Com 101 - Invasive Species: We Must Destroy Them

Brian Banks

Com 101

Prof. S.

March 27, 2010

Invasive Species: We must destroy them!

The Asian Carp, The Sea Lamprey, The Zebra Mussel, and the most dangerous of them all, The Parasite, must be destroyed. We must look those bastards in their slimy eyes and say “Hey, we don’t want you here any more”! Invasive species destroy the environment, the economy, human health and well-being.

Invasive species are organisms that are non native to a given ecosystem. An invasive species can be an animal, a plant, and or parasites. There is a difference between invasive and non native species. Most non native species are not harmful to the environment but the organisms that compromise the environment are considered invasive species. The most dangerous of the Invasive species succeed due to their adaptive characteristics. “They are hardy, indicating by their survival of their trip inside a ship for thousands of miles. They are very aggressive and possess the capacity to outcompete native species. They are prolific breeders and can take quick advantage of any new opportunity. And last but not least; they disperse rapidly” (McConnell 240). In most cases, Invasive Species are introduced by humans through global trade, travel, tourism or by keeping them as pets and then abandoning them. Aquatic invasive species are introduced by tankers and their ballast waters located at the bottom of the ship in special tanks to provide stability and optimized steering (McConnell 240). According to The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration calculation there are 40,000 gallons of foreign ballast water are dumped into the U.S. harbor each minute. The ships that carry ballast waters continuously introduce non-native species to Western coastal waters. With the Increase of global trade the consequences equals more foreign ballast waters being released in U.S. ports. “Foreign species such as the green crab, zebra mussel and Pacific jellyfish have displaced native species and diminished biodiversity, resulting in huge economic impacts and fundamental disruptions of coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems”(NOAA 2). Invasive species cause millions of dollars in damage to the environment, economy and Human health. “The range of economic impacts can be broadly classified into two categories: direct and indirect impacts” (NOAA 2). Invasive species can adversely affect important environmental service flows such as cropping systems, livestock grazing, and recreational uses. Water systems can be affected when pests clog rivers, irrigation systems, and shorelines. In addition, invasive species can have negative impacts on ecological services provided by one resource for other resources or an entire ecological system. Invasive species in the United States cause major environmental