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INVASIVE SPECIES

ENV 101

February 21, 2008

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Introduction

• Eric Proctor– Environmental Education Coordinator– Former classroom teacher (middle school science/social

studies)• Arizona Game and Fish Department– State agency responsible for the management of

wildlife in Arizona

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DefinitionsNative Species

Non-native Species

Invasive Species

An organism that occurs naturally in an area, typically before humans

An organism that originates in one location and is imported to a new location, introduced, exotic, alien, non-indigenous

Non-native species that outcompete native species, noxious, nuisance

Arizona’s Most Wanted

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How many crayfish can you find in this photo?

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Impacts of Invasive Species

• 50,000 invasives established in US• Total cost of $138 billion annually– Lost agricultural production– Decreased tourism and recreation– Does not include environmental losses and human health

• Invasive species is the second most serious threat to biodiversity

• Only real way to control is to prevent them from entering in the first place

Impacts of Invasive Species

PLANTS• 25,000 non-natives have escaped cultivation• $20 billion in ‘90s for control and management• Severely change the fire regime and nutrient cycles

FISH• May cost $6 billion annually• Increase water turbidity and reduce native vegetation• Dilute genetic pool

Impacts of Invasive SpeciesBIRDS• 10% of US species introduced• 95% of those cause damage to property and crops and

spread disease• Pigeons carry over 50 known diseases and cost over $1

billion per year to control

MAMMALS• Rats destroy more than $19 billion in grain per year• Feral cats kill about 465 million birds per year• Feral dogs cause about $10 million per year in loss to

livestock each year

Impacts of Invasive SpeciesMOLLUSKS• Zebra mussel already costs about $5 billion/year in

control and repairs• Expected to invade most fresh water bodies by 2020

ARTHROPODS• 4500 arthropods introduced into US• Red imported fire ant kills livestock at a cost of $1

billion/year• Bark beetles have destroyed 2-3% of Arizona’s forests,

some areas have 90% tree loss

Impacts of Invasive Species

HUMANS• Smallpox, HIV/AIDS, syphilis, cholera, and

“bird flu” are all invasive• Cost to treat newborns with syphilis: $18

million/year• Cost to treat US AIDS patients: $8 billion/year

Tracking and Predicting Movement

Quagga Mussels in Arizona• January 2007 – Detected in Lake Mead• Later detected in Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu• Fall 2007 – Detected in CAP canal in Scottsdale• December 2007 – Detected in Lake Pleasant

In your opinion:• How are they moving?• Where else might they be but not yet discovered?• Where might we expect them to travel during the next year?