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Biological Invaders

Biological Invaders. How can foreign organisms successfully compete with naturally-occurring ones? How are biological invaders introduced? What can be done?. Examples. Round Goby fish. Purple Loostrife. Sea lamprey. Asian longhorn beetle. Biological Invaders.

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Biological Invaders

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  1. Biological Invaders • How can foreign organisms successfully compete with naturally-occurring ones? • How are biological invaders introduced? • What can be done?

  2. Examples Round Goby fish Purple Loostrife Sea lamprey Asian longhorn beetle

  3. Biological Invaders • Any foreign species that is introduced to an ecosystem. • Can have devastating effects on the naturally-occurring plant and animal life.

  4. Why are some Invaders so Successful? • 1) NO Predators - they have evolved elsewhere; no predators are present • 2) NO Competition – similar species, with similar niches, have not evolved to compete with invaders

  5. How are Biological Invaders Introduced? • -sometimes, through natural migration • MOSTLY carried by humans (not always intentionally!)

  6. How are Biological Invaders Introduced? • Ballast water from ocean going ships • Water is picked up in ship’s home port and then dumped when it reaches the Great Lakes • Human transport • Boat picks up species in one lake; boat is then trailered to a neighbouring lake (zebra mussels)

  7. Who cares? • Native species dying out (negatively impacts ecological balance) • Huge costs (Ontario sportfishing – lamprey; water intake – zebra mussels) • Pain in the butt (feet) – zebra mussels cut up your feet when you swim

  8. How can they be Stopped? • Natural competition of the ecosystem (eg. exotic fish) • By physical or chemical means (eg. lamprey eel, weeds) • Tighter controls in the shipping industry

  9. BIOLOGICAL CONTROLS (other foreign species) are also introduced to prey on invader (purple loosestrife)

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