Invasive and Nuisance Fauna
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Transcript of Invasive and Nuisance Fauna
Invasive and Nuisance Fauna
of Texas Kelly D. Norrid Wildlife Biologist, Houston Urban Wildlife
Program An "invasive species" is a plant or animal that is
non-native (or alien) to an ecosystem, and whose introduction is
likely to cause economic, human health, or environmental damage in
that ecosystem. Once established, it is extremely difficult to
control their spread. - United States Environmental Protection
Agency Feral hog There is currently an estimated population in
excess of 1.5 million feral hogs in Texas. Origin: Early Spanish
explorers probably were the first to introduce Feral Pigs in Texas
over 300 years ago. In the 1930s, European wild hogs, "Russian
boars," were first imported and introduced into Texas Ecological
Impact: Their rooting habits disrupt vegetation and soil, and cause
shifts in plant succession on the disturbed site. Feral pigs also
compete with several species of wildlife for certain foods,
especially mast. Destroy habitat Eat eggs if ground nesting birds
Photographer: Billy Higginbotham Source: Texas AgriLife Extension
Service Feral hog consuming wild turkey eggs (Trail camera photo by
Dr. Brett Collier). Nutria Nutria have been reported in at least 40
states and three Canadian provinces in North America since their
introduction. Origin: Fur ranchers imported nutria into California,
Washington, Oregon, Michigan, New Mexico, Louisiana, Ohio, and Utah
between 1899 and 1940. South America Ecological Impact: Destruction
of native wetland habitat. Nutria feed on seedlings and saplings,
and have consequently denuded hundreds of thousands of acres of
marshlands and floodplains along the Gulf Coast. The estimated
agricultural and other recourses damage by nutria would probably
exceed $1 million annually. Nutria forage directly on the emergent
vegetation and the vegetative root mat in a wetland, leaving a
marsh pitted with digging sites and fragmented with deeply cut
swimming canals. Photographer: John and Karen Hollingsworth Source:
US Fish and Wildlife Service Red Imported Fire ant Mounds can be
hundreds of thousands of individuals Origin: The red imported fire
ant was introduced around the 1930's and has spread to infest more
than 260 million acres of land in 9 southeastern states
Photographer: USDA APHIS PPQ Archive Source: USDA APHIS PPQ
Ecological Impact: RIFA displace native ants from their habitat
including: Texas leaf-cutter ant Harvester ant (Texas Horned
Lizard) Carpenter ant RIFA is responsible for the reduction in
population numbers of all indigenous ants. Birds, especially those
that are ground-nesters such as the Bobwhite Quail are vulnerable
to the Red Imported Fire Ant. Tawny Crazy Ant Origin: South America
The Rasberry crazy ant was first discovered near Houston, Texas in
2002 by Tom Rasberry. The earliest record of N. fulva presence in
the US is from Brownsville, Texas, in 1938 Now occupies 27
counties. There can be millions of pupae within any one colony of
Rasberry crazy ants. Sometimes colonies are so large that the
individuals are indistinguishable from those of neighboring
colonies and a "super colony" may result with tremendous numbers.
Ecological Impact: Nesting songbirds, are irritated by Rasberry
crazy ants They rapidly colonize and take over various habitats,
including human-built establishments They reportedly displaced all
other ant species and caused small livestock (e.g. chickens) to die
of asphyxia. Masses of crazy ants covering the ground and trees
likely affect ground and tree-nesting birds and other small animals
and cause wildlife to move out of the area. Photographer: Bastiaan
Drees Source: Texas A&M University Muscovy Ducks Origin: South
America and Mexico
Introduced to the U.S. around 100 years ago. Ecological Impact: Out
compete native waterfowl (nesting in tree cavities). Interbreed
with native ducks. Aggressive begging for food and mess created by
droppings (about 150 g (1/3-pound) per day). They defecate in
swimming pools and on patios and docks possibly causing health
hazards. Large aggressive duck. Muscovys are not protected by state
wildlife laws nor laws set forth by the federal Migratory Bird
Treaty Act except for 3 counties in south Texas. Zebra Mussels One
zebra mussel can produce 30,000 to a million offspring in just one
year. Origin: Southern Russia The Zebra mussel was first observed
in North America in 1988 in Lake St. Clair. Zebra mussels are
currently in the following lakes: Texoma, Ray Roberts, Lewisville,
Bridgeport, Lavon, Waco, Dean Gilbert and Belton. They have also
been found in the Red River, the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, and
Sister Grove Creek, and a boat with zebra mussels attached was
found in Ray Hubbard. Ecological Impact: Photographer: Amy Benson
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Zebra mussels have caused alarming
declines in fish, birds, and native mussels by over-absorbing
phytoplankton. Its high rate of filtration also leads to increased
sunlight penetration, raising water temperatures and the depth at
which that light penetrates the water. Known to spread between
water bodies by hitching a ride on recreational watercraft such as
motorboats and jet skis, as well as in bait buckets and other
fishing equipment. Asian Tiger Prawn Asian tiger prawn are
aggressive and can reach up to a foot in length and one pound in
weight. Origin: Western Pacific The U.S. Geological Survey says
they may have escaped from Caribbean aqua-culture farms, or from
the water tanks of passing ships. Ecological Impact: Size could
give tiger prawns a competitive advantage over smaller native
shrimp when it comes to aquatic food resources. They feed on shrimp
and crab, a fact which has alarmed many biologists who worry about
native shrimp depletion. They are also thought to carry diseases
that native shrimp may not have the immune system to fight. Houston
Chronicle Asian Grass Carp Grass Carp can reach lengths of 45 and
88 lbs.
Origin: Eastern Asia from the Amur River of eastern Russia and
China. Introduced in the U.S. in 1963 for pond and lake
maintenance. Grass Carp can reach lengths of 45 and 88 lbs.
Ecological Impact: Have the potential to cause enormous damage to
native species because they feed mainly on plankton, a vital source
of nutrition for larval fish and native mussels. Competitor with
some native fish, like gizzard and threadfin shad, that depend on
plankton for food. Commonly remove too much vegetation and
deteriorate habitat for game fish. Can harm water quality by
increasing phosphorus levels Apple Snails Orgin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi2wcFPPJsI
South America Introduce by the aquarium trade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi2wcFPPJsI Apple snails with
channeled shells are now established in six counties in
southeastern Texas. Island apple snails (P. insularum) Channeled
apple snails (P. canaliculata). Ecological Impact: Photographer:
Jess Van Dyke Source: Snail Busters, LLC It may be a vector for
disease and parasites such as the lungworm (eosinophilic
meningoencephalitis) in humans Snails also contribute to skin
irritations by being intermediate hosts to the associated
trematodes. Apple snails are a serious threat to wetlands by the
potential destruction of native aquatic vegetation that causes
serious habitat modification, as well as competition with native
fauna, including native snails. Quilted Melania Parthenogenic
species. Origin:
India east to the Philippines and Hawaii, north to South Japan and
south to the Society Islands. Introduction date of 1940 has been
suggested. Researchers believe the main method of introduction was
via the aquarium industry. Parthenogenic species. Ecological
Impact: Aggressive competitor with native species. Pose a health
risk to humans and birds. By acting as an intermediate host to
various trematodes that can infect humans as well as birds. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service Texas Parks and Wildlife
Texas AgriLife U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Texas Parks and
Wildlife U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service Wildlife Services Chaniotis, BR, Butler, JM,
Ferguson, FF, and WR Jobin Bionomics of Tarebia granifera
(Gastropoda: Thiaridae) in Puerto Rico, an Asiatic vector of
Paragonimiasis westermani. Carib J Sci. 16(1-4). Abbott, RT A study
on an intermediate snail host (Thiara granifera) of the oriental
lung fluke (Paragonimus). In: Proceedings of The United States
National Museum. Vol 102(p ). Online Sources: