Invasive Species in Texas

1. Invasive Species in Texas TEK: Predict how an invasive species may alter the food chain/ecosystem.

2. Presentation Outline • What is an invasive species? • How many are there in Texas? • What are some examples? • How do they get here? • What problems have they caused? • How can we control them?

3. CFA: Invasive Species Write down these questions and answer them at the end of the powerpoint. • Name three characteristics that define an invasive species. • Name an example of how they can be introduced. • Give one example of how they can effect a food chain/ecosystem. • List three examples of invasive species in Texas.

4. What is an Invasive Species? • It is a species that is usually non-native to this area and causes harm to the local ecosystem. • It can out-compete native species for resources and cause native species to go extinct or become endangered. • It can cause economic damage through harming livestock, crops, personal property, or even water supplies. • They typically DO NOT have a natural predator to keep their population in check and they usually can reproduce very quickly.

5. Problem Scope How Many Invasive Species Are There in Texas? • 67 terrestrial plants • 12 aquatic/wetland plants • 10 mammals • 4 birds • 7 fishes • 11 insects • 11 mollusks and crustaceans Rauschuber C. 2002. List of invasive species in Texas. Appendix to Invasive Species - Texas. Compiled from many sources. Texas economy is dependent on industries that are affected by invasive species. • Agriculture - $3.35 billion • Ranching - $8.59 billion • Fishing - $293 million dollars • Mariculture - $600 million

6. Problem Scope The Worst of the Worst • Saltcedar Hydrilla • Giant Salvinia • Red Imported Fire Ant • Nutria • Wild hogs • Zebra Mussel Not Yet Established • Snakehead fish • Brown tree snake • Asian lake mussel Texas has no single authority that addresses invasive species policy.

7. Zebra Mussels Fire Ant

8. Wild Hog Salt Cedar

9. Hydrilla Nutria

10. Giant Salvinia

11. How did they get here? About the Partnership • Red Imported Fire Ant –came by boat in infested goods shipped from South America in the 1930s. • Zebra Mussels – From Russia came to the Great Lakes area in the ballast water of ships and then by personal boats down to Texas. • Hydrilla Released aquarium plant. • Salt Cedar – Ornamental landscape tree. • Nutria – Introduced for their fur. • Most invasive species were brought by accident or were not intended to spread.

12. What problems do they cause? • Salt Cedars – reproduce quickly secrete salt that gets into the soil and doesn’t let other plants grow. • Fire Ants – Destroy crops and kill native animals, no predators. • Zebra Mussels – disturb nutrient levels of lakes and can clog pipes and dams. • Wild Pigs – uproot crops and trees

13. How can we control them? • Pesticides??? – introduction of new chemicals – what else are you killing? • Herbicides?? – More chemicals – salt cedars can sprout from roots, so you better get the roots. • Introduce a natural predator (Salvia Weevil)…now you might have two invasive species. • Restrict entry – best method so far

14. CFA Answer these questions in your notebook. • Name three characteristics that define an invasive species. • Name an example of how they can be introduced. • Give one example of how they can effect a food chain/ecosystem. • List three examples of invasive species in Texas.