1. What are they? Why are they important? What can we do about them?
Invasive Species
What are they?
Why are they important?
What can we do about them?
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2. What is an Invasive Species?
An "invasive species" is defined as a species that is
non–native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration
and
2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

3. Which Invasive Species Affect Us?
We encounter invasive species every day, and most are benign or beneficial.
Invasive species affecting us in Arkansas include plants and animals.
Some examples of common invasive species include:

4. Examples of insects Red Imported Fire Ant Asian Tiger mosquito
Invasive Species
Red Imported Fire Ant
Examples of insects
USDA APHIS PPQ Archives, USDA APHIS,
Asian Tiger mosquito
Susan Ellis,

5. nutria starling zebra mussel Invasive Species
Lee Karney, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
zebra mussel
U.S. Geological Survey Archives, U.S. Geological Survey,

6. Examples of plants kudzu Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus) Invasive Species
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service,
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus)
David J. Moorhead, The University of Georgia,

7. Examples of microbes West Nile Virus, 2005
Invasive Species
West Nile Virus, 2005
Examples of microbes
As an example of spread of invasive species, consider that West Nile Virus spread across the US in only a few years after appearing first in 1999.

8. Invasive Species
There are approximately 4,000 exotic plant species and 2,300 non-native animal species in the US. A few cause problems: just 79 species caused $97 billion in direct economic losses in the US during Source: America’s Least Wanted, The Nature Conservancy 1996.

9. Invasive species can cause ecological damage by
Altering ecosystem physical or chemical properties
Depleting native wildlife by preying on them or by niche competition
Setting off cascading biological changes in the systems they invade

10. Historic range of American chestnut
Some invasive species can cause huge ecological and economic impacts.
American Chestnut – lost to an invasive species, chestnut blight
Cryponectria parasitica introduced from China
“….But chestnut blight is a different story. What it did to American forests is no joking matter. It's a tragedy. No one who loves forests can think about the decimation of such a fantastic and abundant tree species as anything else. An informal article by George Hepting gives some insight into the role of chestnut in American life as well as the chaos that ensued in scientific and political circles as society struggled to deal with the new disease.
There is an emotional hook there that other diseases just don't have. Even today, many years after the American chestnut was essentially wiped out as a forest tree, there are many ordinary citizens deeply interested in doing something to bring it back.
The reason there is little resistance in American Chestnut is that the pathogen was introduced. In 1904, the disease was observed in the New York Zoo killing chestnuts, but there is reason to suspect it was here as early as 1893 (Δ). The pathogen was later found to be native to China and was apparently introduced on nursery stock. In Asia the fungus was a weak parasite. In America, it spread very quickly and never met a tree it couldn't kill. It spread up to 50 miles per year over the natural range of chestnut.
By 1940, chestnut was destroyed as a commercial species. Today, incredibly, chestnut still survives in much of its former range, but only as sprouts from the old root systems. The roots and root collar are resistant. In many places, various oaks have replaced it. In the oak stands, you can hardly find chestnut. When the oaks are cut, fairly dense sprouts of chestnut pop up, trying to do their thing. But before they can get big enough to sexually reproduce, the damn disease cuts them down. They don't seem to stand much chance of adapting.”
Chestnut blight
Historic range of American chestnut

11. Invasive Species
Examples of established invasive species in forests: insects and diseases
Chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease, gypsy moth, balsam wooly adelgid, hemlock wooly adelgid, pecan weevil, . . .

12. Examples of established invasive species in forests: plants
Kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, princesstree, privets, Tree–of–Heaven, mimosa, Chinaberry, English ivy, Nepalese browntop, bamboos, giant reed, lespedezas, non–native wisterias, ...

13. Examples of threatening invasive species in forests:
Insects
Diseases
Plants

14. Asian Longhorned Beetle
Invasive Species
Asian Longhorned Beetle
Donald Duerr, USDA Forest Service,
Thomas B. Denholm, New Jersey Department of Agriculture,

15. Invasive Species
ALB risk map

16. Gypsy Moth Invasive Species
USDA APHIS PPQ Archives, USDA APHIS PPQ,
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Archives, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station,

17. Gypsy Moth Gypsy Moth damage Invasive Species
Mark Robinson, forestryimages.org

18. Emerald Ash Borer Invasive Species
David Cappaert, ,
Andrew J. Storer, MI Tech. University
James W. Smith, USDA APHIS PPQ,

19. European Wood Wasp Invasive Species
William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International,
Stanislaw Kinelski, ,

20. Pine Shoot Beetle Invasive Species
orth Central Research Station Forestry Science Laboratory

21. Formosan Termite Invasive Species
Gerald J. Lenhard, ,
About $1 billion in damage each year. Infests live trees – about 30% of historic trees in New Orleans infested. Introduced via WWII military cargo ships.

22. Kudzu Invasive Species
David J. Moorhead, The University of Georgia,
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service,

23. Kudzu infestation
John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University,

24. Kudzu infestation Kudzu infestation
Kerry Britton, USDA Forest Service,

25. Chinese Wisteria Invasive Species
James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources,
Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society,

26. Cogongrass Invasive Species showing off-center mid-vein
Wilson Faircloth, USDA Agricultural Research Service,
G. Keith Douce, The University of Georgia,
showing off-center mid-vein

27. Cogongrass rhizomes Cogongrass rhizomes
Craig Ramsey, USDA APHIS PPQ,

28. Cogongrass infestation
Wilson Faircloth, USDA Agricultural Research Service,
Note the distinctive circular infestations in the planted stand.
Craig Ramsey, USDA APHIS PPQ,

29. Chinese Tallow (popcorn tree)
Invasive Species
Chinese Tallow (popcorn tree)
The Chinese Tallow -Tree [Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.] is an oriental ornamental that is cultivated and used in landscaping as a specimen tree, or as screening plants especially when brilliant fall colors are desirable. The poplar shaped leaves turn an autumnal deep red color that contrasts well with the abundant clusters of white seeds, which gives rise to another vernacular name, the Popcorn Tree .
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service,
Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society,

30. AR Champion Chinese Tallow: Located in Des Arc, has diameter 10
AR Champion Chinese Tallow: Located in Des Arc, has diameter 10.7 inches, height 39 feet and crown spread 32 feet.
Arkansas Champion Tree is located in Des Arc.
The average height and spread is 30 feet and the trunk diameter is usually in the 6 inch range. This Arkansas Champion Chinese Tallow-Tree has a trunk diameter of 10.7 inches, a crown spread of 32 feet, plus a height of 39 feet which yields a Bigness Index (BI) of 81. This beautiful species has been officially reported in only 7 central and southern counties of Arkansas although it is likely to be found in most of the southern half of our great state of Arkansas.
University of Arkansas Extension Service

31. Chinese Tallow infestation
Impacts and Considerations: 1)It is capable of invading wildland areas and rapidly replacing the natural communities with nearly monospecific stands of Sapium sebiferum. It is such an annoyance it has been called "Terrible Tallow" and the "Melaleuca of northern Florida" (Melaleuca is one of the most pernicious plant pests in Florida), and it has been included in The Nature Conservancy's list of The Dirty Dozen: America's Least Wanted. 2)Characteristic of woody invaders it grows rapidly, begins reproduction when young (i.e. only three years old), produces abundant viable seed, and can reproduce from cuttings. 3)Seed are spread by birds, and may also float for great distances. 4)Sapium sebiferum degrades the surrounding ecosystem by producing tannins and increasing the rate of eutrophication. It is unclear if it produces other allelopathic compounds. 5)The white sap may be a skin irritant or diarrhetic. 6)It is extremely popular among landscapers in the USA, Australia, and elsewhere, although it is becoming illegal to sell in some areas.
Chinese Tallow infestation

32. Callery Pear Invasive Species
Chuck Bargeron, The University of Georgia,
Dan Tenaglia,

33. Callery pear blooming
Britt Slattery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

34. Chinese Privet / European Privet
Invasive Species
Chinese Privet / European Privet
Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society,
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service,

35. Privet infestation
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service,

36. Tropical Soda Apple Invasive Species
Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service,
Tropical Soda Apple (TSA) is a Federal Noxious Weed and is aptly named The Plant From Hell! This exotic weed has been in Florida for several years and has recently moved into Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina. TSA can overtake pastures, roadsides and recreational areas making them nearly impenetrable to domestic animals, large wildlife and man.
J. Jeffrey Mullahey, University of Florida,
J. Jeffrey Mullahey, University of Florida,

37. Tropical Soda Apple Invasive Species
Tropical Soda Apple (TSA) is a Federal Noxious Weed and is aptly named The Plant From Hell! This exotic weed has been in Florida for several years and has recently moved into Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina. TSA can overtake pastures, roadsides and recreational areas making them nearly impenetrable to domestic animals, large wildlife and man.
James Rollins, ,

38. The Dirty Dozen Zebra Mussel Green Crab Purple Loosestrife Hydrilla
Invasive Species
The Dirty Dozen
Zebra Mussel
Purple Loosestrife
Flathead Catfish
Tamarisk
Rosy Wolfsnail
Leafy Spurge
Green Crab
Hydrilla
Balsam Wooly Adelgid
Miconia
Chinese Tallow
Brown Tree Snake
Source: America’s Least Wanted, The Nature Conservancy 1996.

39. The Dirty Dozen in Arkansas
Invasive Species
The Dirty Dozen in Arkansas
Zebra Mussel
Purple Loosestrife
Flathead Catfish
Tamarisk
Rosy Wolfsnail
Leafy Spurge
Green Crab
Hydrilla
Balsam Wooly Adelgid
Miconia
Chinese Tallow
Brown Tree Snake
Yellow: found in Arkansas; Blue: in adjacent states. Source: America’s Least Wanted, The Nature Conservancy 1996.

40. Action: national and state
Invasive Species
Action: national and state
National Invasive Species Council
USDA:
APHIS
USFS
NRCS
Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds
National Park Service
US Fish & Wildlife Service
The Nature Conservancy
Exotic Plant Pest Councils
State forestry agencies
Regional Tropical Soda Apple Task Force
AR State Plant Board
The National Invasive Species Council (Council) is an inter-Departmental council that helps to coordinate and ensure complementary, cost-efficient and effective Federal activities regarding invasive species. The Council was established February 3, 1999 by Executive Order Council members include three co-chairs: the secretaries of the Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, and the secretaries of State, Defense, Homeland Security, Treasury, Transportation, Health and Human Services, as well as the Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S Trade Representative.

41. Action: us Awareness: what are the most threatening pests?
Invasive Species
Action: us
Awareness: what are the most threatening pests?
Identification: be able to identify invasive species
Control: know where to get information on control
Education: teach others
Individual actions / behaviors: especially, don’t help invasive species spread!

42. Resources: Books, Field Guides, and other materials:
Invasive Species
Resources:
Books, Field Guides, and other materials:
"Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests“
Websites:
tncweeds.ucdavis.edu