Invasive Species
Shao Yang
ENGL 1020_001
4/10/11
James Ross
Aftermath of the Invasion The introduction of invasive species into new environments is a problem that plagues the entire planet. Humans have been moving species around the world and introducing them into new environment for millennia. Many introduced species become invasive, disrupting ecosystems and threatening the survival of other species, sometimes driving them to extinction. Some invasive species, including some insects, seem to thrive particularly well in already degraded environments. After habitat destruction, the issue of invasive alien species is thought to be the greatest current threat to biodiversity. A suggestion for a solution is to ban import of all exotic and harmful species or perform biological control which entails introducing a natural enemy usually from the native range of the introduced pest. Although invasive species are a serious environmental, economic and social problem worldwide, could it be more of a natural process than human intention? For example, wind is able to carry seeds, pollens, and plants from continent to continent and make them become invasive. Furthermore, “The Bering land bridge, which joined present-day Alaska and eastern Siberia at various times during the Pleistocene ice ages, is believed to have enabled human and animal migration to the Americas from Asia about 20,000 years ago” (Lockwood, 108). In addition, most of our food crops are intentionally introduced but turned out to be very beneficial. However, it is important to remember that even though not all introduced species are invasive and harmful, but most of them are highly demanding and ecologically unfriendly. Humans carry with them their plants, seeds, and domesticated animals, as well as pests and microbes that cause epidemic disease around the planet. “Most of these transported organisms, which either arrive accidentally as “hitchhikers”-for example, on clothing, in used tires, in wooden pallets, or in
ENGL 1020_001
4/10/11
James Ross
Aftermath of the Invasion The introduction of invasive species into new environments is a problem that plagues the entire planet. Humans have been moving species around the world and introducing them into new environment for millennia. Many introduced species become invasive, disrupting ecosystems and threatening the survival of other species, sometimes driving them to extinction. Some invasive species, including some insects, seem to thrive particularly well in already degraded environments. After habitat destruction, the issue of invasive alien species is thought to be the greatest current threat to biodiversity. A suggestion for a solution is to ban import of all exotic and harmful species or perform biological control which entails introducing a natural enemy usually from the native range of the introduced pest. Although invasive species are a serious environmental, economic and social problem worldwide, could it be more of a natural process than human intention? For example, wind is able to carry seeds, pollens, and plants from continent to continent and make them become invasive. Furthermore, “The Bering land bridge, which joined present-day Alaska and eastern Siberia at various times during the Pleistocene ice ages, is believed to have enabled human and animal migration to the Americas from Asia about 20,000 years ago” (Lockwood, 108). In addition, most of our food crops are intentionally introduced but turned out to be very beneficial. However, it is important to remember that even though not all introduced species are invasive and harmful, but most of them are highly demanding and ecologically unfriendly. Humans carry with them their plants, seeds, and domesticated animals, as well as pests and microbes that cause epidemic disease around the planet. “Most of these transported organisms, which either arrive accidentally as “hitchhikers”-for example, on clothing, in used tires, in wooden pallets, or in
Cited: Chivian, Eric and Bernstein Aaron. Sustaining Life. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008, Print. Glavin, Terry. The Sixth Extinction. New York: An imprint of St. Martin 's Press, 2006, Print. Lockwood, Julie and Hoops Martha. Invasion Ecology. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell, 2006, Print. Terrill, Ceinidwen. Unnatural Landscapes. Arizona: The University of Arizona press, 2007. Print. Weidensaul, Scott. Return To Wild America. New York: North Point Press, 2005. Print.