Exotic species are everywhere you turn. They are in the United States as bacteria, plants, insects, marine life, and animals. On February 3, 1999, President Clinton signed an executive order dealing with invasive species in the United States. The order was designed to lay the foundation of the program “to prevent the introduction of invasive species and provide for their control and to minimize the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause.” With ever growing international commerce, reduced barriers to trade, and increasing human influence, species are moving around, and natural systems are suffering drastic changes.

At this time of year, our research is being pushed back because of the weather. Possibly starting the experiment in April or May would be more conducive. Every other year the winter storms have held limited snowfall and the snowmelt isn’t as lengthy a time period.

The desert grasslands of North America were affected by the introduction of Lehman love grass from southern Africa. This has caused the natural black grama grass to be overtaken. The introduction was intentional to reduce soil erosion within the desert. However, the invasion of the non-native species has increased the speed at which the grasslands have become shrub lands. The short-lived grasses produce large quantities of small seeds that are easily mobile, causing the spread of non-native grasses to increase.

On the economic side, exotic species are costly to businesses. The zebra mussel, a dime sized crustacean has no natural predators to keep the population under control. They spread wildly from Lake Eire, to the Hudson and Mississippi Rivers, and finally down to the Gulf of Mexico. They clog pipes and cause millions of dollars in damage. Though there are solutions on the horizon, this is a sample of the power and cost of invasive species. Industries need to be made aware of the costs of ignoring this problem and the benefits of changing their routine of daily business.

This beetle was introduced into the United States during international shipping. This species was once contained within warehouses but has managed to escape. Control efforts have relied on removal of all trees in the affected areas.

Invasive species are introduced when people, cargo ships, and planes travel intercontinentally. Through the use of cargo ships, planes, and increase travel invasive species can come into the country more easily than before intercontinental commerce was readily used.

Some topics in this essay:
North America, Becker College’s, Gulf Mexico, Valley American, President Clinton, , America Animals, Crofton Pond, York City, invasive species, exotic species, South Korea, marine life, american chestnut, north america, introduction invasive species, children’s center, children participate, soil test, species united, natural predators, cargo ships planes, american chestnut tree,