...ECOSYSTEMS AND THE SURVIVAL OF NATIVE SPECIES Chelcy Jordan SUST 1000 October 10 2012 The introduction of invasive species can often lead to unpredictable alterations and a shift within natural ecosystems. Cane toads were originally introduced to Australia in 1935. They were brought into Australia to prey on specific pests that were attacking sugar cane plants. Cane toads are highly adaptive and can easily adjust to climate changes and feeding grounds. The growth of reproduction in cane toads has formed a species invasion on the habitat of native animals. Immense competition and a shift in ecosystems are a result of their significant growth rate. What effects are cane toads producing towards the sustainability of ecosystems and the survival of native species? Many animals, and plant species have been either finding new ways to adjust to changes caused by the introduction of cane toads. Cane toads have impacted natural ecosystems so drastically that they have left a strenuous effect on native species ability to maintain their own survival. This is crucial when looking at the effects cane toads have on sustaining plant and animal life within ecosystems. Dramatic changes in an ecosystem could potentially fail due to inadequate nutrients and energy distribution. It is important to examine ways in which cane toads affect ecosystems so environmentalists can predict potential negative shifts and try to develop methods of control that decrease this invasive destruction. Ruchira Somaweera...
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...The Cane Toad The cane toad is a largely increasing invasive species in multiple countries. An invasive species like the cane toad is any organism that is introduced to a new region that can cause damage to the areas native species and populate the exposed area rapidly and spread quickly. Cane toads have become more of a problem than a solution once released into different environments it is not native to. The cane toad originated from South America and Hawaii and once released into Florida it became one of the largest and only toad in Florida with a dangerous toxin . The cane toad is a danger towards many species in each of is reintroduced environments and has no native predators making it harder to stop the cane toad population from increasing. Invasive species are known and named differently in each region. It's scientific name for the cane toad is the Rhinella marina and was formerly known as Bufo marinus . In Florida it is known as a marine toad or a giant neotropical toad, while in Belize it is known as a spring chicken . It is also commonly known as a giant toad . Since the toad didn't originate in most of their adapted...
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...are one out of many different species that have become invasive in different spots around the world. For a species to be invasive it means that the species is not native to it’s current location and the species will often cause damage to the environment, human economy, or human health. Feral pigs are native to Asia and Europe, but were brought to Australia by European explorers and settlers. At first, the pigs were used as domesticated companions, but as they escaped captivity, they began reproducing rapidly and creating a large wild pig population. Now, the feral pig population has become a widespread problem across Australia, costing their economy millions upon millions to try and fix what the pigs are destroying. The feral pigs...
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...CAUSED BY HUMAN IMPACT The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2009) asserts that Australia has 143 endangered animals, several of them are rare and only found in this part of the world. There is a serious concern about this endangerment because a number of these animals could be at a high risk to become extinct. It could cause loss of biodiversity, misbalance in food chains, and irreversible changes to environment. As long as some suggest that this issue could be a natural process, there are many who maintain that human impact is more responsible for increasing the number of endangered animals. There are many convincing arguments that the human impact has intensified the endangerment of animals. First of all, the introduction of invasive and feral animals produces harmful consequences in native species due to predation, rivalry for food and shelter, and transmission of diseases (The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities 2011). The endemic Numbat have been hunted and killed by red foxes brought from Europe, as a result Numbat population is reduced significantly. Nowadays, they are found only in South Western Australia. Furthermore, the habitat destruction has increased the rate of endangerment. It can occur because of reduction in the space availability for native species. Changes in the original habitat especially by agricultural practices and logging are held responsible for this destruction...
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...Lantana is a very invasive, poisonous species of plant that spreads very quickly. The scientific name for lantana is Lantana camara. Lantana originated from South America, Central America and Mexico, and was first introduced to Australia in 1841 in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens being brought to Australia as an ornamental plant. It quickly spread and became one of Australia’s worst weeds and a weed of national significance. This is why it is now illegal in all states and territories of Australia to buy or sell any variety of lantana. Although it was introduced for use as a fence for cattle because it could grow up to 5 metres, it failed because if cattle ate it they would die because lantana is poisonous to cows. According to research from the...
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...UK invasive species top facts * Invasive non-native species are thought to be one of the biggest threats to global biodiversity, second only to habitat loss. * There are almost 2,000 established non-native species in Great Britain. * Invasive non-native species cost Great Britain around £1.7 billion annually. * Invasive species have been introduced to the United Kingdom from every continent in the world apart from Antarctica. What is an invasive species? An invasive species is a species which has been introduced to an area outside its natural range and can cause a multitude of ecological, economic and public health problems within the new habitat as its population grows. Invasive species may belong to any taxonomic group, with mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, plants, invertebrates, fish and viruses all having invasive populations around the world. The extinctions of numerous species around the world can be attributed to the negative effects of invasive species. When a species is taken out of its natural range and placed into a new habitat it is removed from its natural predators and any pathogens which help to control its population. Without these, population growth may become out of control and the invader can rapidly colonise its new habitat. The characteristics which enable an invasive species to outcompete native species include fast growth, a short life cycle and the ability to tolerate a wide range of habitat types and environmental conditions. Successful...
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...Non-native Invasive Species What is an invasive species? An invasive species is an organism that has very few natural predators, competitors, parasites, or diseases. They also have high reproductive rates than any other species in an ecosystem. They also live longer as well. They are the hardest to get rid of because of their reproductive system. I’m taking these facts and finding those in the Hydrilla water plant. This plant is really high in reproduction, which makes them a non-native invasive species. The Hydrilla is one of the most invasive species ever to exist. They are found to be taking over waters that had populations of Eurasian in it. This plant also causes damage to waterways...
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...Feral Horses in the U.S. – Indigenous or Invasive Feral horse (mustang) herds roaming the Great American Plains are a well-known symbol of American history. Yet few are acquainted with their convoluted history and the socio-political and environmental conflicts they are involved in. The horses of today originated in North America but went extinct in prehistoric times due to unclear reasons. They disseminated to other continents and were reintroduced to North America by Columbus’ men. The period of the horses’ historical absence from North America has sparked debates as to their official status. Some horse advocates and environmentalists argue that feral horses are native to the continent and as such should be protected and given free space to roam. Their main arguments are that horses originated on and inhabited the continent long before humans started populating it, and that the feral horses of the Wild West are a national symbol of history and pride. Others, mainly farmers and agriculturalists, push for population control and limiting the mustangs’ area because they are an invasive non-native species that harms natural ecosystems and competes with livestock for resources. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is responsible for implementing policies concerning feral horses. Currently, following the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the Bureau captures feral horses and gives them away for adoption. The main issue facing the Bureau is the legal and environmental...
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...native Phragmites australis populations have been regarded as invasive due to their aggressive and competitive abilities against other wetland plants. It has been shown that the introduction of this species type into plant communities has affected soil properties and nutrient pools. In this study, the biodiversity including indices of species evenness, species richness, and Shannon-Weiner index were determined to assess the effects of phragmites invasion in plant communities located in a wetland in Australia. Microbial activity and community structure were studies and analyzed to determine the potentiality of phragmites invasion at the community level. Three plant communities with various plant species will be used and...
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...horn -.- Pollution: Invasive species: Australia has some of the world's most distinctive and diverse natural environments, with unique wildlife, and spectacular landscapes, including many national parks and World Heritage Areas.But there r so many species are extinct bcs of Feral cat. Feral cats kill tens of millions of native animals every night and are found across Australia, Each feral cat kills between 5-30 animals per day. While they appear to prefer small mammals, they also eat birds, reptiles and amphibians. What government do to preserved biodiversity? There are several ways the governments can do to preserve biodiversity, such as: Protecting Areas | | Creating protected areas where human activity is limited is the best way to prevent deforestation and exploitation of organisms and the resources they need to survive. In order to truly make a difference, much planning needs to go into the creation of a protected area. It needs to consider all elements of the ecosystem it is trying to protect, so that it isn’t too small. It needs to include all resources that are utilized by its inhabitants; for example, leaving out a stream where half of the mammals go to drink would not make a protected area very effective. | | | Preventing Species Introductions | | It is often much easier and less expensive to prevent a problem from developing in the first place than to try to fix it once it occurs. This is the case with invasive species, which can wreak havoc...
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...Yellow crazy ants are one of the worst invasive species in the world. Wherever they go they cause destruction to ecosystems. They kill animals that are twice their size. Where do yellow crazy ants live: Yellow crazy ants originated from Tropical areas with lots of rain. They were accidentally introduced to these places, The Christmas islands, Australia, and places in the Indian ocean. One of the ways the Yellow Crazy ants arrived in these places were boats that were trading or dropping people off. Christmas Island: Christmas Island is famous for is big crab walk. The crab walk is a event where many crabs on land scuttle into the ocean. Now that the ants are there, they attack and kill any crab that goes into their territory. According to wikipedia “Over the years yellow crazy ants have killed over thousands of crabs. They usually kill crabs when they spray acid in their eyes, Making it so they can't see, and then they die of dehydration or exhaustion then the ants use their bodies for food. Yellow crazy ants diet:...
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...that humans dominate the globe, one Argentine species of ant, Linepithema humile, is making strides to challenge this supremacy. In fact, this invasive species may be part of a colony that is “ the largest of its type ever known for any insect species, and could rival humans in the scale of its world domination” (Walker). This mega colony has spread its reach over several continents, including Africa, Europe, Australia, and North America, and unwittingly humans have played a role in the formation of this colony by transporting these insects in contaminated crates of Argentinean sugar. Unfortunately, the spread of this invasive species has resulted in some serious ecological implications, such as the demise of the native ants inhabiting these conquered territories. The extermination of the native ants has greatly impacted the surrounding ecosystem, because “some native ant species that eat seeds have coevolved with certain native grasses and other plants to become a crucial part of the plant's propagation by carrying the seeds to new areas” ("Native Ants Use…”). Thus, the disappearances of these native species have drastically affected the dispersal and survival of these grasses, and the creatures that feed on or reside in these plants. However, one ant species native to North America, Prenolepis imparis, has decided to take a stand against the onslaught of this foreign invader. The aggressive interactions between these two ant species was documented in the study, Chemical Defense...
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...green plant that made the aquarium look very pretty? Don’t let this plants pretty color fool you; it is an invasive species in the wrong habitat. An invasive species is essentially an invasion altogether. In terms of ecology an invasive species is when either a plant or animal is introduced to a different area from their natural habitat and cause environmental or economical harm. Giving this definition I will discuss Caulerpa Taxifolia. Caulerpa Taxifolia is a macro algae invader that is a multicellular plant native to warm saltwater. It is one of the most invasive green alga in the seas. It is considered invasive because it has the ability to spread over large areas in the ocean while forming dense mats, causing ecological and economic issues such destroying sea weed, sea grasses, fishes, commercial fishing, boating. Caulerpa is a salt-water plant with structures that look jut like roots, stems and leaves. The roots of Caulerpa are called rhizoids, which grow into the ocean floor to absorb water and nutrients. Caulerpa have leaf like structures that stick up called fronds, which are a bright green color and are photosynthetic. The stems of Caulerpa are called stolon, which grow above the ocean floor; the stolon when fragmented grows a new Caulerpa plant. Its normal habitat is in tropical waters around the world such as the Indian Ocean. Caulerpa taxifolia is not invasive in its native habitat and reproduces sexually. Grazing marine predators that co-evolved with the alga controls...
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...MALOLOS, BULACAN A Research Presented to The Faculty of College of Science Bulacan State University City of Malolos, Bulacan In Partial Fulfillment to The Requirements for the Course BIO 123 and BIO 123L 2nd Semester, A.Y. 2014-2015 by March 2015 Abstract The study on the three species found in San Roque, Sto. Rosario, City of Malolos, Bulacan is undertaken: Pomacea canaliculata, Melanoides tuberculatta, Lumbricus terrestris which coincidentally are the most dominant in the community in terms of population. The common earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris turns out to be the most common on the researcher’s locality, Sto. Rosario, City of Malolos, Bulacan. Introduction In a residential community where majority of the area is covered by houses and rice fields, earthworms and snails are the most dominant form of invertebrates. Wet and damp areas like creeks, water irrigation and pusali that are found in the community also give rise to these organisms. Pomacea canaliculata and Melanoides tuberculatta are both found in the area and are members of Class Gastropoda. Class Gastropoda, which means “stomach foot”, contains about 40,000 described species of snails, slugs, and similar animals. The class is primarily a marine group, but it also contains many freshwater and terrestrial mollusks. Most gastropods have shells, but some, like slugs and nudibranchs, have lost their shells through the course of evolution (Johnson & Raven, 2007). The earthworms...
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...Asterias amurensis: A mariculture pest in Australia. Introduction Globalization of the world economy has substantially increased the rate of biological invasions, as most harmful species arrive as hitchhikers on the vectors of international trade (2). To make it worst, the advances in world-wide shipping and transportation have accelerated the rate of biological invasions, through ocean-going vessel that regularly transit between continents, resulting in up to hundreds of thousands of gallons of plankton-laden ballast water introduced into new environment unintentionally each time (3). In another word, as international trade expands the rate of unintentional introduction of non-native species increases as well. Many of the deliberate introduced species often do not cause any problem as humans knowingly choose a suitable environment to fill an open ecological niche (3). However, on average, those unintentional introduced species often become pest by spreading widely or quickly, and cause harm to the environment, human health, other valued resources or the economy (2). As many of the accidental introduced species lack all or most their native, presumably coevolved, natural competitor or predator to control their growth proportion (3, 8). An example of the many accidental introduced pest species brought about by human activity in coastal zones worldwide which led to the disturbances of marine and estuarine ecosystem in Australia is Asterias amurensis, commonly known as Northern...
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