Target 15.8 Prevent invasive species
By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species
Asian Swamp Eels in the Everglades
While populations of native fishes in the Florida Everglades are tied to the system's natural hydrological dynamics, Asian Swamp Eels are drought-resistant fish first reported in Florida in 1997. Within a decade, they started showing up in the Everglades. Using a 26-year dataset that included a 13-year baseline period prior to swamp eel arrival in Taylor Slough, FIU scientists assessed population changes of common small fishes and decapods that are important prey for larger vertebrate predators. After invasion, populations of several species suffered significant declines. Species most strongly reduced were those dependent on predator-free habitats at the onset of the wet season, indicating drought-resistant swamp eels have introduced novel predator effects and disrupted the hydrology-mediated production of aquatic animals that are prey for many larger predators. Ongoing Everglades restoration is designed to restore hydrological conditions that support production of crayfishes and fishes, and nesting wading birds reliant on them. Water management may have facilitated the invasion of swamp eels. These results provide critical information for ecosystem management and are a crucial first step for guiding strategies to intervene in what could be a potentially devastating disruptor to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
Burmese Pythons in the Everglades
A scientist from FIU’s Institute of Environment recently conducted a system-wide assessment of the broad and diverse population control efforts being used to fight the growing invasion of Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades. The goal of the research is to help guide management of this growing threat to the already imperiled ecosystem. The Florida Everglades is a fragile coastal wetland undergoing a decades-long, large-scale ecological restoration. Stressed by diminished freshwater flow and water diversion for agricultural activities and urbanization, the health of this vast ecosystem is also threatened by the presence of a large number of invasive species including the Burmese python. These large constrictors were introduced to South Florida through the pet trade and first sighted in Everglades National Park in the 1980s. Pythons are naturally camouflaged there, making it an excellent environment for propagation of these huge predators. This top predator has severely disrupted the food web, consuming mammals, birds and other reptiles. The scientist agrees with others that eradication is all but impossible for the python, and advocates for increased containment efforts including paid professional hunters and innovative control methods such as chemical synthesis of the female python’s pheromone. The Burmese python issue is only growing in South Florida and research such as this can help management officials redirect efforts to strategies that are proving effective.
Pablo Escobar's Hippos
Four African hippos imported by Pablo Escobar to his native Colombia have resulted in a potential ecological disaster for Colombia's largest and most important river system. When the drug trafficker was killed in a 1993 shootout with Colombian police, his private collection of exotic animals was seized and taken to zoos — except for the hippos which were too large and too heavy to transport. Abandoned, they spread along the Magdalena river and multiplied, spending the majority of their time in the water. FIU researchers are studying the impacts of these non-native hippos to address the environmental challenges caused by them and the significant amount of waste they produce on a daily basis. Currently, there are about 50 hippos roaming freely in the region, but our researchers estimate that number could skyrocket to anywhere between 400 and 800 hippos by 2050. While local residents have grown fond of the hippos, their ecological impact will grow as their numbers grow. FIU scientists are amassing the information needed to guide a future management strategy for protecting the Magdalena River.
Zebra Mussel
FIU scientists are part of a collaborative team studying ecosystem function in lakes invaded by zebra mussels, an invasive species that can restructure food webs through benthification. Biologists have very limited understanding of general patterns of spread and impact of biological invitations with the exception of the zebra mussel. By efficiently consuming phytoplankton, zebra mussels can increase light penetration and nutrient concentrations in the benthos of a lake, thereby stimulating growth of benthic periphyton and macroinvertebrates. Yet, few studies monitor the response of these benthic communities to invasion. This team documented early changes in phytobenthos and zoobenthos as zebra mussels invaded eutrophic Lake Mendota in Wisconsin. Their research is leading to greater understanding of the impacts to ecosystem function as zebra mussels continue to invade and spread among benthic regions of lakes.
Prescribed Burns
Preserving fire-dependent ecosystems can mitigate biodiversity loss from urbanization, but FIU researchers are studying their effects on managing invasive species. Their preliminary research shows prescribed burns can actually mitigate the spread of invasive species when removal methods factor an invasive species’ response to fire. For example, some species can largely be removed by prescribed fire if their population is low pre-fire. These species could be targeted by forest managers for removal prior to a prescribed burn. But other species, which appeared to do well under burn conditions, should be targeted for removal post-burn to increase opportunities of identifying and eradicating the invasive. While the research is ongoing, FIU researchers are working toward solutions to help reduce the encroachment of invasive species by maximizing effectiveness of management strategies already in place.