Posted on 06/03/2015 5:04:20 PM PDT by Sean_Anthony
Water hyacinth in Africa, Zebra mussels in Lake Erie, Estuary of the San Francisco Bay
For a long time, veteran environmental journalist Fred Pearce thought in stark terms about invasive species: they were evil interlopers spoiling pristine ‘natural’ ecosystems. Most conservationists and environmentalists share this view. But what if the traditional view of ecology is wrong—what if true environmentalists should be applauding the invaders?
Fred Pearce acknowledges that there are horror stories about alien species disrupting ecosystems but most of the time the tens of thousands of introduced species usually swiftly die out or settle down and become model eco-citizens. The case for keeping out alien species looks increasingly flawed he reports in his recent book, The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Nature’s Salvation.
It is time to stand back and look at the evidence when we come to judge and respond to ‘invasive’ species writes Pearce. At this point, pretty much the majority of species is invasive rather than endemic.
Invasive species are like illegal aliens, they just cost us money in perpetuity.
I like zebra mussels in Lake Erie. Lake Erie used to be a muddy murky smelly mess, but the zebra mussels cleaned it up to the point where you can now see to the bottom clearly, even when the distance is 20 or more feet. Also, it doesn’t smell anymore.
I am sure Ireland would love for someone to introduce rattlesnakes there.
They can have their Lampreys back. It costs Michigan alone some 20 million per year to control them.
The fact is that “endangered species” can often thrive when moved to a different geographic environment. For example, the “Madagascar Gold Dust Day Gecko,” which is endangered in its native habitat, has become a pest in Hawaii, eating the native Hawaiian gecko.
Similarly, it can be surmised that if say a dozen endangered Bengal Tigers were captured and then released in New York City, and there protected from hunters or other predation because they are endangered, they would no doubt thrive and reproduce in short order.
Signed,
A Scientist
Given the recent vote, it’s likely to happen.
Sounds like Lake Victoria could use some zebra mussels!
At the moment, I'm camping in the Great Basin surrounded by Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) and whitetop (Cardaria pubescens). The cottonwoods, willows, and native grasses and forbs don't have a chance.
And I won't even begin to describe the destruction the salt cedar (Tamarix ramosissima) has wrought on the Southwest...
Thanks for the reminder...
I need to go dig out some more dang thistles :-(
Does anyone know any recipes for kudzu?
There must be a use for Kudzu. It smells pleasantly, actually a bit like grapes. I bet it would be good cattle feed.
Goats adore it. It would be interesting to see a group of them be allowed to attack a large area of it.
Sure, Kudzu could save the planet. We should set up Kudzu farms with poles and wires, and cyclically plow it under, to sequester the carbon, you know. Like the Carboniferous swamps.
OTOH, let us not forget Kentucky bluegrass, which isn’t from KY at all. It’s from Europe.
In Minnesota we have the asian beetle that was brought to North America to kill aphids, Eurasian water milfoil, purple loosestrife, and several species of carp. The carp make excellent entertainment for teenagers with compound bows.
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