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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF INVASIVE SPECIES
In the late 1800s, America imported Japanese hops for medicine and gardens; escaped vines can now form 4-foot-thick blankets with thousands of plants per acreIntroduced to the United States in the late 1800s, Japanese hops were initially valued for their ornamental and medicinal qualities. Howeve...- Over 30,000 species face critical danger: Amazon's Jeff Bezos backs $500 million wildlife plan, but one key detail is missingLaunched at the UN Biodiversity Conference, the New Species Recovery Alliance has garnered a substantial pledge of $500 million. This colla...
- Before 1850, Americans grew Dyer’s woad for blue dye; in the Great Basin, one infestation later grew from 12,000 to 150,000 acres in eight yearsDyer's woad, once used for blue dye, has become an invasive species in the American West. This plant produces a high number of seeds and th...
- Lake Champlain began killing invasive sea lampreys in 1990; native lake trout survival rose 25%, and Atlantic salmon returns to the main lake fishery tripledLake Champlain experienced significant ecological harm due to the invasive sea lamprey, which posed a threat to local fish populations. How...
- In 1935, Australian government released 2,400 toads to destroy crop-eating beetles. Almost 100 years later, 200 million giant toads threaten 75 wildlife speciesSometimes, a solution can become an impending disaster. In the 1930s, the Australia government released more than 2000 cane toads imported ...
- In the 1950s, California brought in Cape ivy as an ornamental vine; it spread across 500,000+ acres, cutting native seedling variety by as much as 95%Cape ivy, introduced to California in the 1950s for ornamental purposes, has turned into a destructive invasive species. Its rapid growth s...
- By the late 1700s, European periwinkles had reached America; planted as ornamental ground cover, escaped plants covered 29,254 acres across 12 Southern states by 2008European periwinkles, once introduced to enhance gardens in the US, have become a troublesome invasive species in natural habitats. Their s...
- Nevada removed invasive blue tilapia from Moapa dace habitat from 2009 to 2012; the endangered fish later returned to an 868-meter stretch where it had vanishedConservation efforts in Nevada have successfully removed invasive blue tilapia to protect the native Moapa dace fish. After targeted remova...
- Connecticut began clearing an invasive reed from Highstead Pond in 2012; 98% was killed, and by 2017 native plant richness around the pond had increased 39%Highstead Preserve embarked on an ambitious multi-year project aimed at controlling the invasive common reed to foster the growth of native...
- In East Texas, excluding feral hogs from forest plots for 7 years more than doubled the abundance of woody plant species with large seedsIn the Big Thicket National Preserve, feral hogs significantly disrupt forest ecosystems by consuming seeds and disturbing soil. A study re...
- Researchers release a 16ft and 150-pound female Burmese python into the Greater Everglades to test a technology that might help remove snakes of her own speciesResearchers at the US Geological Survey have released a radio-tagged Burmese python into the Everglades. This experiment aims to improve tr...
- In the 1700s, European teasel reached America, including a type used to finish cloth; today it grows in 43 of 48 lower states, and one plant can make 2,000+ seedsIntroduced to North America in the 1700s for its valuable role in the textile industry, teasel quickly outgrew its intended purpose, becomi...
- Ted Turner was 10 when National Geographic inspired him to save bison. He has now protected over 2 million acres of land, restored native and endangered wildlifeTed Turner, motivated by a childhood encounter with a National Geographic article, embarked on his passionate journey of conservation by st...
- In 1848, California nursery operators brought pampas grass to Santa Barbara; it spread across the state, and one stand can release millions of seeds each yearPampas grass made its debut in California in 1848, admired for its striking appearance as an ornamental plant. However, its vigorous reprod...
- America brought yellow flag iris in for gardens; it escaped into wetlands, reached more than 40 states, and now congests water flow while crowding out native plantsThe yellow flag iris, first brought to North America in the 1800s, quickly evolved from an ornamental plant to a widespread ecological thre...
- Researchers removed invasive Japanese stiltgrass from 8 Indiana forest sites; native plant diversity rose 24%, while herbicide-treated plots had 123% greater tree seedling density than controlsThe spread of Japanese stiltgrass across eastern forests poses a significant threat to the diversity of native plants. Research indicates t...
- In 1921, America introduced cogongrass as a forage crop; later used for soil control, the invasive grass now covers more than 1 million acres in FloridaCogongrass was brought to the United States in the early 20th century with the noble goal of supporting agriculture and curbing erosion. Ho...
- In 2002, black rats were eradicated from Hawaii's Mokoliʻi islet; after just one shearwater chick survived from 1999 to 2001, 126 fledged in 2002 and 185 in 2003Mokoliʻi was once severely impacted by invasive black rats, which posed major risks to seabird species. In 2002, after dedicated conservati...
- Amur honeysuckle arrived in America as an ornamental shrub; it later became a major invasive concern in forests across the northern United StatesIntroduced over a century ago, Amur honeysuckle quickly spread across the United States as an ornamental plant, but its aggressive growth h...
- In 1998, an Iowa couple bought land to restore a lost landscape; 25 years later, it became home to hundreds of plant and wildlife speciesJim grew up on a dairy farm, and spent much of his childhood outdoors. He studies natural sciences teaching and earned a master's degree in...
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