This article and picture gallery posted by Discover Magazine illustrates the catastrophic effects that ensue upon introduction of Invasive Species. It is often that we as humans underestimate the effects small choices we may make have on an ecosystem.
If we are to incite change in the way we deal with our environment, we as a species must understand the delicacy of the balance of nature, and the destructive quality that any disruption in this balance will cause. The interactions in ecosystem webs are all contingent upon one another: if the native grass does not grow because it has been overtaken by an invasive lawn grass, the primary consumers have nothing to consume and will dwindle in population. Their decrease will result in subsequent population disruption throughout the food web, as humans once again disrupt the stability of the natural cycle.
Happily, this is a largely correctable issue. If we are to practice more prudent measures in avoiding the distribution of invasive species, while implementing aggressive measures in removing already existing invasive species, the balance could be restored.
http://discovermagazine.com/photos/24-humans-vs-animals-fiercest-battles-invasive-species
The invasive species must be contained to their environment that they came from. One one side, some people believe that it could cost too much money, and it could be harmful to economic growth in the future. Others are more open minded and less selfish to their individual needs and they realize that Mother Nature did not plan on having her species interact in such a harmful way. Because of this, we should invest more financial support for the removal of invasive species to continue for growth-not of the invasive species though.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is correctable but "how?" seems to be the daunting question. No one method is suitable to eliminat all invasive species and therefore, to pick and choose seems nearly like an experiment. If this one doesn't work, try another. However, damage to other parts of the ecosystem can also ensue without us realizing it. Eradicating invasive species is very touchy since it concerns many different variables that we don't account for all the time. Extra precaution needs to be made in order to effectively eradicate invasive species.
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