Dr. David Strayer, senior scientist at the Carey Institute of Ecosytem Studies, spoke at Colby Sawyer College’s Ivey Center on Invasive Species. As a fresh water ecologist, Strayer studies the distribution of species and their impacts.
Strayer’s talk covered several examples of invasive animals and what their introduction into the United States is doing to our economy. One species, the Asian Longhorn beetle, enters our ports in untreated wooden pallets. Wooden pallets and packing from such countries as China are not inspected nor required to be treated, which would help in limiting this beetle from entering our country. Once the beetle is here it lodges itself in maple trees, finds plenty of food there, and eventually kills the tree. Infestations have been rampant in the Chicago-Midwest area, causing billions of dollars of damage. (For more information, see USDA’s Forest Service website: www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/alb)
Further examples:
The Emerald ash borer has a similar means of entry and similar damage causing history as the Asian Longhorn beetle. This species may result in a near total demise of ash trees in the US. Zebra mussels are another invasive that is found in freshwater, causing billions of dollars worth of problems. Their means of entry is untreated ballast water of cargo ships. They out-compete local species, causing severe ecological changes, and cause billions of dollars’ worth of problems, clogging municipal pipes, attaching themselves to structures, etc. Zebra mussels have established themselves as close as the Connecticut River, and are one of the invasives inspected for by LSPA Lake Hosts at boat launches around Sunapee each year. Another invasive example is a species of fish, called carp. There are actually five carp varieties that have invaded; each has significantly edged out native fish species.
How do we combat invasive takeovers?
These are but limited examples of invasive, pest species that have successfully “arrived, survived, and thrived” causing billions of dollars in damage. Such invasions are “high and rising”. In order to combat such invasions, we need good monitoring, rapid response and political action. For example, trade talks could require wooden pallets and ballast water to be treated prior to entering the US. It is far easier to halt invasions before they begin or are at a “pre-establishment” level.
Strayer emphasized that invasions such as these are no surprise, given the lack of port regulations. Most species enter through ports (pallets and ballast water), canals and waterways, or humans releasing nonnative organisms into the ecosystems. Such biological invasions are predictable and we have examples telling us that they are destructive and negatively impact our economy. We need to let our legislators know that these are serious problems which if addressed have solutions.
Strayer was attending a Scientific Advisory Committee Workshop for LSPA (Lake Sunapee Protective Association), held at Colby Sawyer College along with 25 other scientists from around the country and Canada. The two day workshop focused on biological systems in transition, the scientists shared their respective research efforts. The workshop topics will assist LSPA on where to focus its scientific efforts locally.
Date published on web site:
12-12-2007
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