1981 study of ballast water • Ballast water of 30 ships examined • Found living organisms in every tank

15. Zebra Mussel • Native to Caspian Sea • Made way to Western Europe by Industrial Revolution Source: Minnesota Sea Grant

16. Zebra Mussel • 1988 – spotted in Lake St. Clair (between Lake Huron and Lake Erie) • Came from European freighter • Mature female can produce 30,000 – 40,000 eggs a year • Population explosion • Spread into all of the Great Lakes and connected bodies of water

17. Zebra Mussel • May damage fishing industry • Completely cover surfaces fish use for spawning • Filter algae and other microscopic organisms from water • Have improved water quality • More light penetrates deeper in water, more plant growth • Removed some chemical pollutants

18. Zebra Mussel • Huge expense for cities and industry that use water from Great Lakes • Clog water intake pipes of industrial and power plants Source: EPA

19. Chestnut Blight • First seen in 1904 in New York Zoological Park • Came from trees imported from Asia Source: Oregon State Government

20. Chestnut Blight • Fungus that grows beneath bark • Cuts off flow of nutrients and water • Doesn’t kill roots • Infects new sprouts • Spores spread by wind and carried by insects and birds • By 1950 had spread throughout chestnut’s natural range

21. Dutch Elm Disease • First reported in Ohio in 1931 • 90% of trees lining streets of some towns were elms • Came from France with elm logs sent to Ohio Source: Wichita State

22. Dutch Elm Disease • Fungus that produces a poison that clogs sap-carrying tubes of American elm • Carried by European elm bark beetle • Tree surgeons trying to save remaining elms • Injecting fungicide into tree and soil • Removing dead branches to prevent beetle from breeding in soft wood

23. Gypsy Moth • Brought from France to Massachusetts in 1860s • Hope to breed better silk-producing insects • Larvae escaped Source: Michigan Nature Association

24. Gypsy Moth • By 1902 spread through New England • Continue to spread south and west at rate of 13 miles a year • Have been spotted in California, Utah, Oregon • Transported by tourists • Federal law requires movers to check for moths before moving outdoor equipment

25. Gypsy Moth • Larvae feed on as many as 500 species of plants • Larger trees die because they don’t have leaves • Forest canopy opens • More light, low-growing plants increase • Cover for rabbits, turkey, grouse • Food shortage for squirrels – no acorns or other nuts • Deer have more food

26. Gypsy Moth • Millions of acres have been sprayed with pesticides • Some animals have learned to eat them

27. Africanized Bees • 1956 – geneticist imported African queen bee to Brazil • Hoped to produce a more productive bee better suited to tropics • 26 Africanized bees escaped • Began to extend northwards at rate of 200 miles a year • Arrived in Texas in 1990 Source: USGS

28. Africanized Bees • Slightly smaller than European honeybee • Not the “killer bee” that people think • More defensive than European bee • React more quickly • Many more respond • Follow intruder 8-10 time further • Sting 8-10 times more often

29. Africanized Bees • Africanized bees’ behavior make it more difficult for beekeepers to manage hives • Use more of the honey they produce than European honeybees • European honeybees (most bees in US) were introduced 400 years ago

30. Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Medfly) • Native of tropical Africa • Serious pest in Mediterranean area and other countries • Attacks more than 250 varieties of fruits, vegetables and nuts

31. APHIS • US Dept of Agriculture restricts items brought to mainland US from other countries as well as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) responsible for guarding against foreign plants and animals

32. APHIS • Required to declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, animals, and plant and animal products brought to the country • Potted plants and soil not allowed to be imported – soil might have pests and disease • Fruit and lumber go through inspection and testing procedures in quarantine

33. Know Before You Go • You should know import/export restrictions for countries you are visiting as well as the US • USDA has publication “Know before you go” listing US regulations

34. Know Before You Go • Until recently, taking a dog to England required a six month quarantine to ensure it didn’t have rabies • England doesn’t have rabies • New regulations now require pets to have passport that certifies pet has a microchip to ensure identity, vaccination against rabies, and treatments for ticks and tapeworms