Aquatic Invasive
Species
Invasive Species
Public Awareness Campaign
2009 Sunset Commission raised
issue of exotic aquatic plants
and directed Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department to:
“provide greater information to the public
on the harm caused by releasing exotic
species.”
Invasive Species
What is an invasive species?
An "invasive species" is defined as a species
that is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem
that
• Grows, reproduces and spreads rapidly
• Lacks natural predators and competitors
• Is disease resistant
Invasive Species Impacts
Invasive species…
• Destroy habitats
• Interfere with ecosystem functions
(change important processes like fire,
nutrient flow and flooding)
• Decrease biodiversity by threatening the
survival of native plants and animals
• Hybridize with native species
Invasive Species Impact
Why should I care?
Invasive species…
• Threaten agriculture (crop damage)
• Are costly to treat, control and to remedy
damage caused to public resources & personal
equipment (US estimates $137 billion annually)
• Negatively impact recreational activities
• May reduce property values in affected areas
Aquatic Invasive Species:
Plants
Giant Salvinia
Elephant ears
Hydrilla
Common water hyacinth
Alligator weed
Aquatic Invasive Species:
Animals
Asian clam
Giant Ram’s-horn snail
Zebra mussels
Plecostomus
Nutria
Invasive Species
A Closer look
Invasive Species Campaign
Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) the
first species to be addressed
Giant Salvinia
• Floating, rootless fern
• Grows in chains, forming
dense mats
• Native of Brazil
• Popular aquarium plant
• First found in Texas in 1998
• Currently reported in over a
dozen Texas water bodies and in
most US coastal states
Why Giant Salvinia?
• Highly destructive
• Can double in size in one week
• Best opportunity to reduce and control
Hello Salvinia ~ Goodbye Lakes
4,500
4,250
All Texas Lakes
(3.2 million acres)
4,000
3,750
3,500
Toledo Bend
(181,600 ac)
3,250
3,000
2,750
Lake Texoma
(74,686 ac)
2,500
2,250
2,000
Lake Amistad
(64,900 ac)
1,750
1,500
1,250
Lake Austin
(1,599 ac)
1,000
750
500
250
5
We
e
k2
1
We
e
k2
7
We
e
k1
3
k1
We
e
k9
We
e
k5
We
e
We
e
k1
0
Lake Surface
( Thousands of Acres)
Six month unchecked growth rate
of Giant Salvinia beginning with ¼ acre
The Lesson
How You Can Help
• Educate teachers, students and
parents to retain plants and animals
from classroom aquariums,
displays & science experiments
• Volunteer at a local park, refuge or
other wildlife area to help remove
invasive species
• Prevent hitchhikers ~ Learn how to
clean your shoes & socks, fishing
equipment, dogs, boats, cars, bikes
and motorcycles
• Choose native plants for your
garden and pond that are
appropriate for your region. Ask
your local nursery to start carrying
more native plants.
Resources
Texas Parks & Wildlife, www.tpwd.state.tx.us
Texas Invasives, www.texasinvasives.org
Protect Your Waters, www.protectyourwaters.net
Aquatic Plant Management Society: Understanding
Invasive Aquatic Weeds Activity booklet and
interactive web site, www.apms.org/activity.htm
University of Florida: Center for Aquatic and Invasive
Plants, http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/
USDA National Invasive Species Information Center,
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/
Science Fairs ~ reducing the risk of spreading invasives,
www.anstaskforce.gov/Documents/ISEF.pdf
Texas Invasives Website
www.texasinvasives.org
Partnership with
Lady Bird Johnson
Wildflower Center
Features:
– Invasives 101
– Eco-Alerts by
region
– Report new
sightings online
Thank You!