Invasive Species

“Invasive species affect each of our lives, all regions of the U.S., and every nation in the world. Society pays a great price for invasive species – costs measured not just in dollars, but also in unemployment, damaged goods and equipment, power failures, food and water shortages, environmental degradation, increased rates and severity of natural disasters, disease epidemics, and even lost lives. Stimulated by the rapid global expansion of trade, transport, and travel, invasive species and their costs to society are increasing at an alarming rate.” (Cohen, A.N. and J.T. Carlton. 1998)
Invasive species are non-native species that can cause harm to the environment or to human health. The invasive species task force adopted the definition of invasive species, “Non-native to the ecosystem under consideration, and; whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” which is similar to my above mentioned definition.   Invasive species have caused many problems in the past, are causing problems now, and pose threats to our future.
Why are invasive species in general a problem? Well according to the Native Plants and Species conservation, many of NY’s plants and animal species are non-native. (About 1/3 of our plants are native to other places other than NY) Most of the species we know as food crops, livestock, pets, landscaping, and garden plants cause no significant harm to our economy, environment or health. However there are those species that carry over diseases. Such as, pathogens which lead to organisms like diseases, viruses, and bacteria. Invasive species are not new; the increase in globalization is increasing dramatically, the rate of invasion by invasive species is also increasing as well.
One of the lesser known causes of extinction, the invasion of non-native species in particular areas has resulted in extinction of species endemic to that region because when a new species is introduced in a particular...