Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
6-24-2010
Citation
Invasive Species Advisory Committee, approved on June 24, 2010
Also available at https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/isac_marine_bioinvasions_white_paper.pdf
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Invasive species are second only to habitat destruction as the greatest cause of species endangerment and global biodiversity loss. Invasive species can cause severe and permanent damage to the ecosystems they invade. Consequences of invasion include competition with or predation upon native species, hybridization, carrying or supporting harmful pathogens and parasites that may affect wildlife and human health, disturbing ecosystem function through alteration of food webs and nutrient recycling rates, acting as ecosystem engineers and altering habitat structure, and degradation of the aesthetic quality of our natural resources. In many cases we may not fully know the native animals and plants in an area. For example, Aureophycus aleuticus, a large kelp was just described with similar discoveries of new taxa in many other latitudes. Invasive species have the potential to permanently change ecosystems before we fully understand the native communities. Recent studies suggest that invasive species share similar traits that allow for easier establishment in habitats that become disrupted by climate change. The examples below highlight some of the ongoing and expected changes to marine ecosystems that may occur as a result of the interactions between global climate change and biological invasion.
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Comments
United States government work