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Foreign Invaders in the Louisiana Wetlands. Nutria's History. 1930s - Nutria was released, imported from fur farms to Louisiana 1940s - Population grew and reports of damage were reported, nutria started to control aquatic plants 1950s
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Foreign Invaders in the Louisiana Wetlands
Nutria's History 1930s - Nutria was released, imported from fur farms to Louisiana 1940s - Population grew and reports of damage were reported, nutria started to control aquatic plants 1950s - Nutria started destroying everything, taken off the list of protected wildlife 1960s to 1980s - Fur industry grew and was returned to the protected wildlife list and promoted as a natural resource
Description of Nutria • Smaller than a beaver but larger than a muskrat • Forelegs are small compared to the body • Males are larger than females • Small black eyes • curved orange teeth • long rat looking tails
Nutria • Nutria denudes natural levees • Damages sugarcane fields • Nutria gnawed through 800,000 acres of marshes in the past 70 years in Louisiana • Nutria has cost money, we pay a lot of money to rebuild our marshes but then the nutria destroys it again • Nutria eats the base of marsh plants and it permanently destroys the plant • Solution to stop Nutria, fishers get $5 for every Nutria tail
Hydrilla History • Brought to the United States from Eurasia • Native to Asia, southern Europe, and Africa • Brought here as an aquarium plant • Spreads underground by the roots • Spreads also when stems break off of the plant • Hydrilla was introduced to the US in the 1950s – 1960s
Hydrilla • Places where Hydrilla is found- Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and many other states • Hydrilla is a very hard plant to control • Hydrilla impacts aquatic ecosystems because making thick canopies that shade out vegetation • States pay million of dollars to control Hydrilla • Forms dense mats in different freshwater habitats
Eurasian Watermilfoil History • The Eurasian Watermilfoil plant originates from Europe and Asia • It was introduced to North America through the aquarium industry • Eurasian Watermilfoil may have arrived in the 1800s • Was documented in North America in the 1940s
Eurasian Watermilfoil • Grows in Aquatic plant beds • Rooted at the bottom of the lake and grows fast creating canopies • affects wildlife and fish population • The Eurasian Watermilfoil plant canopy at the water surface, blocks sunlight and reduces light penetration • This plant forms very thick at the waters surface, interferes with fishing and boating • Once it has established it growth it is almost impossible to remove • Slows water flow in canals
Importance of Wetlands • The wetlands sustain more life than any other ecosystem • Wetlands help animals because it helps them to develop new adaption's and they can cope with life where the water is critical • Provides habitats for animals and plants • Performs natural cleansing functions • Removes pollutants from the surface by retaining • Protects us from Hurricanes
Sources http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/plants/docs/hy_verti.html http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306094624.htm http://www.nutria.com/site4.php http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/csl/inf/inf037_e.html http://www.invasive.org/eastern/biocontrol/6EurasianMilfoil.html http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/weeds/milfoil.html http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/02/nutria_nation_marsheating_crit.html http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-12-22-nutria_N.htm http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/hydrilla.shtml http://www.ecy.wa.gov/PROGRAMS/WQ/plants/weeds/hydrilla.html http://www.nutria.com/site2.php http://www.mciap.org/herbarium/Hydrilla.php http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/lakes/plants/weed-identification/eurasian-watermilfoil.aspx http://www.naturalsciences.org/education/treks/birds%20of%20winter/images/Napping%20Nutria.jpg http://www.ncwater.org/Education_and_Technical_Assistance/Aquatic_Weed_Control/hydrilla.jpg http://www.aqua-fish.net/imgs/plants/eurasian-watermilfoil.jpg http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/img/mysp1.jpg http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=57&surveynumber=182