Plagues and Swarms Invasive Species Ecology

Invasive Species Invasive species are defined as non-native exotic organisms whose introduction to new areas may result in harmful effects on human and environmental health and economic costs Water Hyacinth Emerald Ash Borer Zebra MusselEuropean StarlingEmerald Ash Borer

Charles and Dukes (2007) Chapter 13 Impacts of invasive species on ecosystem services. In: Netwing W. Biological Invasions, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg pp Estimated $137 billion per year spent on invasives within the US (Pimental et al. 2000) Images from google.com

Juliano SA, Lounibos LP (2005) Ecology of invasive mosquitoes: effects on resident species and on human health. Ecology Letters 8: Culex pipiensAnopheles gambiaeAedes aegypti Images from google.com

Invasive Species Invasive species are defined as non-native exotic organisms whose introduction to new areas may result in harmful effects on human and environmental health and economic costs Invasive species are one of the most important threats to biodiversity – Approximately 50,000 invasive species in the USA – Nearly 5,000 plant species – 10,000 person hours in Smoky Mountain National Park ( Water Hyacinth Emerald Ash Borer Zebra MusselEuropean StarlingEmerald Ash Borer

I nvasion Ecology: Some General Questions - (1) What are the features that enable species to become invasive? - (2) What determines the invasibility of habitats? - (3) What impacts do invasive species have on species diversity and ecosystem processes? Biochemical Landscape Scale of observation

How do invasives get established?

Colonization Proliferation

Charles and Dukes (2007) Chapter 13 Impacts of invasive species on ecosystem services. In: Netwing W. Biological Invasions, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg pp How do invasives get established?

Theories explaining why/how species become invasive Natural enemies escape (Predator escape) Exotics are released from natural enemies that control their population. Novel WeaponsExotics bring novel ways of biochemical interactions to recipient communities. Evolution of invasiveness (EICA)Exotics go through rapid genetic change due to new environments Empty (vacant) nicheExotics use resources that are left available by absent natives Invasional meltdownExotics facilitate the colonization and success of other exotics.

Invasive species impacts buprestid Based on a 2005 Lexington, Kentucky, street tree survey- it is estimated that there are more than 10,000 ash trees in the Urban Service Area (LFUCG 2007). The ash component of Louisville Kentucky's tree population is 17%.

Asian carp

e/ferals/index.html Invasive species impacts (critters) European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus coniculus) – Invasive in Australia – Causes damage to the environment and agricultural operations – Difficult to control because native predators now rely on the feral rabbit as a food resource

ls/bts.shtml Invasive species impacts (critters) Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis) – Native in Australia and Indonesia – Invasive in Hawai’i – Preys on native lizards and birds – Causes major power outages because it climbs on electrical wires

ebra.htm Invasive species impacts (critters) Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) – Native in Europe and Asia

zebra mussel Invasive species impacts (critters) Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) – Native in Europe and Asia

zebra mussel Invasive species impacts (critters) Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) – Native in Europe and Asia

ebra.htm Invasive species impacts (critters) Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) – Native in Europe and Asia – Extremly successful in filter feeding Decrease food available for other aquatic organisms Makes the water clear Increase in aquatic plant production and blue-green algae – Clogs drainage pipes – Approx. $5 billion in damages to the Great Lakes

ais/rustycrayfish_invader Invasive species impacts (critters) Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)

database/feis/plants/t ree/ailalt/all.html#Suc cessionalStatus Invasive species impacts (plants) Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) – Native to China – Allelochemical properties and a distinct small – Invasive throughout the USA Oak-hickory and Maple-birch forests – Early successional species

Invasive species impacts (critters) Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) – Native to China and surrounding Asian region – Introduced to the USA in 1896 (Luken, J. O. and J. W. Thieret 1995) Fruit of L. maackii Flower of L. maackii Photos: Ryan W. McEwan

Invasive species impacts (critters) Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) – Native to China and surrounding Asian region – Introduced to the USA in 1896 (Luken, J. O. and J. W. Thieret 1995) – Suite of invasive characteristics (Gorchov and Trisel 2003; Hutchinson and Vankat 1997; McEwan et al. 2009) Successful in disturbed and edge habitats Black Oak Park in summer

Invasive species impacts (critters) Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) – Native to China and surrounding Asian region – Introduced to the USA in 1896 (Luken, J. O. and J. W. Thieret 1995) – Suite of invasive characteristics (Gorchov and Trisel 2003; Hutchinson and Vankat 1997; McEwan et al. 2009) Successful in disturbed and edge habitats Has a long growing season Allelopathic capabilities – Herbs (Dorning and Cipollini 2006; Cipollini et al. 2008) – Insects (Cipollini et al. 2008; McEwan et al. 2009)

burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Anoploph ora%20glabripennis.html Invasive species impacts (insects) Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anophlophora glabripennis) – Native to China, Japan, and Korea – Invasive in NY, NJ, and PA – Larva eat away at woody tissue of many types of hardwood trees – Estimated costs of approx. $3.5 billion USD/year

Invasive species impacts (insects) Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) – Native to eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea – Specialist invasive – Invasive throughout the northern parts of the Midwest and East coast of the USA and Canada – Larva eat at the woody tissue of Ash trees

Invasive species impacts (fungi) At the end of the 1800s: - American chestnut was found throughout much of the Eastern Deciduous Forest. -Chestnut was among the largest of eastern trees. -Pure stands were common -(> 80 % Basal Area in some stands) From: Paillet and Rutter (1989) Range of American chestnut

Photos from The Canadian Chestnut Council: - In 1904, chestnuts in the New York area began exhibiting a previously unknown canker. - This disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica, spread throughout the native range of the American chestnut. - By 1960, chestnut had been rendered functionally extinct as a canopy tree throughout its native range.