Definition of Non-Native Species Essay

Non-native species have been and will continue to be a harmful influence in our environment that is detrimental to the integrity of our ecosystems. That is to say that not all non-native species are horrifically damaging. Some species have adapted and have assimilated into our ecosystems. Anon-native speciesor introduced speciesis a species living outside of its natural habitat range, which has arrived in its current unnatural location by human activity.

The first recorded introduced species in the North America region is the water lettuce, scientifically named the Pistia stratiotes. It was introduced in the early 1500s, by the ballast water – water held in the bottom of ships to increase stability – of Spanish or South American ships. This first species was introduced accidentally, but many of the first non-native species were purposefully introduced. Common, easily recognizable species like the dandelion, or Taraxacum, which was introduced by the English around 1620, the oxeye daisy, or Leucanthemum vulgare, which was brought over by Europeans in 1759, and the domestic pig, or Sus scrofa domesticus, which was released in California in 1769, were all purposefully introduced before the term ‘introduced species’ was coined.  The first recorded use of the term ‘introduced species’ was in 1859 by Charles Darwin in “The Origin of Species.” Darwin spoke of the rapid growth of population size in such species, pointing out the potentially catastrophic outcome that these introductions could generate.

Without widespread understanding of the term ‘non-native species’ our situation will only continue to become more dire. The greatest potential for harm regarding introduced species is not their take-over of our ecosystems but the lack of education on their existence. There are specialized groups that focus on the education of native gardening at an ‘at home’ level, one of these groups is called the Master Gardener Program. The people in this program are well versed in the issue at hand, but these select groups of people are not enough. The general public need to be aware, the more they know, the better of a chance that we have to help us save ourselves. Introduced species are usually brought over as a new form of pest control or decoration. The people and businesses that bring these species over are ignorant of the negative effects that these species will have to the natural environment. “Introduced species multiply too quickly and become invasive” (Rutledge et al.).

An invasive species is a non-native species that causes ultimate destruction of the environment in which it is introduced. Invasive species adapt quickly to their new environment and outcompete other species for food, quickly destroying natural habitats. Their population grows rapidly without any limitations of a natural population inhibiter or predator. With a fast-growing population absorbing all available sustenance, the other species in the ecosystems are starved out of existence in the ecosystem. Invasive species also do harm to economies. The South American water hyacinth, or Eichhornia crassipe, was introduced in 1884 for its pretty blossoms. In one instance, the hyacinth was introduced to Lake Victoria in Uganda. It spread quickly forming a full coverage film on the top of the lake through which boats couldn’t get through. Ports were closed. Also, the hyacinth blocked all sunlight from penetrating the water, killing the algae and the fish that ate it; Lake Victoria’s fishing industry died as well. The once thriving aquatic economy of Lake Victoria was destroyed by the hyacinth.

An American example of the economic impact that invasive’s carry is the invasive emerald ash borer, or Agrilus planipennis, is an Asian beetle that targets our beautiful native ash trees. The infestation of the emerald ash borer in an ash tree ensures 100% chance of fatality for the tree. The loss of the ash tree does not only negatively impact our ecosystems, but our economy as well, more specifically regarding baseball. Baseball, America’s past time, is played with wooden bats made from ash trees. With the drastic drop of the ash tree population, down by 29% since 2013 alone, the preservation of the species has become more important than the making of bats. Some little league and soft ball teams use aluminum bats, but the major and minor leagues have never before used anything but the traditional ash bats, and they might not have that choice for much longer. The loss of the classic bat will damage the integrity of the game, this will discourage fans. Part of the thrill of a powerful home run, is the splintering crack of the bat, which cannot be experienced with aluminum. The inevitable future loss of ash-made bats will dismantle the baseball industry.

On Lehigh’s campus alone many introduced species or invasive species thrive. The spotted lantern fly, or Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive introduced species that became a large problem this fall. Many lantern flies were seen in front of the Franklin-Marshal Library, either dead on the sidewalk or alive on plants or flying. Our campus also uses invasive introduced species in landscaping. In front of the alumni building beautiful red bush-like plants thrive. These are known as burning bush, or Euonymus alatus, and are aggressively invasive. These are only two examples to illustrate the fact that this is not as issue to be ignored, but it is relevant in the daily lives of everyone.

The only way to solve this issue is to eradicate, or at least contain, these harmful species. Some harmful species were introduced in the hopes that they would create more of a balance in the ecosystem by putting into check already existing introduced species, but instead they just added to the problem. Some effective preventative measures are being taken by nature preservation organizations, for example: boats need to be hosed down, washed, and inspected before entering a body of water. This is to prevent the spread of invaders like the previously mentioned water hyacinth. Companies are urged to do closer inspections of international shipping units to stop accidental importation of species. Although the efforts of trying to solve this problem cannot just be held by groups, but by each individual as well. Washing off hiking boots before hiking in a new place, never releasing pets into the wild, and making sure that the plants in personal gardens are native are just a few easy precautions that every person can take in the attempt to decrease the spread of these species. The biggest potential influence of the individual can be seen in what they shouldn’t do instead of what they should. There is a boy scout saying: leave only footprints, take only pictures. Essentially, when in a new location, leave all species there. No plants, or animals, or even firewood – firewood is a popular home to some species of bug – should leave the area in which it was found.

Master Gardener Scott Davis said, “we’re fighting a lost battle, but it’s better to go down fighting” (Davis). There is no going back to the pure, untouched ecosystems the world was filled with before humans got involved, but the integrity of our environment is not yet completely lost. If education of non-native species is widely spread and everyone does their part, we can at least slow the inevitable, if accidental, deterioration of our natural environments.

 

 

Works Cited

Darwin, Charles. On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection. 1859. Project Gutenberg, www.gutenberg.org/files/1228/1228-h/1228-h.htm. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.

Davis, Scott. Speech.

Rutledge, Kim, et al. “Invasive species.” Edited by Kara West and Jeannie Evers. National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 24 Mar. 2011, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/invasive-species/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.

“We Came Over on the Mayflower, Too! A Timeline of North American Invasive Species.” Eat the Invaders, 20 Nov. 2013, eattheinvaders.org/we-came-over-on-the-mayflower-too/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.

 

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