Invasive+Species

=__Introduction of Foreign Species__ (Invasive Species)= //Sean, Frank, & Frances//

Foreign species are introduced to an ecosystem mostly by accident: for example, if birds are blown off course by a storm or if rodents stow away on a ship. This can also occur on purpose when humans bring their pets to new places and these pets reproduce. The introduction of invasive species will only have a large impact on the food web of the ecosystem if there aren't predators present to keep the new species in check.
 * Definition:**

More on food webs & invasive species from: http://www.utdallas.edu/scimathed/resources/Melville/treesnake/Survivor.htm

__**Examples of Invasive Species (explained further below)**__ 1. **Insects -** African Honeybee in North America + solutions 2. **Mammals -** Rabbits in Austrailia + solutions 3. **Plants -** Purple loosestrife in Canada + solutions

__**Explanation of General Topics**__ 1.**Africanized Honey Bee (//Apis mellifera scutellata)// "Killer Bees" in Mexico,** **South and part of North America.** __Problem__ Killer bees are very dangerous, and in some cases, attacks can be fatal to humans. The Bees also look almost identical to the native European Honey Bee, making it even more harmful to people. The more deadly Killer Bees are also a highly efficient, and able to spread there nests very quickly. This poses a serious problem as they begin to compete with other Bee species such as the tamer European Honey Bee. __Causes__ __Effects__ __Solutions__ The spread of the AHB is not too great a concern for Norther America, as the temperate climate kills off the AHB's (African Honey Bee) during the winter. It does however pose a problem for the Southern United States and South America. __Sources http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Apis_mellifera_scutellata.htm__
 * Introduced to Brazil, where they have expanded at a rate close to 200 miles per year.
 * Bazilian geneticist Warwick Kerr brought queen African Honey Bees over to Brazil in 1956, with the hope of breeding them with European Honey Bees in order to produce a breed of Bees that would produce more honey.
 * African Honey Bees pose a very serious threat to people, as they will chase a person for over a quarter of a mile, stinging them ten times as much as a colony of European Honey Bees would. Since their introduction, over 1000 people have died from African Honey Bee attacks.
 * Native and solitary Bee species are out competed by the introduced Bee.
 * Negatively effects the economics of the honey market (worth 140 million dollars), as African Honey Bees can and will destroy entire populations of captive Honey Bees.
 * Due to the nature of African Honey Bees, native flora has increased by 20-25% due to the increased pollination by the increased level of activity by the African Honey Bees.
 * "Drone Flooding," where larger stocks of European Honey Bees are kept, in an effort to compete with the AHB.
 * Public action and awareness is the best solution, as nests that are reported can be efficiently handled by professionals, and the area then scoured for further nests.

__Solutions for Control__ 2. **European Rabbit (//Oryctolagus cuniculus//)) in Australia** __Problem__ Wild European rabbits are Australia's most serious animal pest. Their numbers are increasing rapidly and In 1890, the rabbit population in Australia reached plague numbers and something needed to be done. __Causes__ - Originated in Europe - Introduced firstly in 1788 __Effects__ - Soil Erosion & Land Degradation - Decline of native fauna (the animals of a given region) - Eaten out Hibiscus (//Hibiscus insutaris//) on the Philip Island - Reduced habitat for other native animals - Pressure native wildlife by competing for food - Eating tree seedlings and shrubs __Solutions for control__ - Poisoning - Hunting/Shooting - Warren Ripping (AKA: Burrow Destruction) - Biological Control (//Myxomatosis// and //Calicivirus,// European Rabbit Flea) __Sources__ http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00128/en/rabbits/history.htm http://www.csiro.au/communication/rabbits/qa2.htm

3. **Purple loosestrife (//Lythrum salicaria//) in Canada** __Causes__ - originated in Eurasia - introduced in 1800s __Effects__ - easily transported by seed - highly invasive __Solutions for control__ - "grub up", or dig up the root system; however if the entire root system isn't eliminated, it may resprout - "shear", or cut stem near roots - use insects that feed on purple loosestrife __Picture__ http://www.cwss-scm.ca/Weeds/images/Ly1-purple-loosestrife.JPG __Sources__ Comprehensive list of invasive plant species in Canada @ http://www.rbg.ca/cbcn/en/projects/invasives/invade1.html Introducing insect predators to get rid of purple loosestrife @ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5204/is_2003/ai_n19124308/pg_11