Invasive Species

[sas]

Came across this on the news this AM and thought I'd post it. Very scarey stuff!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2010/08/04/f-asian-carp-invasive-species.html

Remember we as hobbyists also need to be vigilant on how we dispose of our plants and animals
as well. 

[washefuzzy]

I've have read a lot about invasive species around the world. It is pretty scary.

[Greatwhite]

I've seen these jumping fish on youtube lots of times.. I didn't ever know what species they were...

Someone posted this link at the end of the CBC page... I chuckled at around the 30 second mark when a guy gets one in the junk...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7zkTnQVaM

Then I followed the related videos and saw the bow fishing.  Now THAT is a good way to cut down the species!  If the government put a bounty on the fish... like... $5 per fish or something - it'd really entice people to go out and take care of them.

[Saltcreep]

They've been catching Lionfish off of Florida's coasts for quite some time now.

[Nyx]

What I find troublesome is that in the vast majority of articles I've read on the subject, it seems that these invasive species were originally introduced by a government to control some other problem, without it being properly thought through. What they don't seem take into consideration is that out of their native habitat and without natural predators, these introduced species become problems in and of themselves. I'd think that the advising scientists on each project should have known better. *shrug*

[Greatwhite]

What I find troublesome is that in the vast majority of articles I've read on the subject, it seems that these invasive species were originally introduced by a government to control some other problem, without it being properly thought through. What they don't seem take into consideration is that out of their native habitat and without natural predators, these introduced species become problems in and of themselves. I'd think that the advising scientists on each project should have known better. *shrug*

This is common everywhere.  I remember there being a problem with some purple weed that hitch hiked here in the 90s...  So the government released weird flies to deal with the weeds.. then the flies became the problem, so the government released some spiders to deal with the flies.. Then the spiders became a problem, so the government released birds to deal with them.. then cats to deal with the birds.. then dogs to deal with the cats, then horses to deal with the dogs - i think we'll die.

[Cheebs]

This is common everywhere.  I remember there being a problem with some purple weed that hitch hiked here in the 90s...  So the government released weird flies to deal with the weeds.. then the flies became the problem, so the government released some spiders to deal with the flies.. Then the spiders became a problem, so the government released birds to deal with them.. then cats to deal with the birds.. then dogs to deal with the cats, then horses to deal with the dogs - i think we'll die.

I remember the whole Purple Strife ordeal, and the beatles they released to control it. I'm not certain how succesful the whole thing was, but I think it worked better than some of these other screw-ups. Either way we ended up with a few non-native species kicking around!

[JetJumper]

This is common everywhere.  I remember there being a problem with some purple weed that hitch hiked here in the 90s...  So the government released weird flies to deal with the weeds.. then the flies became the problem, so the government released some spiders to deal with the flies.. Then the spiders became a problem, so the government released birds to deal with them.. then cats to deal with the birds.. then dogs to deal with the cats, then horses to deal with the dogs - i think we'll die.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lythrum_salicaria

As an invasive species
The purple loosestrife has been introduced into temperate New Zealand and North America where it is now widely naturalized and officially listed in some controlling agents. Infestations result in dramatic disruption in water flow in rivers and canals, and a sharp decline in biological diversity as native food and cover plant species, notably cattails, are completely crowded out, and the life cycles of organisms from waterfowl to amphibians to algae are affected. A single plant may produce up to three million tiny seeds annually. Easily carried by wind and water, the seeds germinate in moist soils after overwintering. The plant can also sprout anew from pieces of root left in the soil or water. Once established, loosestrife stands are difficult and costly to remove by mechanical and chemical means.
Plants marketed under the name "European wand loosestrife" (L. virgatum) are the same species despite the different name. In some cases the plants sold are sterile, which is preferable.
In North America, purple loosestrife may be distinguished from similar native plants (e.g. fireweed Epilobium angustifolium, blue vervain Verbena hastata, Liatris Liatris spp., and spiraea (Spiraea douglasii) by its angular stalks which are square in outline, as well by it leaves, which are in pairs that alternate at right angle and are not serrated.