Invasive Species, Biodiversity, and Conservation Strategies

Invasive species

An invasive species is a non-native organism that establishes, spreads, and causes harm to the environment, economy, or society.

Economic impact

Factors such as agriculture, forestry, and property values that are affected by invasive species.

Environmental harm

Harm caused by invasive species, including ecosystem disruption and native species decline.

Social or cultural concerns

Recreational or aesthetic impacts that influence the identification of invasive species.

Barriers overcome by invasive species

Dispersal, survival, reproduction, and establishment in new habitats.

Human support for invasives

Facilitated by trade, landscaping, agriculture, transport, and accidental introductions.

Domesticated or introduced species

Considered invasive when they spread uncontrollably and harm ecosystems.

Environmental harm examples

Loss of native biodiversity, altered nutrient cycles, fire regimes, hydrology, habitat modification or destruction.

Direct effects of invasives

Consumption or displacement of native species.

Indirect effects of invasives

Changes in ecosystem processes, soil chemistry, or food webs.

Chestnut blight & European gypsy moths

Causes forest tree mortality and ecosystem shifts.

White pine blister rust

Leads to loss of natural resources and indirect effects on forest communities.

Asian Longhorned beetle & Emerald ash borer

Results in property damage and decreased property values.

Hydrilla

Alters water ecosystems and restricts recreational access.

Biosphere

All living and non-living components of Earth.

Biome

Large area with characteristic climate, flora, and fauna.

Ecosystem

Community + abiotic environment interacting.

Community

Groups of interacting species in an area.

Population

Individuals of a species in a defined area.

Biodiversity

Variety of life at three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity.

Factors causing biodiversity loss

Habitat destruction, invasive species, overexploitation, pollution, climate change.

Strategies to reduce loss

Protected areas, restoration, sustainable use, ex situ conservation.

Producers

Photosynthetic organisms.

Consumers

Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores.

Decomposers

Break down organic matter.

Ecosystem services

Provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services provided by ecosystems.

Forests provide

Carbon storage, habitat, water regulation, timber.

Natural capital

Stock of resources from which ecosystem services arise

Natural capital examples

Forests, soils, fisheries, water

Ecosystem services affected by invasives

Reduced productivity, loss of habitat, decreased recreation, altered nutrient cycles

Market valuation

Timber, fisheries

Non-market valuation

Recreation, aesthetics

Natural infrastructure

Mangroves, oyster reefs can be more cost-effective and sustainable than engineered solutions

ESA goals

Protect endangered and threatened species, Restore populations and habitats

Role of FWS

Identify, list, and manage species under ESA, Implement recovery plans

Endangered species

At risk of extinction throughout most of its range

Threatened species

Likely to become endangered soon

Five factors for listing

Habitat destruction, Overutilization, Disease or predation, Inadequacy of existing protection, Other natural or human factors

Habitat protection & exemptions

Critical habitat designated for protection, Exemptions possible for economic or social reasons

Efficient agricultural practices

Can increase yield without expanding land area

Predicting biodiversity loss effects

Loss of species → disrupted ecosystems → more species at risk

Threats to plant biodiversity

Habitat loss, Overexploitation, Climate change, Invasive species, Pollution

Important Plant Areas (IPA)

Sites identified for plant conservation; help prioritize protection

Conservation activities in production landscapes

Sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, ecological restoration

Costs vs. ecosystem service value

Conservation often cheaper than the value lost from ecosystem service degradation

In situ conservation

Protect plants in their natural habitat

Ex situ conservation

Seed banks, botanical gardens

Synergy of ex situ conservation

Ex situ supports restoration of wild populations

Seed banks (importance & limitations)

Preserve genetic diversity, Cannot replace natural ecological interactions

Millennium Seed Bank, Svalbard, Aleppo

Global repositories for plant genetic resources, Protects crop wild relatives and socioeconomic important plants

Biosphere reserve

Areas for conservation, research, and sustainable development

Biosphere reserve zones

Core: Strict protection, Buffer: Limited use, research and education, Transition: Sustainable economic activities

Strict vs. mixed-use protection

Strict: Highest protection, Mixed-use: Balances conservation with local livelihoods

Maya Biosphere Reserve (Guatemala)

Deforestation drivers: agriculture, logging, Concessions allow sustainable management

U.S. examples of biosphere reserves

Managed by National Park Service or USFWS, combining conservation and research