Research Paper: Impact of Invasive Species
By Anam Rahman
Block 2-1
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Anam Rahman
Mrs. Funk
Inquiry Skills
15 April 2014
The Impact of Invasive Species
In the 1830s, English naturalist and geologist, Charles Darwin had discovered a pair of
European plant species in South America which had dominated and conquered the native plant species (Sandlund et. al 1). These are known as invasive species- organisms that are introduced into new habitats, grow out of control, and normally have a negative impact on the ecosystem.
Invasive species mainly affect native species, human health, and the economy by causing extinction, decreasing biodiversity, causing diseases, competing for limited resources, costing a lot of money to repair damages, and impacting trade and travel.
Decreasing Population of Native Species
Competition with invasive species for resources is one of the main reasons that native species are going extinct. Some of the resources that they fight over include water, food, shelter, mates, and any other natural resource necessary to sustain life (“Invasive Species Definition…”).
Many native populations also decrease when invasive species become dominant and begin to prey upon the local organisms as a source of food. Invasive species also greatly impact the biodiversity of an ecosystem both positively and negatively. Invasive species may be very beneficial to the ecosystem, affect natural selection, and increase biodiversity, if they are able to mate with the native species and produce a new hybrid species. However, invasive species may

Rahman3 decrease biodiversity within an ecosystem by causing the native species to go extinct, thus making the ecosystem contain less various organisms. The results of the introduction of new species into an ecosystem are usually harmful and are considered to be “one of the four members of Jared Diamond’s ‘evil quartet’ of major threats to native biodiversity.” (Sandlund et. al 1).
Invasive species were categorized as such due to all of the negative impacts that they have on the native biodiversity of multiple ecosystems such as causing extinction, limiting valuable resources, preying upon other species, and damaging health.
Impact on Human Health
Not only do invasive species decrease native species and biodiversity within an ecosystem, but they also are very dangerous to human health and daily living styles and activities. When organisms are transported from foreign countries, they may be carrying a disease or virus that is immune to that region. Though the people of the foreign country may not get sick or infected with this illness, other people may be affected in other countries. Illnesses, for instance yellow fever, malaria, and the West Nile Virus, were brought to the United States through transported organisms like rats, birds, and mosquitoes (“Invasive Species”). Along with affecting the health of humans, invasive species also impact many of the necessities that they need to survive including fresh drinking water. In this case, invasive plant species such as the
Water Hyacinth prosper in rivers and streams and clogs them up, preventing humans from receiving the fresh drinking water that they need to survive (Kitch). Most of the time invasive species do not cause harm to humans directly, usually they drastically impact a vital natural resource in the ecosystem, which in return affects and decreases the human population. Finally, invasive species impact what humans do or use on a daily basis and the recreational activities that they participate in including hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Some invasive

Rahman4 species may block rivers and lakes, preventing humans from doing activities, particularly swimming, boating, and fishing. Other invasive species may be beneficial and used in activities specifically agriculture and farming for controlling pests, growing crops, and raising livestock
(“Invasive Species Definition…”). For example, bumblebees were once considered to be an invasive species, but are now beloved by millions of people because of their ability to produce honey and spread pollen to flowers. However, the most beneficial invasive species known so far is corn, which is one of the most widely grown crops around the world and is a major source of food and trade for some countries.
Economic Effects
The introduction of invasive species into new ecosystems impacted the economy of countries worldwide most significantly. “The estimated damage from invasive species worldwide totals more than $1.4 trillion – five percent of the global economy.” (“Protecting
Native Plants…”). On average the United States spends greater than $120 billion every year in order to repair the damages done by invasive species, preventing them from spreading and being introduced, detecting species that are considered to be invasive within an ecosystem, and to research further information about types of invasive species. Common damages caused by invasive species include reducing property prices and decreasing agricultural productivity and tourism (“The Cost of Invasive Species”). In addition, invasive species also impact the trade and travel in between foreign countries. Most invasive species are transported to new countries through trade and cargo ships. Ballast water in the ships from the foreign nations contain numerous amounts of invasive species which are released into new places when ships release their ballast water in the ports and harbors. Sometimes invasive species are transported for illegal sales, brought as pets, forms of pest control, or for horticulture- the art or practice of garden

Rahman5 cultivation and management (“Invasive alien species…”). Because trade in between foreign countries has increased over the past years, transportation of invasive species to new ecosystems has become more frequent and common.
Precautions and Preventions
Because the introduction of invasive species into new ecosystems is such a global and significant issue, the governments and scientists of multiple countries worldwide are taking action to prevent invasive species from spreading to non-native habitats. Due to the fact that only about five to eight percent of trade and cargo ships are being checked for stowaway invasive species, agreements are being made and discussed between countries on international foreign trade policies (“Stowaway Species”). Also, scientists have discovered a technique or method that will allow ninety percent of the microscopic organisms, living and being transported in ballast water of trade and cargo ships, to be removed (“Control and Management”). Government officials and scientists are taking precautions in order to prevent invasive species from spreading, as well as ordinary people. Steps that people can take towards decreasing the population of invasive species include knowing where the local administration center for invasive species is and their hotline telephone number for emergencies, researching the different types of invasive species commonly found in a certain area, and finally seeing if there are any possible or current invasive species in personal homes or backyards and neighborhoods, and learn how to properly dispose of them. This in return could possibly save lives and help to revive populations of native species that were previously extinct.
Conclusion

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Overall, invasive species mainly impact the population of native species in an ecosystem, human health, and the economy of countries, along with decreasing global biodiversity, availability of natural resources and many other necessities in the ecosystems, impacting trade and travel, and causing multiple health issues. However, with the right help and enough perseverance and guidance the population of invasive species in foreign countries can be decreased, biodiversity within the ecosystems can be increased, and the world can be made into a better, healthier, and safer place to live and prosper.

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Work Cited Page
Curlett, Heather. "Invasive Species Definition Clarification and Guidance White Paper." 23 June
2006. The National Invasive Species Council (NISC).
25 March 2014.
<http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/docs/council/isacdef.pdf>.
"Invasive Species ." 2009. Global Environmental Governance Project.
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<http://www.environmentalgovernance.org/research/issues/invasive-species/>.
Kitch, Troy. "What is an invasive species?" 27 February 2014. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
25 March 2014.
<http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/invasive.html>.
Sandlund, Odd Terje, Peter Johan Schei and Åslaug Viken,
Invasive Species and Biodiversity
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<http://books.google.com/books>.
"The Cost of Invasive Species." January 2012. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
25 March 2014.
<http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2012/pdfs/costofinvasivesfactsheet.pdf.>.
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European Environment
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<http://www.invasivespecies.gov>
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 6 April 2014.
<http://myfwc.com>
“Protecting Native Plants and Animals: Taking on the Invaders.”
The Nature Conservancy.
6 April 2014. <http://www.nature.org>

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“Stowaway Species.”
National Geographic. 6 April 2014. <education.nationalgeographic.com>