Throughout my educational and work experience, invasive species were one thing: very bad! Whether an insect, plant, disease, or other creature they would find their way into a new area and wreak havoc with the natives. They could out-compete with native species on every level imaginable and alter long-established ecosystems. They threatened economically important crops and socially-desirable plants and charismatic animals. We as humans had to do everything in our power to stop invasive species.
At face value, the issue is clear. Invasive species are bad for native populations and the ecosystems they thrive in. Further research reveals that this matter is a lot more complicated than it seems. Firstly, invasive species have spread into a new territory because a pathway has been opened up which was not previously available to the species. More often than not, this pathway has become available because of humans. Usually the species has arrived because of international trade activities or the collection of plants for horticultural purposes. An indirect link to humans comes in the form of climate change. Warmer temperatures and longer warm seasons have opened up regions that were previously limited to certain species. One example is the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. This very small insect has moved north as warmer winter temperatures have become more prevalent, decimating the once expansive hemlock populations in the Northeast U.S. It is hard to stop something that has no predator in its new habitat and is free to go where it pleases in a warmer climate.
During my research at the University of Liverpool, I actually discovered that existing environmental management plans that are aggressive toward an invasive species that has already become established may do more harm than good. A few case studies have found that endangered, native species that don't compete for the same resources will actually adapt and become dependent on the invasive species. When trying to remove the invasive species, land managers and scientists have found that native species are very slow to return and may not re-establish themselves at all if prior land management policies did not favor the conditions for the native species to thrive in. While invasive species may drive out their native counterparts, creating a monoculture of single dominant species, other native species may adapt to that.
As with most things biological (and dealing with the environment), the issue of invasive species is quite complex. It is obvious that the problem is only becoming worse, and it threatens whole ecosystems as well as individual species and even human activities. However, a one-size-fits-all plan is not the solution. If an invasive has settled in, policymakers may do well to create a policy of accommodation rather than eradication. Also, we cannot stop international trade just because we are afraid of the next invasive species to cross our borders. For one thing, we don't know what an invasive species is until it actually starts becoming invasive in our neck of the woods. Government agencies that regulate and monitor known invasive species are learning that this issue is quite complicated and are trying to alter their policies accordingly. The rest of us - lovers of native species, horticulturists, traders, advocates of the environment, basically everyone - needs to encourage this kind of approach. Since humans have caused a lot of the stress our natural world currently faces, we must use educated and flexible approaches if we are going to continue to "manage" the environment.
At face value, the issue is clear. Invasive species are bad for native populations and the ecosystems they thrive in. Further research reveals that this matter is a lot more complicated than it seems. Firstly, invasive species have spread into a new territory because a pathway has been opened up which was not previously available to the species. More often than not, this pathway has become available because of humans. Usually the species has arrived because of international trade activities or the collection of plants for horticultural purposes. An indirect link to humans comes in the form of climate change. Warmer temperatures and longer warm seasons have opened up regions that were previously limited to certain species. One example is the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. This very small insect has moved north as warmer winter temperatures have become more prevalent, decimating the once expansive hemlock populations in the Northeast U.S. It is hard to stop something that has no predator in its new habitat and is free to go where it pleases in a warmer climate.
During my research at the University of Liverpool, I actually discovered that existing environmental management plans that are aggressive toward an invasive species that has already become established may do more harm than good. A few case studies have found that endangered, native species that don't compete for the same resources will actually adapt and become dependent on the invasive species. When trying to remove the invasive species, land managers and scientists have found that native species are very slow to return and may not re-establish themselves at all if prior land management policies did not favor the conditions for the native species to thrive in. While invasive species may drive out their native counterparts, creating a monoculture of single dominant species, other native species may adapt to that.
As with most things biological (and dealing with the environment), the issue of invasive species is quite complex. It is obvious that the problem is only becoming worse, and it threatens whole ecosystems as well as individual species and even human activities. However, a one-size-fits-all plan is not the solution. If an invasive has settled in, policymakers may do well to create a policy of accommodation rather than eradication. Also, we cannot stop international trade just because we are afraid of the next invasive species to cross our borders. For one thing, we don't know what an invasive species is until it actually starts becoming invasive in our neck of the woods. Government agencies that regulate and monitor known invasive species are learning that this issue is quite complicated and are trying to alter their policies accordingly. The rest of us - lovers of native species, horticulturists, traders, advocates of the environment, basically everyone - needs to encourage this kind of approach. Since humans have caused a lot of the stress our natural world currently faces, we must use educated and flexible approaches if we are going to continue to "manage" the environment.
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