module 3: impacts of invasive species and ways to address them economic analysis of invasive species
TRANSCRIPT
Module 3:
Impacts of invasive species and ways to address them
Economic Analysis of Invasive Species
what this module covers
about invasive species
about invasive species Module 1Module 1
impacts of invasive species and ways to address them
impacts of invasive species and ways to address them Module 3Module 3
understanding the economic causes of invasions
understanding the economic causes of invasions Module 2Module 2
defining invasive-relatedcosts & benefits
defining invasive-relatedcosts & benefits Module 4Module 4
valuing ecosystem impacts
valuing ecosystem impacts Module 5Module 5
informing actionsto address invasives
informing actionsto address invasives Module 6Module 6
1. Understanding the impacts of invasive species
2. Types of impacts of species invasions
3. Prevention of biological invasions
4. Managing invasions
5. Ecosystem restoration
after invasion
Invasives threaten *terrestrial, *freshwater & *marine ecosystems with increasing or continuing impacts
Invasives will have increased impacts with increasing climate change
invasive species impacts on ecosystems
general impacts of IAS
Invading species affect ecosystems by altering or replacing natural systems through:
competition, exclusion, predation, parasitism, pathogenesis,
Alteration of: micro-climate, nutrient availability, ecosystem cycles (energy, water, minerals, organics) – affecting:
Ecosystem function, health, goods and services livelihoods, well-being, health, development
an example of spread and invasion impacts
In 1974 there was an occasional plant of Mimosa pigra on the edges of the Kafue River
Kafue Floodplain, Zambia, dry
Kafue Floodplain flooded
1974
1974
The Kafue Floodplain was home to many wild animals and plants + cattle grazing, fishing,
conservation& tourism
Mimosa pigra continued
A heavy flood in 1981/2 brought a few plants of Mimosa pigra on to the floodplain
(which was a new ecosystem changed by a dam upstream)
1982
Mimosa pigra continued
After a slow start in the late 1980s, M. pigra began to spread
By 2000 it was covering a few hundred hectares
2001
Mimosa pigra continued
By 2007 it was growing up to 4m high and covering 3,000 hectares
…. and excluding almost every other plant and most animals ….
2007
2007
Mimosa pigra continued
Today:
No livestock
No fisheries
No tourism on this part of the Kafue FloodplainCosts to
livelihoods and
production
3,000 ha of an available 12,000 ha are now covered
examples of invasion impacts
Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum), smothering bald cypress in Florida
terrestrial impacts
examples of invasion impacts
The Indian House Crow (Corvus splendens) has invaded most coastal cities in Eastern Africa
kills domestic and wild birds, spreads human diseases, raids food, destroys radio aerials, etc.
terrestrial
freshwater
Aquatic invasive plants foul drinking water, reduce fisheries, exclude other biodiversity, block waterways and water pipes, reduce oxygen, reduce sunlight…
Red Water Fern, Azolla filiculoides from South America – becoming widespread in Africa
freshwater
Freshwater fish
Introduced for aquaculture, escape into wild water systems, destroy vegetation and fish faunas and hybridize with local species – but benefit to some!
Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, far from the Nile in Zambia
impacts on production (eco)systems
Ecosystems, native or cultured, that are used for food and commodity production can also be invaded by alien species.
Forestry, fisheries, agriculture, aquaculture
Parasitism, pathogenesis, predation, competition, exclusion and destruction of productive systems are all recorded – most known from farming, horticulture and livestock production
Tall trees of Senna spectabilis from S. America replacing native forest in Uganda
impacts on marine systems
Such as:fishcrabsoystersprawnsbarnaclesmusselscomb jelliesseaweedsplankton
competition, exclusion, predation, fouling
Seaweed (Caulerpa taxifolia) invading a new site in the Mediterranean – D. Luguet, France
invasion impacts – human development
Water hyacinth affecting Kafue Gorge Dam and hydropower station, Zambia (photo M. Mumba)
invasion impacts – human development
e.g. water hyacinth:
• Increases water loss in dams
• Blocks water flows
• Jams hydropower generators
• Prevents water traffic
• Encourages snakes, crocodiles, etc.
• Suppresses fisheries and aquaculture
• Harbours vectors of human diseases
and there are invasives that are themselves human
pathogens – e.g. ebola, SARS, H5N1, etc.
management of invasions
To avoid or lessen the impacts of invasion, it makes sense to take one of the following courses of action:
1.Prevent their introduction
2.Eradicate a new invasion soonest
3.Contain a small, expanding invasion
4.Manage the impacts and the presence of an established invasion
The CBD tells us that No.1 is best and cheapest; No. 4 is “the last resort” – all have costs
prevention of invasions
Prevention is best done by stopping the introduction of likely invasive species – at the end of a pathway (module 1 and pathway types)
This requires a means to stop introduction, e.g. border inspections, quarantine, and a method to assess likely invasibility
Rigorous Risk Assessment can identify species that may become invasive in the intended area or ecosystem – then they can be stopped
Prevention of establishment, naturalisation and spread, once a species is introduced is possible in some cases, but more costly, needing capacity for “rapid response”
management/control of invasions
“Management” is required once a species has established an invasion and the impacts are becoming obvious and need to be reduced or removed = controlled
There are 4 main types of IAS control:
• Mechanical
• Chemical
• Biological control (biocontrol)
• Integrated control involving two or threeManagement requires agreed objectives by stakeholders to ensure successful results
mechanical controlClearing, cutting,
catching, trapping mechanically – by hand or with tools and traps or, sometimes with heavy and sophisticated machinery
Little non-target impact but often not sustainable – especially in plants with significant seed banks
Mechanical clearance of Lantana camara by hand
chemical controlAs the name implies, this involves herbicides,
poisons, pharmaceuticals, hormones (and pheromones), or any other chemicals that can reduce the population or vitality of invading micro-organisms, plants or animals
Chemical control has to be cautious to lessen the risk of affecting non-target organisms and polluting the environment – but can be very effective in some cases
While complete eradication of small invasive animals on islands has been effected with poisons, this method has drawbacks associated with dosages and applications in the field – especially on organisms that are not well-known
biological controlMany invading species are able to invade
because they have come to a new ecosystem without their native control organisms such as parasites, pathogens and predators
Biocontrol seeks to fill that void by using organisms from the invaders original “home” where it was “held in check”
Such organisms are tested for species specificity, introduced through quarantine, bred in large numbers, released on or near the target invasive species ….
… and left to carry out control (with monitoring to measure survival, spread and success)
Biocontrol of agricultural invaders are best known – as are the insect control agents for invading water hyacinth
integrated control
This is a combination of control measures designed to make the most of the benefits of each method
For example, effective biocontrol can weaken the ability of an invading species to complete with local biota. If this is combined with mechanical and chemical control to stop expansion, or to manage critical habitats, the overall effect can be beneficial to the invaded ecosystem – as well as becoming self-sustaining
but all control has costs:
Photos by Griffin Shanungu, Pilot site coordinator, Barriers project, Zambia
Mechanical clearing and burning of Mimosa pigra on the Kafue Floodplain (discussed earlier)
40 field workers worked for 17 weeks to clear 31 ha of mimosa for a total cost of $34,250 – invasion is 30,000 ha
benefits of invasive speciesSome biological invasions bring benefits as
well as costs – to local people and development, e.g.
• Water hyacinth can be used for biogas, compost, stock food, furniture
• Mesquite can reduce erosion, produce timber and charcoal
• Lantana stems are used for chicken cages• Australian rabbits can be eaten – as well as
feral pigs and goats
But it is rare that the benefits exceed the costs or can pay for the necessary control
ecosystem restoration
Amongst the objectives for invasive species management, there is often a wish to return the affected system to its original status
This requires a set of actions together referred to as ecosystem restoration – including:- returning lost species, understanding biological succession, and, addressing needs of stakeholders
The use of other potentially invasive species should not be used – even if it can speed up the restoration!
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