Invasive Species: Eurasian Milfoil

970 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The impact that invasive species have on our ecosystem

Invasive species are organisms that harm a new environment that they are not native to. Many invasive species like Eurasian milfoil are easily able to reproduce and can do so fast. Due to this, the limited space in a body of water or area of land is quickly taken over by the invasive species so other native plants face the risk of death or even extinction. Overall, these invasive species can do great harm to an ecosystem or an economy, causing problems that are destructive to numerous organisms.
Eurasian milfoil or Myriophyllum spicatum is an aquatic invasive plant that can be found throughout the Chicagoland area and in surrounding bodies of water. This plant can be a hindrance to swimming, boating, and fishing because of their thick, tangled stems and mats of vegetation. According to the Minnesota Sea Grant, Eurasian milfoil also overcrowd a body of water, which leaves little room for the plants native to the Great Lakes. One prediction is that if the Eurasian milfoil is not stopped, a reduction of biodiversity may result in Chicago and the areas surrounding it. If this was to occur, the ecosystems of the Midwest region would be significantly impacted in a negative way.
As reported by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), Eurasian milfoil, which is native to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa, was most likely accidentally introduced to the United States through ballast water, which is water from other places that is dumped into another body of water to aid in stabilizing a ship. The aquatic species are oftentimes trapped in these ballast waters and are released with them into new and unknown environments. This can lead to rapid growth of the invasive species and can become an endangerment to other organisms that...

... middle of paper ...

...oil.htm
Milfoil Control. (n.d.). - Easily Kill Milfoil in Your Pond or Lake. Retrieved May 20, 2014, from http://www.lakerestoration.com/t-milfoil-control.aspx minnesota sea grant - outreach - exotic species - eurasian watermilfoil: factsheet. (2010, January 26). minnesota sea grant - outreach - exotic species - eurasian watermilfoil: factsheet. Retrieved May 15, 2014, from http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/eurasian.html
Pest Control Rx.com. (n.d.). 'Pest Control Rx.com'. Retrieved May 11, 2014, from http://www.pestcontrolrx.com/david_somlcom/2008/08/milfoil-5-best.html
Simulating an Invasion! Scientists take a look at overland transport of Eurasian watermilfoil. (2014, March 1). Aquatic Plant Management Society Inc. Retrieved May 15, 2014, from https://apms.org/2014/03/simulating-an-invasion-scientists-take-a-look-at-
overland-transport-of-eurasian-watermilfoil/

Show More
Related

  • The Round Goby as a Non-Native Species in the Great Lakes Eco Ssytem

    381 Words  | 1 Pages

    As if there weren’t enough problems for scientists trying to save the Great Lakes Eco System. Many non-native species have entered the eco system and many of them are harmful. Every species in itself has played a role in the eco system. These non-native species make it increasingly difficult for the Great Lakes Eco System to be regulated.

    Read More

  • Overview Of The Zebra Mussel

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), is a small freshwater mollusk that is an invasive species. It has slowly been making its way into the United States. It has done this by showing up in lakes and in rivers. The mussels get their name due to the striped pattern on their shells. They are a relatively small species, only growing to the size of a human finger nail but there have been cases of larger (“Zebra Mussels,” 2013, para. 2). Mussels live a short life span of 4-5 years and most do not make into adulthood. They live in freshwater at depths of 6 to 24 feet. The female produces 30,000 to 1,000,000 eggs per year starting at the age of two. Zebra Mussels are free moving and can move with an external organ called the byssus (“Zebra Mussels,” 2013, para. 3). But they can be moved around by currents and other objects too. Zebra Mussels are a threat to ecosystems. They damage the natural habitat of lakes and rivers and cause negative effects to the native aquatic life. They multiply in vast majority casing a lake of food and space for other animals. And also the U.S. has spent millions on the removal of these pests from our water (“Zebra Mussels,” 2014, para. 8). The Zebra Mussel has now made its way into Colorado. Just a few has been found in the waters of Colorado but a few is enough to cause a big stir. Extreme precautions have now been put into effect to make sure that the threat of Zebra Mussels is under control.

    Read More

  • Red Fox is an Invasive Species to Australian Wildlife

    570 Words  | 2 Pages

    Invasive species as a whole have become a nuisance to many habitats and ecosystems around the world. What defines an invasive species is the following. It must be a species that is foreign to the habitat it resides in, have no natural predators which allow it to reproduce in such a rapid manner, and out compete native animals of food and shelter (Rosenthal 2011). These characteristics are what create such high populations of these invasive species in various habitats around the globe.

    Read More

  • Essay On Zebra Mussels

    1281 Words  | 3 Pages

    Zebra Mussels also known as Dreissena polymorpha are small freshwater mollusk that have been invading America’s rivers and lakes. They originated from the Balkans, Poland and Soviet Union. In 1988, they were found in a small body of water connecting Lake Huron and Lake Erie, known as Lake St. Clair. Biologists believe that European port in the ballast water of a ship, dis...

    Read More

  • The Zebra Mussel's Invasion Effects

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    A common inference made by scientists predicts that the zebra mussel will continue spreading passively, by ship and by pleasure craft, to more rivers in North America. Trailered boat traffic is the most likely cause for invasion into North America. This spread can be preventable if boaters thoroughly clean and dry their boats and associated equipment before transporting them to new bodies of water. Since no North American predator or combination of predators has been shown to significantly reduce zebra mussel numbers, such spread would most likely result in permanent establishment of zebra mussels in many North American waterways.

    Read More

  • invasive species in florida

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    Should exotic snakes or other large reptiles be allowed as pets in Florida? Right now these escaped/released feral reptiles create an estimated $120 billion in environmental damage each year according to David Steen on Slates Animal Blog.

    Read More

  • Informative Speech On Zebra Mussels

    614 Words  | 2 Pages

    Picture this: you're having a nice weekend at the lake with your family, fishing, swimming, and having an all-around great time. But then you notice that your boat isn't running as well as it should, especially considering you just cleaned it and made sure everything was in perfect condition before leaving your house. Puzzled, you take your boat out of the water to notice that the hull and motor is covered in tiny clam-like creatures, making your pristine white boat look like something that was just drug out of the bottom of the lake. What are these animals that ruined your weekend of fun? They are zebra mussels, and are found in lakes, rivers, and other bodies of freshwater across the U.S. Normally found in Eastern Europe, the first group of this invasive species hitched a ride in the ballast tanks of ocean liners in the 1980s, and quickly spread. Regulations are in place to stop the spread, but removing them from places that have already been infested is tricky. Today we will talk about the damages zebra mussels cause, how this problem is managed, and what you can do to help.

    Read More

  • Sessile Consumer

    396 Words  | 1 Pages

    In conducting my research, I observed activity on a rocky shore off the coast of Washington in the Northwest United States (workbook). This environment inhabits 10 species in shallow water nearly on top of each other. Each species helps form a complicated ecosystem where species protect, consume, and compete for space with other species. Out of the 10 species there are three producers, three sessile consumers (otherwise known as filter feeders), and four mobile consumers- one of which is an invasive species. In this environment the producers are Nori Seaweed (Porphyra), Black Pine (Neorhodomela), and Coral Weed (Corallina). Producers make their own food through sunlight, so only have predators and competition for space. Coral Weed is the strongest

    Read More

  • Asian Carp: The Invaders

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1831, Asian carp were brought over as a delicacy. Asian carp are originally from Asia (Barbara A. Somervill 13). They were imported by catfish farmers in 1963 for federal research on controlling aquatic vegetation. In 1966, the first Asian carp had escaped into Arkansas waters. By 1970, grass carp we're being stocked in Arkansas waters to help with over vegetation. In 1972, big head carp were brought in the United States by a fish farmer in Arkansas to improve his water quality and fish production. In 1973, silver carp were introduced for phytoplankton control (Watershed Council 1). Over time, they were brought over for different reasons and made their way into many of the United States waters. The federal government had transported the invasive species to help the waters but, they did not realize the bad effects that the fish would have on the future environment. People need to find a way to stop them before it’s too late. Their rapid breeding has had a great toll on the environment and is still affecting it today. Over population can destroy the environment

    Read More

  • The Truth About Invasive Species By Alan Burdick

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    The piece I chose to do my literary analysis on was the article, The Truth About Invasive Species, written by Alan Burdick. The article states that invasive species are all around us, but the area with the most prominent amount is the suburbs of Miami. It goes into detail about how abundant invasive species are in this area. Most people who would see a strange animal in their lawn or area would be bemused, however for the people of Southern Florida, this is a recurring scene. Burdick states that “virtually everyone in the South Florida, including Hardwick, has a neighbor with a backyard menagerie of lucrative critters on hold for resale”. Burdick describes both how an invasive species is introduced into an ecosystem, and the impact the have on other species upon their arrival.

    Read More

  • Zebra Mussels

    399 Words  | 1 Pages

    Zebra Mussels pose two primary ecological dangers. The first being drawing water into their bodies and filtering out the food of microscopic plants and animals, subsequently depleting the food supply for other aquatic organisms and increasing the water clarity which allows higher light penetration to inhibit predatory fish in their food-searching endeavors. Secondly, they can attach to the shells of native mussels and smother them. In analyzing the physical composition of Zebra Mussels, their one-eighth to two inch yellow/brown striped exterior can be deduced. Different approaches can be considered to control this invasive species. Mechanical control can be implemented by way of preventative measures (especially because Zebra Mussels are extremely difficult to control once they have infiltrated a body of water)., including industrial vacuums and backflushing. Chemical control, summarized by the use of chlorine, bromine, potassium, permanganate, and other resources, is another

    Read More

  • Great Lakes Endangerment

    1593 Words  | 4 Pages

    Species such as the zebra mussel, quagga mussel, urasian malfoil, sea lamprey, and asian carp reproduce and spread. These invasive miscreants ultimately degrade habitat, outcompete the native species, not to mention short-circuiting food webs. When a new and aggressive species is introduced into an ecosystem, it might not have any natural predators or controls. It can breed and spread relatively fast, taking over an area. Native wildlife may not have evolved defenses against the invader or they cannot compete with a species that has no predators.They threaten and hurt the Great Lakes economy by damaging critical industries such as fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. There are a couple of ways that these unwanted species are introduced to the Great Lakes region. Ships can carry aquatic “hitchhikers”in its ballast water. A ballast tank is used to balance big ships. When a ship empties it’s ballast tank, invasive species may have traveled unknowingly with the ship and then are released with all of the water into the Great Lakes. Zebra mussels first came to the U.S. from Eurasia in ship ballast water released into the Great Lakes in the 1800’s. Since then, they have spread dramatically, outcompeting native species for food and habitat. Zebra mussels can attach to almost any hard surface, a nuisance to the communities in the Great Lakes region and the animals. They clog water intake and discharge pipes, attach themselves to boat hulls and docks, and they even attach to native mussels and crayfish. Plants can get stuck on boat propellers and then fall off accidentally into a new body of water. Invasive species can alter the diversity of species that are important for native wildlife. Aggressive plant species like Urasian Malfoil can quickly replace a diverse ecosystem with a monoculture of just Urasian Malfoil. Another species named Asian Carp are a fast growing

    Read More

  • Invasive Plant Species Essay

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although sometimes the birds and so on can help get rid of the specific Invasive plant species have contributed to the decline of 42% f United States endangered and threatened species, and for 18% of United States endangered or threatened species, invasive are the main cause of their decline. Some other impacts are Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. Overall plant diversity can be decreased, establishment and spread of invasive species can degrade wildlife habitat,results in poor quality agricultural lands, degraded water quality, increased soil erosion, and decreased recreation opportunities. (native

    Read More

  • Essay On Invasive Species

    1245 Words  | 3 Pages

    Invasive alien species are disrupting and changing the normal ecological functions of biomes, ecosystems, and the biosphere as a whole (CBD, 2009). They are a threat to biodiversity and can cause damage to, or even eradicate native species which natural cycles and other organisms depend on. While disrupting energy flow, food chains, and shaking the structure of ecosystems to the core, invasive species create not only ecological, but also a whole host of social, economical, and health issues that affect the livelihood of almost every organism on earth, including humans (CBD, 2009).

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Seagrass

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Seagrass is on the decline around the world and it is a key vital marine ecosystem found in shallow water mainly distributed throughout tropical seas, from a temperature of 4oC to 24oC. They are the only angiosperm to be able to survive in aquatic conditions providing support and shelter for vast amounts of species. Are marine aquatic plant and is a key species in coastal areas found all over the world, although there is not a huge variety of species, there is roughly only around 60 species and over 14% of them are endangered.

    Read More

More about Invasive Species: Eurasian Milfoil

Open Document