Expert answer:Invasive Species in the Everglades
Expert answer:What are the main causes of invasive species in the Everglades and what has been the effect? What are possible solutions for this issue?Begin reading and looking at the web-based data provided.http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/nonnativespecies.htmhttp://www.evergladescisma.org/Florida Invaders PDF (attached)You should confine yourself to using these approved data sources. As you work, consider what problem the data is highlighting. What are the main causes of this problem? This will be the first part of your paper. After you have spent time looking over and contemplating the data, you will begin researching solutions to each cause you identified. Keep in mind that each of these issues is multi-faceted, with a great many contributing factors. You need to identify at least three factors from the data provided, and come up with three viable solutions to those factors. As you write, frame your thoughts as if you are proposing the solutions to a committee and trying to convince them that your chosen solutions are the best. You may consider not just the scientific validity and effectiveness of your solution, but also financial, social and environmental impacts as well. This should be done as a costs/benefits type of analysis. Wrap your paper up by summarizing the issues and providing a general statement as the long-term outlook on this problem. How long will it take to correct this issue? How likely is that to happen? Paper Requirements Typed, double spaced, size 12 Times New Roman (or similar)Length 3-5 pagesInclude a full bibliography in APA format (does not count towards your page count) with each source includedInclude in-text citations for information garnered from your sourcesExplain the problem and highlight at least 3 main causes of the problemDescribe solutions to each identified causeEvaluate each solution in a costs/benefits manner. Why is this solution the best?Highlight the long-term outlook and implications of this problem. Why should we care?
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Question.
A fossilized fish jaw had 2100 grams of c-14 in it when it was created. It now has 265 grams of c-14. How
old is the fossil?
Solution.
We first determine the fraction of c-14 remaining:
=
265
2100
=0.12619
We then determine the number of half-lives that have elapsed.
1
( ) = 0.12619
2
log 0.5 = log 0.12619
=
log 0.12619
log 0.5
= 2.986330507 half-lives
We then determine the amount of time that has elapsed
C-14 has a half-life of 530 years therefore
=2.986330507*5730 years= 17111.67381 years
Therefore the fossil is 17111.674 years old.
South Florida Edition
Produced by the National Park Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Invaders
A Joint Publication of the National Park Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
What’s at Stake
Definitions
In 2012, more than 91 million visitors arrived by land, sea and air to enjoy
a taste of our subtropical paradise. A great place to visit, south Florida is also
an inviting destination for a few undesirable species– and they threaten to
undermine the health of our environment. More than an inconvenience, invasive
plants and animals can greatly alter our native landscape, adversely impact
native wildlife, destroy agricultural crops and threaten our health.
NATIVE species are plants and animals that establish themselves in an area
through natural means without the aid of humans. Synonym: indigenous.
Invasions of exotic species cost Floridians over $500 million each year. We
spend more than $50 million annually just to eradicate exotic weeds from our
fields, pastures, canals, ponds, lakes, rivers and greens. And the economic costs
are small potatoes compared to the ecological ones.
In south Florida, millions of acres of public lands help secure a unique quality
of life for both tourists and residents. A diverse array of federal and state parks
and preserves not only protect the world-renowned Everglades ecosystem, they
furnish us with the water we drink, the air we breathe and countless recreational
opportunities. Our nearby public lands are easy for us to visit but are also highly
vulnerable to invasion by exotic plant and animal species– more than 1.7 million
acres of Florida’s natural areas have become infested.
Once an exotic species has made itself at home, giving it the old heave-ho
is costly. Education, prevention, early detection and rapid
response are the keys to protecting the Sunshine State. Success depends upon
the involvement of government agencies, a variety of organizations, businesses
and you! Learn more about how you can help at DontLetItLoose.org.
EXOTIC species are not native to Florida and are introduced by human
activity. They are brought in either intentionally, as ornamentals or pets, or
accidentally, as hitchhikers that arrive at airports, seaports or through the
mail. Florida’s first European settlers brought plants and animals from their
homelands including wheat, oranges, cattle and horses. Species have always
moved around the globe, and the majority are not problematic. It is today’s
enormous volume of global trade and travel that provides an unprecedented
opportunity for species to invade. One third of all plant species in Florida are
now exotic. Synonyms: alien, introduced, nonnative and nonindigenous.
INVASIVE EXOTIC species are not constrained by the natural factors that
existed in their native habitats– other native species, diseases and predators.
Their rapid growth and spread has the potential of altering what remains of
Florida’s natural areas, resulting in economic or environmental harm or harm
to human health and well being. Fortunately, most exotic species are not
invasive. Our concern is with those exotic species that have already become
invasive or that are likely to become invasive in the future. Synonyms:
invasive, pest or nuisance species.
“More than an inconvenience, invasive plants and animals can greatly alter our native
landscape, adversely impact native wildlife, destroy agricultural crops and threaten our health.”
Credits
Authors:
Reviewers:
Sandy Beck, Alice Clarke, Larry Perez, Denise Feiber
Editor: Alice Clarke
Designers: Larry Perez, Joy Brunk
Jill Austin, Liz Compton, Larry Conner, Hillary Cooley, Joan Dusky, Jenny Ketterlin Eckles, Denise Feiber, Judy Gillan,
Scott Hardin, Lori Haynes, Jeff Kline, Jenny Novak, Vanessa McDonough, Don Schmitz, Lucinda Scott, Skip Snow
Funded by: South Florida Natural Resources Center, Everglades National Park; South Florida National Parks Trust;
Florida Power & Light Company
Published by: Everglades National Park and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission First Edition 2008. Second Edition 2013.
NPS.gov
Additional Organizations Waging War on Invasive Exotic Species
The Nature Conservancy
tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/index.html
Invasive Species Working Group
www.ISWGfla.org
The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
www.fleppc.org
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
plants.ifas.ufl.edu
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
edis.ifas.ufl.edu
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
dep.state.fl.us/lands/invaspec/index.htm
Florida Department of Transportation
www.MyFloridaBeautiful.com
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
doacs.state.fl.us
Northwest Florida Water Management District
nwfwmd.state.fl.us
Southwest Florida Water Management District
swfwmd.state.fl.us
South Florida Water Management District
www.sfwmd.gov
St. Johns River Water Management District
sjr.state.fl.us
Suwanee River Water Management District
www.srwmd.state.fl.us
U.S. Geological Survey
www.usgs.gov
Florida Power & Light Company
www.fpl.com
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov
U.S. Department of Agriculture
www.aphis.usda.gov
Miami-Dade County
www.miamidade.gov
Broward County
www.broward.org
Monroe County
monroecofl.virtualtownhall.net
Palm Beach County
www.pbcgov.com
MyFWC.com
Don’t Pack a Pest!
Mediterranean Fruit
Fly, USDA
We take Florida’s palm trees, tropical fruits and outdoor lifestyle for granted but actually they are all at risk. We need
your help to stop the onslaught of new pests and diseases like red palm mites, citrus greening, Mexican bromeliad weevil,
ficus whitefly, imported fire ants and Africanized honeybees.
why you should care
what’s being done
Just two infestations caused by Mediterranean
fruit flies that managed to slip through Florida’s
busy ports have already cost taxpayers nearly $50
million.
Agricultural inspectors are always on the lookout
for new pests. Recently, a nonnative whitefly has
been found in Miami-Dade County attacking ficus
and causing them
to drop their leaves.
Inspectors have
also detected the
red palm mite—
which produced a
serious outbreak in
the Caribbean—on
coconut palms in
south Florida.
Whiteflies decimate a ficus hedge,
You may have already been stung by
fire ants. Now Africanized honeybee
populations are expanding. Many
humans have been stung and
pets and livestock have been
killed.
Mexican Bromeliad Weevil ,
The Mexican bromeliad
J. L. Castner/Univ FL
weevil discovered in a
Fort Lauderdale nursery in 1989 has spread widely,
devastating bromeliads in nurseries and natural
areas. These examples illustrate the need for
early detection– crucial to controlling a pest
before it reaches crisis proportions.
In 2005, a serious new problem, citrus greening, a
disease spread by a nonnative insect, was detected
in Homestead. Federal, state and university
scientists have implemented a rapid response
plan to monitor and control this disease.
Monk Parakeets,
Florida Power & Light Company
Five things you can do
yy
Don’t pack a pest! When you travel
out of Florida do not bring back fruit,
vegetables, flowers, or nuts.
yy
Purchase only certified plants from
registered nurseries.
yy
If you see signs of disease or an unusual
pest, contact your county extension office.
yy
While managed honeybee colonies are vital
to agriculture, Africanized honeybees pose
a threat to humans. If you find bees nesting
on your property, call a licensed pest control
company. For a list of companies contact
the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services at 888-397-1517.
yy
Use less toxic insecticidal soaps to control
pests. This will help protect native insects
that can serve as a defense against invasive
species.
Univ FL/IFAS
Like other invasive
species, nonnative
insects arrive without their
natural predators. Once an
infestation is identified, the
race is on to find a biological
control agent– sometimes
pitting one exotic insect against
another– with no guarantee
of success. Prevention
remains the best solution!
Fire Ants, USDA
Red Palm Mite
(Magnified about
300x), USDA
Flying The Coop
Gambian Pouched Rat,
APOPO International
Even more familiar birds and mammals can pose a threat to Florida’s nature and economy. Be a responsible pet
owner and help prevent a problem. Before you buy that exotic pet, find out how to take care of it. Can you devote
the time and attention this animal deserves? It’s an important question because when pets escape or are released into
nature, they can become real problems.
why you should care
what’s being done
The escaped Monk
Parakeet, imported
in large numbers by
the pet industry in
the 1960s, gets in
hot water because
its large, condo-like
nests built on electric
structures and
substations cause
power outages and
fires, requiring costly
repairs.
The Sacred Ibis, a nonnative bird from Africa,
was recently found in both urban neighborhoods
and natural areas across south Florida. Because
this species has proven problematic elsewhere
in the world, local, state and federal agencies
acted quickly and decisively to control the small
population. Today, it appears the Sacred Ibis has
been successfully eradicated from the area.
Monk Parakeets can damage power
structures with their nests,
Florida Power & Light Company
A more recent avian arrival, the Common
Myna, native to Asia, hangs out near
buildings and likes to nest in signs.
No longer just an urban resident,
it now breeds near buildings in
Everglades National Park where
it may compete with our native
Common Myna
wildlife
for natural nest cavities
Sergey Yeliseev,
Flickr.com
in trees.
In the late 1990s, the nonnative Gambian pouched
rat began reproducing in the Florida Keys. Since
then, Rapid Response efforts have greatly
reduced their numbers. Nonetheless, a few
individual rats remain and additional years of
trapping and monitoring are needed to ensure all
Gambian rats have been removed from the wild.
Some species, however, can be more difficult to
control. The exotic Purple Swamphen, a chickensized bird, has spread north from the Water
Conservation Areas of south Florida. Actions to
control this species were unsuccessful and state
biologists are now assessing impacts the swamphen
may have on native plants and animals.
Five things you can do
yy
Be a Responsible Pet Owner! Some
exotic species require a LOT of special care.
Do as much research as possible and avoid
impulse buys!
yy
Be aware of any applicable laws and
regulations. Even previously allowed pets,
like Gambian pouched rats, may have new
restrictions in place.
yy
If you can no longer care for your pet, find
someone who can. To request help from
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission to place unwanted, exotic pets,
please dial 1-888-Ive-Got1. Remember,
Don’t Let it Loose!
yy
Wonderful cats and dogs are waiting
for adoption at local shelters. Adopt this
traditional domestic pet and save a life!
yy
Learn more about invasive exotic birds and
mammals at DontLetItLoose.org.
Wicked Tails And Bad Attitudes
Nile Monitor ,
Todd CaMpbell
South Florida’s warm climate and diverse habitats provide ideal conditions for the invasion of
foreign reptiles. While Burmese pythons have captured attention recently, they are just one of many
cold-blooded intruders in our area. That green iguana that’s chewing up your garden doesn’t belong in your
neighborhood. These released and escaped exotic pets can disrupt an area’s food chain and threaten our native fauna.
what’s being done
why you should care
The Argentine
black and
white tegu can
grow to over 4
feet in length.
These lizards
have sharp
teeth, wicked
Argentine Black and White Tegu,
Dustin Smith, Zoo Miami
tails, and bad
attitudes. The tegu lizards are mostly terrestrial but
can cross bodies of water as necessary.
How big a problem is the Burmese python? More
than 144,000 were imported to the U.S. since
2005. In recent years, hundreds have wound up in
Everglades National Park and surrounding areas—
more than 360 were removed from the park in
2009 alone. And as if that wasn’t bad enough—
they are reproducing!
Competing for habitat and prey with our large
native snakes, the pythons consume a wide variety
of native wildlife, including the American alligator
and the endangered Key Largo woodrat.
These lizards eat almost anything. Their diet varies
from fruits and vegetables to eggs and small
animals. Tegus are now known to be established
in several counties in Florida. Like many reptiles,
they are primarily active during the day and will
burrow or hide overnight.
In captivity, Burmese, African, and reticulated
pythons can grow 20 feet or longer, weigh more
than 200 pounds and live 25 years. At three years
of age, a “small,” 10-foot python will eat two
rabbits a month. They are amazing creatures, but
combine a huge, powerful body with an instinctive
brain and you have an animal not suitable as a pet
for most families.
Scientists are
investigating new
control strategies
for some of our
most problematic
species. The use
of radio tracking,
pheromone lures,
Tracking dogs may help in the
traps and locator
control of pythons, Everglades
National
Park
dogs are all being
evaluated for their
effectiveness in removing Burmese pythons.
The battle against invasive exotic species
can never be won, however, without first
preventing the introduction of new species
into the wild. State agencies are now putting in
place new regulations on the purchase and care
of certain reptile species.
Number of pythons removed yearly from in and around
Everglades National Park, Data courtesy of Skip Snow
It’s the Law: New Regulations Began in 2012
Before purchasing an exotic pet, check to see if you can legally possess it. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service recently listed four large constrictor snakes as “injurious species” under the Lacey Act, prohibiting
them from importation and interstate movement. Certain wildlife species are also regulated by the state
and require a permit. Yet other species of wildlife are not allowed to be personally possessed at all,
including Class I wildlife, conditional, and prohibited nonnative species. For more information about the
categories listed above, rules pertaining to wildlife as personal pets, and links to application forms, visit:
Female pythons bearing eggs are now routinely
captured in the Florida everglades,
Everglades National Park
Five things you can do
yy
Be a Responsible Pet Owner! Be sure
to know about recent changes to regulations
and the particular needs of a species before
you buy.
yy
Learn to identify our incredible native
reptiles so you won’t confuse them with
exotics. Keep our natives safe and sound in
their natural habitats!
yy
Learn more about smaller exotic reptiles
now posing problems in the wild. Visit
DontLetItLoose.org.
yy
If you can no longer care for your pet, find
someone who can.
yy
To request help from the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission to
place unwanted, exotic pets, please dial
1-888-Ive-Got1.
MyFWC.com/license/captive-wildlife or DontLetItLoose.org
Got a Problem Python in Miami-Dade County?
To request removal of a nuisance python or
unwanted pet reptile—or to report observations
of pythons or other large constrictors—please
contact the Exotic Species Hotline at:
888-Ive-Got1
Alternatively, you can also file a report online at:
IveGot1.org
More than 2,000 Burmese pythons have been removed from
south Florida so far.
help resource managers
in their control efforts.
Report dead and nuisance
pythons!
Beyond Control
A handful of nonnative amphibians now call south Florida home. While some probably arrived accidentally in potted
plants, others have been purposely introduced, sometimes with heart-breaking consequences. The two highlighted here
are now so numerous that it is impossible to eradicate them. And, their populations continue to expand into north
Florida and Georgia. We face this risk with the introduction of every invasive species. That’s why prevention is key!
why you should care
what’s being done
Invasive amphibians can quickly overwhelm native
populations. A single female Cuban tree frog,
for example, can lay 4,000 eggs at a time– three
times more than native green tree frogs!
Amphibian populations have been experiencing
a sharp decline worldwide. Concerned about the
potential loss of biodiversity and this important
part of the food chain, scientists are actively
monitoring amphibians in and around south
Florida’s natural areas to evaluate the status of our
native populations.
Some invasive amphibians, like the Cuban tree
frog, are voracious eaters, capable of devouring
native frogs, toads and lizards.
Like many amphibians, the marine toad and the
Cuban tree frog secrete toxins meant to deter
predators. Our local wildlife and
domestic pets are not adapted
to these unfamiliar toxins.
Many family pets have died
from ingesting these toxins.
Marine Toad, Hardin Waddle, USGS
Prevention
Releasing any exotic
wildlife in Florida is a
first-degree misdemeanor,
subject to one year in
Prison and a $1,000 fine.
Cuban Treefrog,
Suzanne Collins,
Center for N. American
Herpetology
Five things you can do
yy
Be a Responsible Pet Owner! Learn
as much as possible about the needs of an
amphibian species before you buy.
yy
Inspect purchased plants for stowaways
before taking them home.
yy
Learn to distinguish invasives from our native
amphibians at DontLetItLoose.org.
yy
Biologists recommend that invasive
amphibians be euthanized humanely.
yy
If you can no longer care for your pet, find
someone else who can. Remember, Don’t
Let it Loose!
Learn & Teach
Education is our most powerful tool in the fight against invasive species. Below are
additional resources for educators and others who want to learn more about nonnative
species. Find details about each of these resources at DontLetItLoose.org.
Project WILD
Designed for educators of K-12 students, Project WILD is an interdisciplinary, conservation and
environmental education program emphasizing wildlife and habitats. Selected activities focus
on and are easily adaptable to educate about nonnative species. The Project WILD curriculum is
correlated to the Sunshine State Standards and FCAT.
Intruders in Paradise: Invasive Species in Florida
Designed for middle school educators, this program provides background information, vocabulary,
interdisciplinary activities, comprehension questions and writing prompts about invasive species. The
curriculum correlates to Sunshine State Standards.
Invaders Classroom Poster, FWC
Invasive Plant Education Initiative and Curricula
Aimed at educators of 3-12 students, this program focuses on the importance of native plants and the impacts that invasive plants have on Florida’s natural
areas. Correlated to Sunshine State Standards, the curriculum provides numerous lessons, activities, photos and free resources.
Invaders Classroom Poster
le t it l oo
n’ t
se
o
Invasive Species Trading Cards
This free download is a colorful, engaging tool that helps introduce students
to nonnative species.
!!
DD
This poster presents both Do’s and Don’ts of living in a natural Florida backyard. Identify the problem or solution associated …
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