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GISP Unit 5 FINAL EDIT 1.14.07 U N IT V – H IGH P ROFILE Invasive Alien Species from around the world Unit V - High Profile Invasive Species from Around the World That Might Be Encountered in IAS Prevention Activities Unit Objectives: By the end of the unit, students should: 1. Have a basic knowledge of some of the worst invasive species in the world. 2. Have an understanding of the types of pests that are being intercepted at their own port of entry. 149 U N IT V – H IGH P ROFILE Invasive Alien Species from around the world Unit V - Table of Contents Introduction Session 1. Invasive Plants ▪ Brazilian Pepper Tree ( Schinus terebinthifolius ) (tree) ▪ Caulerpa (Caulerpa taxifolia ) (Alga/Seaweed) ▪ Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica ) (Grass) ▪ Floating Water Hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ) (Aquatic Plant) ▪ Kudzu ( Pueraria montana var. lobata ) (vine, climber) ▪ Lantana (Lantana camara ) (shrub) ▪ Miconia ( Miconia calvescens ) – (tree) ▪ Prickly Pear ( Opuntia stricta ) (Cactus) ▪ Purple Loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria ) (wetland plant, herb) ▪ Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata ) (herb) Session 2. Insects and Diseases ▪ Asian Tiger Mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ) (Insect) ▪ Argentine Ant ( Linepithema humile ) (Insect) ▪ Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) (micro-organism) ▪ Gypsy Moth ( Lymantria dispar ) (Insect) ▪ Khapra Beetle ( Trogoderma granarium ) (insect) ▪ Rinderpest ( Rinderpest virus ) (micro-organism) Session 3. Aquatic Nuisance Species and Injurious Wildlife ▪ American Comb Jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi ) (comb jelly) ▪ European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas ) (Crustacean) ▪ Opossum Shrimp ( Mysis relicta ) (Crustacean) ▪ Walking Catfish (Clarias batrachus ) (fish) ▪ Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha ) (mollusk) ▪ Brown Tree Snake ( Boiga irregularis ) (reptile) ▪ Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer ) (bird) ▪ Cane Toad (Bufo marinus ) (amphibian) ▪ Coqui Frog ( Eleutherodactylus coqui ) - (amphibian) ▪ Feral Pig ( Sus scrofa ) (mammal) ▪ House Cat ( Felis catus ) (mammal) ▪ House Mouse (Mus musculus ) (mammal) ▪ Nutria ( Myocaster coypus ) (mammal) Unit V. Lab Exercise – Port Interception Record 150 U N IT V – H IGH P ROFILE Invasive Alien Species from around the world Introduction The types of invasive species that will be encountered in prevention activities at a port of entry depend entirely on the IAS pathways that are being managed (e.g., sea, air, and overland shipping, trade, and travel) and the origin of commodities and vectors (e.g., ballast water, containers, commodities, and vehicles) of concern . The best source of this kind of information lies in the historical pest interception record at a port of entry. There is no substitute for experience as a teacher in the port of entry. As time passes, a port inspector will develop valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities, relative to IAS pathways and vectors, which are based on repeated successful pest mitigations (e.g., imported produce with a history of disease infection or hitchhiking insects). However, it is very good to have some basic understanding of the ‘big picture’ of IAS issues and problems around the world – a context in which the local situation fits. The objective of this session is to provide a general overview of some of the worst invaders in the world, and to have participants investigate the IAS that have been intercepted at their own ports of entry. "One Hundred of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species " is an online database that was developed by the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group , which is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. It was funded by La Fondation TOTAL, and is part of the Global Invasive Species Database. Species included in the database collectively illustrate the range of impacts caused by biological invasions. The following are a few representative samples of the worst invaders from each of the four taxa groups – invasive plants , insects and diseases , aquatic nuisance species , and injurious wildlife . URLs: ▪ http://www.issg.org/ ▪ http://www.issg.org/database/species/search.asp?st=100 ss&fr=1&sts#SpeciesList 151 U N IT V – H IGH P ROFILE Invasive Alien Species from around the world Session 1. Invasive Plants It is estimated that there are about 250,000 species of vascular plants in the world (Wilson, 1992). Of this total, over 22,000 species have been documented as invasive, somewhere in the world (3%) (Randall, 2003). It is important to remember that most species become invasive in only certain habitats. Melaleuca ( Melaleuca quinquenervia ) is a native bush tree in eastern Australia. However, it is very invasive in the Florida Everglades. Pond apple ( Anona glabra ), is a small tree that is native to the Florida Everglades. However, it has proven to be very invasive in many tropical regions, where it poses a serious threat to biodiversity of wetlands. It has become a very serious problem in the Wet Tropics of Northern Australia, and poses a serious threat to native Melaleuca forests. Here are some examples of the different types of invasive plants – aquatic herbs, terrestrial herbs, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees. Brazilian Pepper Tree ( Schinus terebinthifolius ) (tree) Brazilian pepper tree, which is native to South America, is a pioneer of disturbed sites. However, it is also successful in undisturbed natural environments (Global Invasive Species Database, 2006). It was introduced into south Florida in the early 1900s as an ornamental shrub, and now infests over 300,000 hectares of the fragile Florida Everglades (Hight et al., 2002). Left unchecked, Brazilian pepper forms thick Brazilian pepper in south monospecific stands that total replace native Florida (James Cuda, plant and animal communities Anonymous, University of Florida. http://www.forestryimages.org/i 2006H). mages/768x512/0002008.jpg Common Names: Brazilian holly, Brazilian pepper, Brazilian pepper tree, Christmas berry, faux poivrier, Florida holly, Mexican pepper, pimienta de Brasil, poivre rose, Rosapfeffer, warui Caulerpa (Caulerpa taxifolia ) (Alga/Seaweed) Caulerpa is an invasive marine alga, native to the South Pacific, which is widely used as a decorative plant in aquaria. A cold-tolerant strain was inadvertently introduced into the Mediterranean Sea in wastewater from the Oceanographic Museum at Monaco, where it has now spread over more than 13,000 hectares of seabed. Caulerpa forms dense monocultures that prevent the establishment of native 152 U N IT V – H IGH P ROFILE Invasive Alien Species from around the world seaweeds and exclude practically all marine life, affecting the livelihoods of local fishermen (Global Invasive Species Database, 2006). Common Names: caulerpa, killer alga, lukay- lukay, Schlauchalge, sea weed. Caulerpa (A. Meinesz, Global Invasive Species Database) . http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=115&fr=1&sts =sss Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica ) (Grass) Cogongrass is invasive throughout its introduced range around the world – and costs hundreds of millions of dollars in losses and control costs annually. It only documented beneficial use is a thatch for building huts and roofs. In the fall, the dry foliage creates a heavy fuel load that can lead to intense wildfires. This poses a serious threat to timber production in the Gulf Coast Region of the Southern United States (Global Invasive Species Database, 2006; Bryon and Carter, 1993; Dickens, 1974; Dozier et al., 1998). Common Names: alang-alang, blady grass, Blutgras, carrizo, cogongrass, gi, impérata cylindrique, japgrass, kunai, lalang, ngi, paille de dys, paillotte, satintail, speargrass Cogongrass in a tree seedling plantation in Mississippi, USA (Charles Bryson, USDA ARS). http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1115003 Water Hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ) (Aquatic Plant) Floating water hyacinth is considered one of the world’s worst weeds (Holm et al., 1977). It has the highest growth rate of any saltwater, freshwater or terrestrial vascular plant (Wolverton and McDonald 1978) and causes drastic changes in infested waterways. In slow- moving to still waterways, water hyacinth forms dense mats that lower dissolved oxygen content, alters river hydrology, and increases organic sediment (Batcher, undated). Interlocking mats of the plants also displace native aquatic plant and animal communities, eventually forming floating islands which are colonized by grasses and other plants. This process can lead to rapid changes in wetland ecology, e.g., shallow areas of water will be converted to swamps. Water hyacinth also has direct effects on water chemistry. By absorbing large amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients, it 153 U N IT V – H IGH P ROFILE Invasive Alien Species from around the world deprives phytoplankton of nutrients. This leads to reduced phytoplankton, and in turn, to reduced fish stocks. As large amounts of water hyacinth begin to decompose, anaerobic conditions (oxygen deficiency) are created under the mats, which lead to increased fish death. Severe infestations also interfere with recreational and commercial use of a water body, and cause substantial economic hardship in some communities. Infestations also adversely impact the quality of drinking water, and pose a health risk by creating conditions for disease carrying mosquitoes Floating Water (Global Invasive Species Database, 2006; Matthews Hyacinth (Colin and Brand, 2004; Cock, 2001). Wilson, Global Invasive Species Database). Common Names: aguapé, bung el ralm, floating http://www.issg.org /database/species/e water hyacinth, jacinthe d'eau, jacinto de agua, cology.asp?si=70&fr jacinto-aquatico,
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