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Invasive Species Research Paper

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Zebra mussels, originally from the Caspian Sea, were introduced to the U.S. Great Lakes region in 1988, and have inhabited our lakes and streams ever since (Ballaro and Morley 1). After just a few years, an entire lake or stream can be taken over by zebra mussels or other invasive species. In recent years, zebra mussels have found their way to many of our Minnesota lakes along with Eurasian milfoil. Our environment has been both negatively and positively changed by invasive species. This paper will give the definition of invasive species, and explain the factors that make a species invasive.
Depending on the different environment that a species is introduced to, the species’ characteristics will determine whether or not it will be invasive, helpful, or just a non-native species. An invasive species is a species that is introduced to a new environment, either on purpose, or by accident, and causes harm to our environment, economy, and health (Ballaro and Morley 1). A non-native species is a species that lives outside of its natural habitat, but does not negatively impact its new environment. A native species is a species that has thrived in a region for thousands of years without being accidentally, or intentionally introduced (Ballaro and Morley 1).
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Invasive species get their name because they can spread at extremely fast rates, and they begin to flourish in their new, non-native ecosystems. Some people believe that a plant or animal is extremely harmful to their environment, while others think the complete opposite. For example, the white-tailed deer causes damage to many farmers’ crops and is a nuisance to some farmers. Other people feel that white-tailed deer are an important part of the ecosystem. Deer are important to some people because they traditionally hunt them, or use them as food for their

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Due to Minnesota having a tremendous amount of lakes, it opens up doors for new invasive species to come in and take over. A popular specie that has been taking over lakes lately are zebra mussels. Although another invasive species that doesn't get too much attention is Eurasian Watermilfoil. Eurasian watermilfoil was brought over to North America from Europe around the 1950s. It spread inland from boat users and waterbirds near the 1970s.

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The Asian Carp Response in the Midwest states: “The presence of Asian carp in the Great Lakes could cause declines in abundances of native fish species. Asian carp will compete with native fish for food—native fish like cisco's, bloaters, and yellow perch, which in turn are fed upon by predator species including lake trout and walleye” (np). Another consequence is the poor quality of water that carp cause when they enter into new waters. They are known to be responsible for the unpredictable and disastrous results in habitats. As stated by Hansen, M. “Asian carp are like zebra mussels, which also prey on the base of aquatic food webs, and can thereby reorganize nutrient and energy flow with unpredictable consequences on native species” (np).

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Invasive species are a big problem to the United States ,because they can cause billions of dollars in damage. In this paper it will reveal some of the most known invasive species in the Florida everglades. The different Invasive species that will be discussed are the Giant African Snail, the Brazilian Pepper Tree, and the Cuban Treefrog. The first invasive species is the Giant African Snail. It originated from Africa and was first presented to Florida as being a pet.

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Keystone species are essential elements of ecological communities and have a disproportionate impact on the composition and operation of ecosystems. A keystone species is one that, in relation to its abundance, has an overpowering effect on its surrounding ecosystem. They influence many other organisms in an environment and help to decide the types and quantities of different other species in the community, all of which are essential to sustaining the foundation of an ecological community. The ecology would change significantly or vanish altogether if keystone species were absent. Keystone species, despite their significance, are frequently ignored in conservation efforts, which contributes to their decline and possible ecological effects.

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The introduction of Asian carp into the Great Lakes has had an adverse effect on native fish and could jeopardize the fishing industry, particularly lake perch and trout populations. The Asian carp eat many tiny plants and animals, which are food for many native fish. This will eventually affect the population and growth of the Great Lakes native fish. The Asian carp should be removed from the Great Lakes as shown in the following paragraphs.

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What is an invasive species? Invasive species is any animal or plant that comes from a different ecosystem and causes harm to the environment. They are called “invasive” because they reproduce quickly and spread rapidly, causing destruction on people’s health and the ecosystem. Human activities are one of the biggest contributing factors in spreading invasive species from one location to another. People can purchase these invasive plants for their beauty, low maintenance, and fast growing nature.

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