Invasive Species in Canada
What we can do to help
- we can become more knowledgeable about them and share our knowledge so others can benefit from it
- we can always be careful to watch out for these species to see how fast they could affect our ecosystem
- we can try to limit the spread of these species
Invasive Plants
Purple Loosestrife:
- native to Europe and Asia
- traveled through ship ballasts
- roots take up room and decrease living area for animals
- they are too tall and they clog up irrigation pipes
Water Chestnut:
- native to Europe,Africa and Asia
- was purposely introduced
- have sharp spines which cause cuts
- let minimum light through to underwater organisms
Invasive Invertebrates
Zebra/Quagga Mussels:
- freshwater bivalves native to Black Sea
What are Invasive Species?
- introduced in late 1980s by ballast waters ships carrying larvae,,juveniles, or adult mussels
Invasive Fish
- multiply very quickly and clog things up
- •impact fish by growing toxic algal blooms
Goldfish:
Spiny/Fish hook waterflea:
- small aquatic predators native to Eurasia
- native to eastern Asia
- brought to Great Lakes when owners dumped unwanted pets
- eat native species and disrupt food chain
- may produce large populations
- carry diseases such as Koi Herpesvirus
- introduced to Great Lakes in ballast water from ocean-going ships.
- reduce food supplies for small fish because they eat zooplankton
- easily spread and multiply very quickly
- any types of organisms that were brought to another ecosystem
- brought accidentally or purposely. (usually by humans)
- usually cause harm to the ecosystem but can sometimes have a positive effect as well
- in the U.S are called "An alien species"
- usually, government of the area would spend tons of money to get rid of pest
Rainbow Smelt:
- native to coastal regions and few lakes
- came to great lakes through Erie Canal
- habits can disrupt food chain by feeding on zoo-plankton and other native species
- when eaten they cause fish to become contaminated
Invasive Parasites
Koi Herpesvirus:
- a fish virus; affects only carp, koi, and goldfish
- fish can die in hours but does not affect humans
- came to Ontario waters through fish trade
- the bacteria is in fresh waters
- reduces fish population
Sea Lamprey:
- considered as fish and parasites
- an eel-like fish native to north Atlantic Ocean
- invade Great Lakes through ship canals
- suck blood of fish reducing fish population
- During parasitic phase, can destroy 18 kg fish
Impacts of Invasive Species
- Some of these species can hurt or sicken humans
- They can bring diseases
- They ruin the food chain
- They may cause extinction of native species
- Most invasive species have no predators so they multiply
- most can multiply quickly
- can take away shelter of animals or humans