Difference between revisions of "Invasive Species of California"

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(Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo))
(Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo))
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Wild turkeys are common across California, specifically in urbanized areas near vegetation. They were first imported in the 1600s for hunting, and again in the 1990s. Turkeys have been in California for many decades, but recently, they have become a concern for local ecosystems because of their ability to compete with native species. It is still under debate whether a turkey is an invasive species, however. Turkeys are considered charismatic birds and enjoyed by many, but because they are large birds that move as a group, they are able to eat more than the smaller native ground birds <ref name="gobble">  https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/california-s-wild-turkey-troubles/</ref>. Some ecologists believe that turkeys out-compete local native birds such as the California Quail, but many studies find that this is incorrect. <ref name="quail"> https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10161/538/MP_ang6_a_200805.pdf.pdf?sequence=1 </ref> <ref name="turkeys as bystanders"> https://ag.tennessee.edu/fwf/Documents/CHarper/Do%20wild%20turkeys%20influence%20quail%20or%20grouse%20populations.pdf</ref> Short-term experiments have shown that quail and turkey share common habitat, but quail prefer to live beside roads, where turkey prefer to live near large trees where they roost at night <ref name="gobble"/> <ref name="quail"/> As adults, turkeys do not have many predators besides humans during the turkey hunting season, but as chicks they are prey for bobcats and other medium predators. Turkeys are generalists and have no preference for food; arguably eating whatever they can swallow. This, along with their increase in populations, may serve as a threat for local ground birds, but is not proven. <ref name="quail"/> <ref name="gobble"/>
 
Wild turkeys are common across California, specifically in urbanized areas near vegetation. They were first imported in the 1600s for hunting, and again in the 1990s. Turkeys have been in California for many decades, but recently, they have become a concern for local ecosystems because of their ability to compete with native species. It is still under debate whether a turkey is an invasive species, however. Turkeys are considered charismatic birds and enjoyed by many, but because they are large birds that move as a group, they are able to eat more than the smaller native ground birds <ref name="gobble">  https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/california-s-wild-turkey-troubles/</ref>. Some ecologists believe that turkeys out-compete local native birds such as the California Quail, but many studies find that this is incorrect. <ref name="quail"> https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10161/538/MP_ang6_a_200805.pdf.pdf?sequence=1 </ref> <ref name="turkeys as bystanders"> https://ag.tennessee.edu/fwf/Documents/CHarper/Do%20wild%20turkeys%20influence%20quail%20or%20grouse%20populations.pdf</ref> Short-term experiments have shown that quail and turkey share common habitat, but quail prefer to live beside roads, where turkey prefer to live near large trees where they roost at night <ref name="gobble"/> <ref name="quail"/> As adults, turkeys do not have many predators besides humans during the turkey hunting season, but as chicks they are prey for bobcats and other medium predators. Turkeys are generalists and have no preference for food; arguably eating whatever they can swallow. This, along with their increase in populations, may serve as a threat for local ground birds, but is not proven. <ref name="quail"/> <ref name="gobble"/>
  
Turkeys are common in wooded areas <ref name="quail"/> <ref name="hunt"> https://www.nwtf.org/hunt/wild-turkey-basics/habitat</ref> in Marina located in the California Central Coast (specifically on Inter-Garrison Road), but avoid highly urbanized areas <ref name="hunt"/> such as the California State University Monterey Bay Campus.
+
Turkeys are common in wooded areas <ref name="quail"/> <ref name="hunt"> https://www.nwtf.org/hunt/wild-turkey-basics/habitat</ref> in Marina, located in the California Central Coast (specifically on Inter-Garrison Road), but avoid highly urbanized areas <ref name="hunt"/> such as the California State University Monterey Bay Campus.
  
 
==Amphibians==
 
==Amphibians==

Revision as of 10:13, 27 March 2019

Aquatic Invasive Species of California

Quagga and Zebra Mussels

Invasive quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to our freshwater ecosystems. They are small, clam-like creatures that reproduce rapidly and deplete nutrients in the water. They jeopardize power and water infrastructures, damage ecosystems and destroy recreation. The first confirmed find of Zebra mussels in California occurred at San Justo Reservoir Jan. 10, 2008. Quagga and zebra mussels continue to spread and have infested 39 water bodies throughout the state. A map of all infested waters can be found here. The mission of the Invasive Species Program is to reduce the negative effects of aquatic invasive species on waterways of California. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is involved in efforts to prevent the introduction of these species into the state, detect and respond to introductions when they occur, and prevent the spread of invasive species that have become established. Boaters are required to have their watercrafts inspected and cleaned at specific check stations around the state. For information on boating restrictions and inspections please contact the waterbody manager directly. [1]

New Zealand Mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)

New Zealand Mudsnails (NZMS) are believed to have been introduced in Idaho, then brought west from shipments of sportfish and their eggs. They are a vigorous endangered species and are becoming increasingly common in California's Central Coast. See more information at Invasive Invertebrates of the Central Coast.

Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea)

Common across the entire country, the Asian Clam has made its way to California's Central Coast. See Invasive Invertebrates of the Central Coast for more information.

Plants

Iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis)

Iceplant was introduced from Africa to help stabilize soil. It is common in California's Central Coast. See more at Invasive Plants of the Central Coast

English/Common Ivy (Hedera helix)

The Common Ivy is a well-known invasive species, given the invasive rank of "high" from the California Invasive Plant Council. The ivy is known to grow rapidly and take nutrients before other native plants can [2]. The plant causes no major harm to humans (minor dermatitis), but competes with other plants by wrapping around them or growing on them. Saplings and young plants are at a disadvantage especially, because they are denied sunlight as the ivy grows above them [3] . The Common Ivy is a hardy plant with leaves covered in a waxy secretion, making traditional herbicides almost ineffective towards it. Keep all ivy trimmed to prevent its over-spreading.

Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum)

Spanish Broom is a tall, woody shrub that spreads quickly once it colonizes an area. The rapid colonization prevents native flowers and shrubs from growing [4]. Spanish Broom does not provide nutrients for many organisms, as it consists of mostly dead wood when it is mature. Two species of beetle (Bruchidius villosus and Exapion fuscirostre) have the potential to be used as biological controls to keep Spanish Broom numbers down by because they feed on the plant and its seeds.

Barb goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis)

Barb goatgrass was brought to America from Europe and Asia, and quickly spread in grassy habitats. The grass is known to a noxious weed and is unpalatable to most livestock. Barb goatgrass is able to spread because it is not being eaten by large livestock, and as it spreads, it creates a monoculture and kills all other plant life in its path [5]. The seeds of Barb goatgrass can easily be invade other areas by transportation on cars, people, and other animals [5]. Control measures for the grass include prescribed burns and selective mowing when the grass is still young with no seeds produced. Barb goatgrass, like most grasses, has deep, broad roots; thus, mowing is not always an effective control measure. The only effective control measure is the spraying of glyphosate, a common pesticide. The decrease in Barb goatgrass comes at the price of killing all plant life that is sprayed with glyphosate.

Reptiles

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Red-eared slider turtles (RES) are common pets, named for the red stripes on their head near their ears. They have entered local lentic water bodies by escaping captivity and being released by their owners. RES typically invade large ponds and compete with the native aquatic and semi-aquatic vertebrates. The ability for RES to out-compete natives comes from its large size, making it able to claim nesting and basking spaces. RES carry Salmonella, as most reptiles do, which affects the humans who come into contact with the RES and the water they reside in [6] Native pond turtles are affected by parasites and diseases RES carry, which they have no immunity to.[6]Efforts to stop the sale of RES have been implemented since 1975, but because RES has already hybridized with native turtles, their eradication is becoming increasingly difficult. [6] A healthy RES can reach 20 years of age, making them a chronic threat to freshwater ponds. To help in the eradication of RES, report any sightings to the local Park Services or CDFW [6].

Birds

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Wild turkeys are common across California, specifically in urbanized areas near vegetation. They were first imported in the 1600s for hunting, and again in the 1990s. Turkeys have been in California for many decades, but recently, they have become a concern for local ecosystems because of their ability to compete with native species. It is still under debate whether a turkey is an invasive species, however. Turkeys are considered charismatic birds and enjoyed by many, but because they are large birds that move as a group, they are able to eat more than the smaller native ground birds [7]. Some ecologists believe that turkeys out-compete local native birds such as the California Quail, but many studies find that this is incorrect. [8] [9] Short-term experiments have shown that quail and turkey share common habitat, but quail prefer to live beside roads, where turkey prefer to live near large trees where they roost at night [7] [8] As adults, turkeys do not have many predators besides humans during the turkey hunting season, but as chicks they are prey for bobcats and other medium predators. Turkeys are generalists and have no preference for food; arguably eating whatever they can swallow. This, along with their increase in populations, may serve as a threat for local ground birds, but is not proven. [8] [7]

Turkeys are common in wooded areas [8] [10] in Marina, located in the California Central Coast (specifically on Inter-Garrison Road), but avoid highly urbanized areas [10] such as the California State University Monterey Bay Campus.

Amphibians

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Bullfrogs are large amphibians that will eat whatever they can fit in their mouths and out-compete their native counterparts [11] A bullfrog's voracious appetite can lead it to eat rodents, bats, and other vertebrates, both terrestrial and aquatic[11].They were first released into the Western states as a natural pest control, but their numbers quickly increased [11]. These large frogs are also known resistant carriers of the chytrid fungus known to infect and kill many other types of amphibians such as native frogs and salamanders. Shorebirds like herons and cranes will eat bullfrogs if they are in their reach, but the frogs emit a painful screech when trapped or harmed, which usually causes their predator to release them. Some native snake venom is ineffective against the bullfrog, making them essentially a species with no predators. Bullfrogs prefer warm lentic habitats, but will tolerate cold or hot temperatures by hibernating or aestivating until the temperature suits its preferences [11]. Report any bullfrog sightings to a local wildlife agency.

Mammals

Feral Cats and Dogs (Felis catus, Canis lupus familiaris, respectively)

An overpopulation of domestic cats and dogs invariably leads to portions of these populations to become feral and homeless. As domesticated animals, these mammals do not completely lose their ability to hunt and survive without the help of humans. Feral dogs are mainly found very urban areas, where they feed on trash and discarded food, and hunt in packs for bigger prey, such as ungulates and other mammals [12]. Feral cats are more infamous for hunting local songbirds, and because they hunt so frequently, many of the songbird populations decline [13]. These populations have the potential to be endangered and threatened species of birds[13]. Domesticated cats also pose a threat to the local bird populations because of their tendency to hunt for enjoyment and their large population (95 million [14]) [13]. Both feral groups are capable of attacking people when provoked or for no apparent reason[12]

Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

Nutria, commonly called Copu, are large rodents typically seen on the East coast as invasives, but they were spotted in Merced, California in 2017 [15] Nutria can be compared to beavers in that they are semi-aquatic and eat the vegetation in and around said water. These large rodents mainly eat grasses and small shrubs that hold wetland soil together. Nutria are ecosystem engineers known to convert wetlands to open water [15]. The conversion of wetland habitat to open water not only removes organisms that rely on vegetation to survive, but also destroys habitat for future use. Wetlands are already a shrinking habitat and their conservation is necessary for biodiversity found in these dynamic habitats. Report Nutria sightings to the CDFW immediately.

Insects

Asian Longhorned Beetles on a hardwood tree

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is a large, black and white beetle in the family Cerambycidae which bores into and feeds on a variety hardwood trees [16]. Like all beetles, they are capable of flight, but they are commonly transported as eggs and larvae in imported firewood, as well as firewood from the East coast. [16] The life cycle of the ALB occurs in the hardwood tries that the mother bores into, eventually killing the tree. Larvae can overwinter, causing a staggered release of adults into the environment. ALB are capable of killing entire forests if enough of them are present. [16] The ways to reduce the spread of ALB are to report their presence to local rangers, buy only locally produced firewood, and do not enter ALB quarantined areas of forests. [16] The eggs of ALB can be transferred in many ways, including firewood lumber, resulting in their potential widespread distribution. ALB are have not been recognized as invasive species in California, but a graduate student from California State University Monterey Bay saw one in Modoc County, California in July of 2018.

Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile)

The Argentine ant is a cosmopolitan invasive species across the country, but is very common in the Central Coast of California because of the Mediterranean climate. See more on Invasive Invertebrates of the Central Coast

References

  1. [1]
  2. https://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=4023
  3. https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/hedera-helix-profile/
  4. https://www.cal-ipc.org/resources/library/publications/ipcw/report79/
  5. 5.0 5.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegilops_triuncialis
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=11552
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/california-s-wild-turkey-troubles/
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10161/538/MP_ang6_a_200805.pdf.pdf?sequence=1
  9. https://ag.tennessee.edu/fwf/Documents/CHarper/Do%20wild%20turkeys%20influence%20quail%20or%20grouse%20populations.pdf
  10. 10.0 10.1 https://www.nwtf.org/hunt/wild-turkey-basics/habitat
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Species/Bullfrog
  12. 12.0 12.1 https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/271867/1-s2.0-S0921800905X01379/1-s2.0-S0921800904003027/main.pdf?x-amz-security-token=AgoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEE0aCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCICubgZ6lM8br%2BIBB7kkD0d2VGXL47zmTQvFHByA9dfmqAiEAiGSX6l2vX0ZvRNR5egd8VOpfDtEPUT9S3NUmyCGhsncq4wMI9v%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARACGgwwNTkwMDM1NDY4NjUiDE%2FACr3anmt4VAoGDiq3A0JW9d6saGpK2O1c7kgpGGqpDjL288e2HgtJedQeWcQL18wwDlOnGHldOYjkIfuBmfBA%2F6jSTjV3dx86SkeWL5SnytpEyIKxSS%2Bf3CoBqdVbECI0S0Eh5NO6EtJrkfndekKFMs5r4yW0qfL%2F3S%2FCuKWewB%2BorwJCga4DdPrscTvD%2BOrg09cQVCEcMmsd2EkLq7qDBe5meU8Mph2cldSe2Fco6VZtVNnsqAORn%2BmkpiSxugnb6M0rO8RqXeUOa4zU5Adg6cma9DG%2FRV5U0v%2FljWprOCEh80N2%2B3Ea0AZN3JmHrQkxbTfnSX1QqA3rXQ5dS3o7Ni1VeWh8v7maYECGu3klUE80R732c7QQSzksri6UrqLRVq6oLKfFCNJPCpT9Xfe2TH0hYpiEtghKgguNp6iixNuzV%2F9QjEvOq0LdeSvYpnyNiVw2LnR0f9v3avDc7mkWMGcxTrnb2ggYVy5nOcq%2FaNxXnifccbcYh0oFOLnyedpZXLub213onMIIGLK1ahiBq2DXqrW9GONd5zvhmRnqPa%2Fui9jYPZlCNyuyt84Q0ILKqIThKfrTTewkejp%2FJFtWBGEQGmAw0Jjq5AU6tAEdfNTaPwwtnGoj%2BfF9athUsEdpiwmTeAJPdvE%2BbL%2BG70K8ZpbJwpZ%2FSL6AjIgMTRL%2BlcX8tCxpF%2FsQDlZ8q8aA8b%2FX7Gs%2FrCLVJJ5TPXbKyVtTioXdF9jbuQ9LvdKiUvQ7cYPrfLi5yIiw1d%2Fkj0%2FEfFU6i5%2Fn6I%2Bluo3VfCS9D3r52RP1oR46D1nljpAzlb2GTGeLSwmmZhofb6QMb0K%2B6dcSDWEt%2Bz4eEe6jUyq0pdr8nHE%3D&AWSAccessKeyId=ASIAQ3PHCVTYQJIHMTO7&Expires=1553636876&Signature=hhVHDqaGqiJDGiOrdPTZ%2F97bwXg%3D&hash=ac1bc64ae9515b4b71ecc365cddfaed9ef26c7147825b4cdc7a2e2d6fde645b0&host=68042c943591013ac2b2430a89b270f6af2c76d8dfd086a07176afe7c76c2c61&pii=S0921800904003027&tid=spdf-cac71c1c-7c00-49e5-acf8-4fa63c90a400&sid=9af7d78a287f524d683b491668d30ac1b6b0gxrqa&type=client "Feral dogs as invasive species"
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 https://abcbirds.org/threat/cats-and-other-invasives/
  14. https://www.statista.com/statistics/198102/cats-in-the-united-states-since-2000/
  15. 15.0 15.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coypu
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/asian-longhorned-beetle/About-ALB

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