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Throughout the years, many different type on introduced species have impacted the world and native species in one way or another. These few species are thought to be some of the worst introduced species yet.
Feral pigs are considered to be a bad introduced species. Although they were introduced through farming, many escaped. These pigs would tear through large chunks of land in order to find food, which would in turn negatively impact plant species, for their roots would be damaged and the plant would die, which would also harm species that rely on the plants for nourishment. These pigs would also consume cropland, causing millions of dollars of damage every year. In specific places, they would eat the native species eggs, causing their numbers to decrease. A location of example is Santiago Island, where sea turtle numbers were drastically reduced because of the eggs being consumed by the pigs.
Zebra mussles are also thought to be one of the worst introduced species. The zebra mussel, which is native to western Asia, was introduced into Europe during the 1700's. They were then introduced into North America by a European ship that accidentally released them into the Great Lakes. They caused millions of dollars in damage by colonizing water intake pipes which would then become clogged. There is also competition for food between them, and the native species.However, one of the worst introduced species is the European rabbit. These rabbits were introduced by choice, when a hunter names Thomas Austin released twenty-four of the animals in order to have variety in the animals he would shoot. While other farmers also released rabbits, it is thought that Austin was responsible for the infestation. This human impact caused a horrible infestation that not only caused agricultural damage, but also helped contribute by nurturing many other non-native species such as foxes, or feral cats, which further damaged Australia's ecosystem.
Response: I never knew the damage caused by these species! it is truly amazing that these animals were very close in causing the extinction of others. It also surprised me that people released one by choice! I cannot believe that people would stoop so low just to get a thrill.
QUESTIONS:
1. Who released the European Rabbit?
2. Why are Zebra Mussels a threat?
3. What happened on Santiago Island?
4. How many European rabbits were released?
Wow, I remember learing about the zebra mussels t=when i was in elementry school. That's actually pretty funny. i think that sometimes you can have good introduced species and then you can have bad ones like Miguel had said before. I truely never knew that feral pigs wer not from here. i guess you learn something new everyday!
ReplyDeleteAnswers-
1. Thomas Austin
2. They were clogging up all of the water intake pipes.
3. Sea turtle numbers drasticaly decreased because the pigs were eating the turtles eggs
4. 24
These invasive species are so harmful! I never realized that they could cause so much harm. However, most of these introductions were purposeful of humans, which amazed me, becauseI never realized that they could be so thoughtless. Well, hopefully, these species will soon be contained.
ReplyDelete1) Thomas Austin
2) they clogged the water pipes
3)the sea turtles deacresed in size because pigs were eating them
4) 24
When readin this i still had no idea what a ferral rabbit looked like so i looked it up (below). I really think its amazing how many of these species can harm the earth. Before this class i really had no idea that species could harm the enviroment till now. But like lauren said i think some of species can be introduced and be good to the enviroment.
ReplyDelete1. thomas austin
2. the musselos were clogging the water pipes
3.Since the pigs were eating the sea turtles it made their numbers decrease.
4. 24
http://www.hunt-cons.asn.au/feral_pests_table.htm
response
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that people introduce animals into the wild that they will harm the local ecosystem. Also some of the time the speices being introduced by people didn't know at all that they were destroying the ecosystem
1)Thomas Austin
2)they are competing for food and clog water pipes
3)sea turtle numbers were drastically reduced becuse the pigs ate the turtle eggs
4)24