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29 September, 2009 lecture; C. Pringle, ECL 6080. The Age of Exotic Specie a.k.a. The Homogocene, McDonaldization of the globe; a planet of weeds Hybrid/mixed habitats of natives and invasives; dominance of invasives in some regions and
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29 September, 2009 lecture; C. Pringle, ECL 6080 • The Age of Exotic Specie • a.k.a. • The Homogocene, McDonaldization of the globe; a planet of weeds • Hybrid/mixed habitats of natives and invasives; • dominance of invasives in some regions and • patches of relict native fauna/flora in others? • Complex changes in evolution of wildlife
Case Study: Exotic species in the Great Lakes of North America
Sea Lamprey (1830s) -native to Atlantic Coast -caused decline of native lake trout -hitched a ride attached to hull of boat
Lamprey on Lake Trout: -$12 million/yr spent on controlling lamprey treatment of larvae with lampricides electric barriers release of sterile males during spawning runs
Purple Loosestrife (1869) -native to Europe -solid ships ballast -spread via canals and railroad tracks
Alewife (1873) -native to Atlantic -once free of predaceous Lake Trout, pushed native fishes (white fish, bloater, yellow perch) into decline
Chinook Salmon (1873) -native to the west coast -purposefully introduced -stocked in all lakes but Superior since 1967
-preys on native Great Lakes fishes -valuable sports fish
Common Carp (1879) -native of Europe -destroys habitat of native fish species and waterfowl
Brown Trout (1883) -native of Europe -purposefully introduced for sports fishing
Furunculosis (<1902) -disease pathogen infecting native fishes -problem in hatcheries and introduced with stocked exotics -
COHO SALMON (1933) -native to the west coast -Introduced as a sports fish -now reproducing naturally
White Perch (1950) -migrated into Great Lakes via Eerie canal -competes with native fishes
Eurasian Watermilfoil (1952) -competes with native plants -affects recreational use of water
Glugea hertwigi (1960) -parasitizes fishes -introduced with stocked fishes
Eurasian Ruffe (1986) -native to Europe -introduced in ballast water -competes with native fishes
Zebra Mussel (1988) -native of Caspian and Black Seas -invaded via water ballast
Forewarnings of the spread of Zebra Mussels: The Dreissena is perhaps better fitted for dissemination by man and subsequent establishment than any other freshwater shell; tenacity of life unusually rapid propagation, the faculty of becoming attached by string byssus to extraneous substances, and the power of adapting itself to strange and altogether artificial surroundings have combined to make it one of the most successful molluscan colonissts in the world. -Kew (1893) The possibility of the zebra mussel being introduced [to the US) is very great. There is entirely too much reckless dumping of aquariea into our ponds and streams. A number of foreign freshwater shells, etc., have been introduced in this way. Why not the mussel? -Johnson (1921) There is the real possibility that Dreissena polymorpha will eventually become established in the North American continent despite all efforts to prevent introduction of exotic species. -Sinclair (1964)