Managing Invasive Species
Keagan Felker
A major issue our society is facing today is invasive species taking over native habitats and populations. The invaders are out-competing native species for resources such as water, food, land, space, and shelter. This is a threat because the native species will eventually be wiped out of their habitat by these intruders.
This is all happening primarily because of unintentional introduction to an area. For example, plants are usually introduced to an area by accidental seeding which most commonly consists of plants being formerly introduced for ornamental purposes or “escaping” from plant nurseries. This means that a plant or its seeds are transported or carried to another location where they “make themselves at home” and are grown and end up taking over the native species and their environment. Another example would be aquatic organisms such as mussels, crayfish, etc. applying themselves to boats, ships, skidoos, or other types of aquatic transportation-and that’s why boaters are supposed to clean their vessel of any aquatic organisms that may be occupying it, this most commonly done by holding mandatory inspections that are in affect for boaters throughout the state.
Invasive species are a national nuisance-this problem is affecting people and countries all over the world. There are countless numbers of species invading the native populations of the world.
One specific example that came up was when Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was accidentally introduced to eastern North America by early settlers in the 1800’s for their gardens and as an ornamental and medicinal plant. Another example is when zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were first introduced to the Great Lakes in 1988 by boaters and sailors traveling through different waterways.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado Department of Natural Resources are involved in statewide studies and the management of invasive species in Colorado. Invasive species affect everyone. They affect everyone because they can have an impact on food supplies (crops), the land, and all together how we live our lives.
Keagan Felker
A major issue our society is facing today is invasive species taking over native habitats and populations. The invaders are out-competing native species for resources such as water, food, land, space, and shelter. This is a threat because the native species will eventually be wiped out of their habitat by these intruders.
This is all happening primarily because of unintentional introduction to an area. For example, plants are usually introduced to an area by accidental seeding which most commonly consists of plants being formerly introduced for ornamental purposes or “escaping” from plant nurseries. This means that a plant or its seeds are transported or carried to another location where they “make themselves at home” and are grown and end up taking over the native species and their environment. Another example would be aquatic organisms such as mussels, crayfish, etc. applying themselves to boats, ships, skidoos, or other types of aquatic transportation-and that’s why boaters are supposed to clean their vessel of any aquatic organisms that may be occupying it, this most commonly done by holding mandatory inspections that are in affect for boaters throughout the state.
Invasive species are a national nuisance-this problem is affecting people and countries all over the world. There are countless numbers of species invading the native populations of the world.
One specific example that came up was when Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was accidentally introduced to eastern North America by early settlers in the 1800’s for their gardens and as an ornamental and medicinal plant. Another example is when zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were first introduced to the Great Lakes in 1988 by boaters and sailors traveling through different waterways.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado Department of Natural Resources are involved in statewide studies and the management of invasive species in Colorado. Invasive species affect everyone. They affect everyone because they can have an impact on food supplies (crops), the land, and all together how we live our lives.