Invasive Species in the United States
The United States is the third largest country in the world. With such a large land mass, it’s easy to understand why each region has drastically different climates. Summers in Arizona reach temperatures more than 35° C, while winters in Alaska can reach negative 35° C. These temperatures may sound extreme, but they allow many different species to thrive in every corner of the country. With polar bears in the north and tropical lizards in the south, nearly 3,000 types of animals call the United States their home.
Unfortunately, many new and unwelcome species of animals have started calling the United States their home too. Over the past century, humankind has introduced invasive species, either intentionally or unintentionally. The initial introduction of these animals may have seemed harmless, but over time, invasive species destroy the ecological balance of many habitats around the country. They disturb food chains, the growth of native plants, and even the everyday lives of the surrounding communities.
In order to understand why and how invasive species disturb the natural ecology of the United States, it’s important to look at historical examples of invasive species introduction and why the spread of invasive species has accelerated with globalization. Before trade and travel became easy, the movement of species was intentional. People would bring along non-native animals to use as game, for companionship, and for food.
Today, the transfer of new animals into different continents is usually unintentional. In our globalized world, increased trade has offered increased opportunities for animals and plants to hop on board of boats, ships, and trucks and to cross countries unnoticed. Here are the stories of how some invasive species have hopped borders and created imbalance in their ecosystems.
Burmese Python
Photo: National Geographic
In the 1980s, the exotic pet industry was booming in Florida. In the early 1990s, a large hurricane destroyed a breeding facility for Burmese pythons, and as a result, some got loose in the Florida Everglades. Because of the danger that the pythons pose to local residents, the state of Florida now allows hunting without the standard permit. Thankfully, they are not venomous, but they still pose a danger to native species and ecological balance.
Starling
Starlings were released into the United States by a Shakespeare superfan. As a part of his project, he planned to honor a line from Henry IV: “Nay, I'll have a starling shall be taught to speak nothing but Mortimer, and give it to him to keep his anger still in motion.” Released into Central Park in New York, starlings have since spread to every state. Not only do they flock in very large numbers that causes an overload on ecosystems, but their behavior and their physical density has caused problems for the aerospace industry. Flocks of the birds have accidentally crossed paths with planes and caused severe and deadly crashes.
Asian Carp
Photo: Circle of Blue
After accidentally escaping from a fishery and being intentionally released to consume algae, Asian carp spread throughout the Mississippi River and beyond. Today, four types of Asian carp can be found in U.S. waters. Though the carp are bothersome to fishers, they cause substantial damage to the surrounding ecosystems. They outcompete other fish for food and space. Growing up to 30 pounds and living up to 20 years in the wild, Asian carp will likely be an ongoing nuisance.
Lionfish
Originally from the Indo-Pacific region, lionfish have recently started to move into the Atlantic and Mediterranean Oceans. Outside of natural currents taking lionfish away from their natural habitat, some experts believe that people have been dumping unwanted pet lionfish into the Atlantic Ocean for the past few decades. Because of their poisonous spikes and skin, they do not have any natural predators off of the east coast, causing overpopulation. They also consume more than 50 species of fish, including some ecologically important species.
Lanternfly
The spotted lanternfly is among the most recent invasive species found in the United States. Before making its way to the Western hemisphere, it was accidentally introduced to Korea. In September 2014, it was first recorded in the United States, and now, it is a common pest in eastern Pennsylvania. The lantern fly poses the largest ecological threat to tree diversity. According to Penn State University, the spotted lanternfly uses its piercing-sucking mouthpart to feed on sap from over 70 different plant species.
As a Pennsylvanian from one of the first counties to document lanternflies, I found that it was my responsibility in preventing the spread of lanternflies to other areas of the country. Whenever I saw the bug, I tried to step on it, and if I saw eggs, I removed them from the tree. Though it may seem cruel, killing a little bug here and there is better than having the invasive species kill the entire ecosystem. Alongside word-of-mouth communication about how dangerous lanternflies were to native flora and fauna, there were many signs and advertisements reminding residents to report sightings and to kill the bugs.
American citizens and citizens around the world should carefully watch the ecosystems outside of their homes. If something seems out of place, it's important to inspect the changes and later notify local government officials to address the issue. Outside of individual action, policymakers should consider more thorough customs checks and regulations that reduce the trade of live animals and plants. Despite the efforts of existing laws, like the Alien Species Prevention and Enforcement Act of 1992 in the United States, invasive species still make their way across transnational borders somehow. Possibly, world leaders should consider collaborating and creating more checkpoints for cargo, but for the time being, it’s important that we are all diligent in preventing the spread of invasive species. For further reading, make sure to check out Pest Tracker and resources for National Invasive Species Awareness Week.
Vocabulary list:
mass (n.) - a large object with an indefinite shape
thrive (v.) - to flourish or grow quickly
lizard (n.) - a small reptile that lives in the trees
invasive (adj.) - something that is undesired or unwanted
intentionally (adv.) - on purpose or with thought
initial (adj.) - the first contact
ecological (adj.) - relating to the study of ecology, concerning the ecosystem and the individual components that function within it
habitat (n.) - the spot where a group of organisms live
accelerate (v.) - to speed up or happen quickly
globalization (n.) - the process by which individuals, corporations, and governments have become interconnected through the growth of communication and information systems
exotic (adj.) - something from a foreign or distant origin
hurricane (n.) - an extreme weather phenomenon characterized by high winds and rain
venomous (adj.) - capable of stinging or biting and secreting a venom/poison
flock (v. and n.) - the act of congregating in a large group, or a large number of birds together
density (n.) - how compact a substance is
aerospace (n.) - concerning aviation with planes or space
algae (n.) - a green aquatic plant that grows on top of water like a film
nuisance (n.) - something that is bothersome or annoying to deal with
poisonous (adj.) - able to cause death or injury by coming into contact with
pest (n.) - a destructive plant, insect, or small animal that attacks food or livestock
cruel (adj.) - causing pain or suffering
“word-of-mouth” (phrase) - the way that an idea can be spread through everyday conversation and interactions between people
“flora and fauna” (phrase) - flora refers to plants, while fauna refers to animals
inspect (v.) - to look at something closely to study its condition
customs (n.) - the department that is in charge of tracking all goods and service crossing a country’s border
transnational (adj.) - something between countries or at the international level
cargo (n.) - goods in transit, being carried by boat, truck, or plane
diligent (adj.) - putting in a sustained and honest effort to accomplish a task or goal
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bridgette Lang is an undergraduate student studying International Relations at Boston University. On campus, she helps run a collegiate Model United Nations Conference and manages finances for BU College Democrats. In her free time, Bridgette enjoys traveling, trying to learn Spanish, and visiting with her friends and family back home in Pennsylvania.