In Eastern Canada the emerald ash border beetle, native to Asia, has been wreaking havoc on ash trees and the economy since the 1990’s. The beetle feeds on tree tissue and according to PR USA Canadian and American scientists alike declare that the ash border beetle cannot be eradicated.

This declaration has not stopped the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), however. The agency recently responded to new detections of beetle damage by invoking a ministerial order that will empower it to be in control of ash tree and firewood movement across the provinces. As the beetle is spread by movement of wood materials, concrete regulation (which spans Ontario & Quebec) is vital.

Meanwhile in North Texas, the zebra mussel is taking its toll on Lake Texoma. The mussel which attaches itself to water facilities and pipes is responsible for huge maintenance and operating costs in the state, according to NBC/DFW News. Currently, the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) has laid out water conservation plans to fight the invasive species. These plans involve the cessation of pumping raw water supplies from Lake Texoma, which makes up 22.5% of the water supply in the district.

Invasive species have immediate negative effects on ecosystems and our quality of life. Taking action and respecting regulations is an immediate step all responsible citizens should take.

The University of Georgia’s Grounds Department has found that sheep are perfect tools in getting rid of invasive plant species that are blocking access to a major waterway, wrote the Southeast Farm Press. Apparently the invasive species were forming a barrier and displacing the diverse, native species. So in late February, thirty sheep (and two donkeys to ward off predators) were dispatched between the Oconee River and UGA’s East Campus.

Unlike goats or cows, sheep are perfectly suited to clearing invasive plants since they do not disturb either the water’s edge or trees. Moreover, they do not impact the soil, and thus do not contribute to soil erosion. Instead of using harmful pesticides to clear away the invasive species, the sheep will return whenever they are needed without causing the extensive damage of pesticides. Their next visit will likely be in late summer.

Meanwhile, over 400 goats are being used to clear the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve and restore the natural flora and fauna. Goats are used since they are known to eat “everything in sight” and grazing has become common practice in the attempt to control invasive species, reports the Los Angeles Times.  By eating the invasive weeds, goats help native species return to the region. The goats will eat about half an acre of weed a day, and their herder confirms that the valley will be unrecognizable within a few days. After the goats are finished, the conservancy is going to restore coastal sage, cactus shrub, and other native vegetation. For now the goats are munching away while their herder enjoys the view from his ‘office’.

The biggest threats to turtles are habitat loss, overexploitation of wild turtles for human use, invasive species/diseases and climate change. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) are working hard to raise awareness on this difficult issue, and have launched a campaign proclaiming 2011 the ‘Year of the Turtle,’ according to Connecticutplus.com. Connecticut is home to seven endangered turtle species. The state will help PARC spread the word on the turtle plight from local to federal officials.

The key to turtle recovery is for us to take action on behalf of these helpless animals! We must ban together, protect habitats, and manage turtle species and crisis situations such as natural disasters (oil spills, etc). We must become tough as turtle shells and serve as a protective barrier.

The problem with lionfish is that they have voracious appetites and eat other fish species. They also are rapid breeders, and females can lay up to 2 million eggs a year. With no known predators, there’s no natural way to stop the lionfish from taking over entire areas and wiping out natural fish species. Unless humans step in and kill lionfish, which is becoming known as a tasty fish.

Invasivores, as the New York Times calls them, could play a very useful role in helping to control lionfish and other invasive species. Aside from lionfish, some fisheries biologists are suggesting the Asian carp be renamed to “Kentucky Tuna” to make it appealing to diners.

The idea of eating invasive species is not new, but it may hold a conservation key to help natural species survive. And both meat eaters and vegans can participate. Vegans can dine on salads that include weeds such as the field mustard or turnip mustard plant Brassica rapa. Or parts of dandelions.

Human appetites have been proven to be powerful forces in nature. Let’s use them to eliminate invasive species!

The Scottish government reports that five case studies, including the grey squirrel and long-horned beetle, were used to assess the benefits of species control spending. These cases suggest that the key to success is prevention, as the cost of management soars once species have become established in an area.

For instance, the Guardian explains that the invasive water weed primrose will presently cost £73,000 ($112,900 US) to eradicate in Britain, compared to the estimated £242m ($375 US) it would cost if the weeds were to become widely established as they have in France. Currently, the most costly invasive species in the United Kingdom include rabbits (£263m [$407m US] a year), Japanese knotweed (£179m [$277m US]), wild oat (£100m [$155m US]) and the Rat (£62m [$95m US]). Rabbits have thrived for over 2,000 years as invasive guests in Britain and are a detriment to infrastructure, crops and other species.

Taking early action is most effective, saves money and preserves native wildlife for the longer term. Although it can be costly, it is vital that steps are taken to protect the economy and ecosystems threatened by non-native plants and animals. If we do not get to the root of the problem, it will multiply like rabbits!

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, originally from Asia, first appeared in the US in 1998. Since then, the rapidly reproducing bug has spread throughout the Mid Atlantic states and westward towards California.

The bug uses sucking mouth parts to attack a wide selection of food producing and ornamental plants, causing deformation, discoloration and dry, cork-like areas in the fruit of host plants. Some northeastern US farmers have lost over 50% of their crops as they became unmarketable. The recent discover of the stink bug in California raises concerns over how it could damage the state’s large agricultural industry.

California’s climate is so mild the bug could reproduce all year. While pesticides can destroy the nymphs (young bugs), the adults are strong fliers so can invade a treated area from an untreated area fairly easily. And treating can get expensive. Unless effective monitoring, preventive and control methods are developed, the stink bug could cause serious shortages, higher prices and more dependence on foreign imports.

As if that’s not enough, the bugs are also invading the homes of northeastern US residents. The bugs can appear in massive numbers, sometimes in the thousands, on the exterior walls of homes. When this happens, dozens can make their way inside the home, making people live with it.

So sometimes nature, with the help of invasive species, can give a show that is better than most Hallowe’en shows. It’s just a tragedy when it’s real.

Called State of the UK’s Birds 2010, the report shows that by today, the populations of over 12 species which were in steep decline have slowed their decline, and 6 species are increasing their numbers. Unfortunately, the overall number of species in trouble has risen. All this means the UK has not met international or EU biodiversity targets for slowing or halting the loss of birds.

One positive light in this story is the thousands of volunteers who survey the birds in their immediate world and submit the evidence to tell scientists how the birds are faring. Such knowledge helps to direct scientific research to where it’s needed, and spark conservation action to help species.

As well, there are current efforts to eliminate invasive (non-native) rats and mice, and to reduce the fishing industry’s bycatch, both of which damage bird populations.

The picture for endangered birds in the UK is currently bleak, but if landowners, hobbyists, biologists, NGO’s, and government all work together things will hopefully improve for UK birds.

The culprit turned out to be the quagga mussel, an invasive species which is consuming five to seven times as much phytoplankton as is being produced in parts of Lake Michigan, reports Michigan Tech News. Phytoplankton is at the base of the food chain, with small fish and larger fish (such as Atlantic salmon) and fish-eating birds progressively above it.

Consider that the quagga mussels can be found in parts of Lake Michigan in concentrations of 10,000 to 15,000 per square meter, and have ravenous appetites. They eat the Phytoplankton and create lots of mussel poop which in turn helps grow Cladophora algae. The algae die, decompose and remove all the oxygen from the water. Lake animals die without oxygen, and the dead animals kill fish-eating birds through botulism, the often-fatal food poisoning.

People have been worried about what might happen when the Asian carp, with its appetite for plankton, reaches Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes fishery is worth $7 billion annually, reports freep.com. Without plankton, the fish will disappear, so efforts are being made to stop the Asian carp’s advancement. The only problem is that the quagga mussel has beaten the carp to the buffet table.

If you’d like to read more about the quagga mussel, Bayview Compass.com also has an interesting article.

A 2008 European inventory found over 10,000 invasive, non-native species.  Around 1,300 of these invaders have a negative impact on the environment, economy or human health.  Some alien species were brought over for ornamental purposes (eg. Ruddy duck which interbreeds with native ducks), or were accidentally brought along with international travel/transport (eg. Asian tiger mosquito which carries a fever similar to Dengue Fever).

The DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species In Europe) project has an online list of 100 of the worst invasive species in Europe.  The heading for each species is only in Latin, which makes easy recognition difficult, but otherwise it’s an excellent list.

A study published in Biological Conservation has shown that many bird species (such as the Canada Goose) have an impact on agriculture and human health as far reaching, if not worse, than many mammals, writes the BBC.

Swiss researchers found that brown rats, sika deer and muskrat are among those invasive mammal species having the largest ecological and economic impact, reports the BBC.  While rats may especially make many Europeans shudder, given their history, invasive species collectively cause damage to other species, ecosystems, agricultural lands and even homes.

In an effort to solve the problem of invasive species, scientists recently gathered in Copenhagen at the Neobiota conference.  The invasive species laws of New Zealand and Australia are examples of what scientists are calling for the EU to implement.  Legislation would fulfill the commitment previously agreed to in June 2009 by the council of European ministers.

Penguins, albatrosses and puffins are among the birds that are to the ocean what canaries are to mines.  They reveal a lot about the health of marine ecosystems, and when their populations decline it tells of problems that can affect other life in the marine environment.

In a real “happens there, felt here” way, seabirds can be affected by events in different parts of the world because they migrate so far.  They spend much of their lives on the high seas and can summer in one hemisphere and winter in the other.  Most seabirds have multiple countries and bodies of water within their ranges.

Unfortunately, seabird populations have declined seriously over the last twenty years.  Between being caught and drowned on fishing hooks, eating plastic garbage that they mistake for food, and being killed by invasive species, seabirds are telling us that our environment has problems that need solving.

The upcoming conference will also feature a film festival and seabird art exhibition.  For more information, see the Conference’s website.