Screening of Non- Nnative Species in US Border - Research Paper Example

Screening of non- native species in us border Non-native species is a term commonly used to refer to plants and animals introduced to a foreign environment mostly by humanity either intentionally or accidentally.. Such exotic invaders die because they cannot adjust to the introduced ecosystem, which implies they entail domestication. However, some thrive to the extent of dominating their new ecosystem by spreading quickly and widely. These kinds of invaders do not have their native predators and with time take over the ecosystem from native species (David and Sweeney 53). The term invasive can refer to introduced species and diseases as well. Approximately 50,000 non-native species have been introduced in the US up to date. Non -native species can be referred to as invasive if it poses danger to the ecological systems. Introduced species that need to be taken care of by humans in order to thrive are known as ornamental plants. Other than human activities, non-native species can be introduced through climatic change due to natural selection whereby new organisms that can survive are established. Continental drift is another factor known to contribute to the presence of non-native species. However, these are slow processes and the most common is human activity. During past centuries, immigration has taken place globally man relocating to extremely far destinations whereby his movements yielded to the transportation of plants as well as other organisms to completely new environments away from their native ecosystem. To protect these ecosystems, native species and the economy of US, respective authorities have devised regulatory measures meant to control the introduction of new foreign species by humans. Invasive species encounter extremely strict measures imposed on them despite their benefits, which they will bring to their new environment. Early detection and immediate response is the best strategy to protect the ecosystem. This is the reason for screening of non-native species in the US border. This essay seeks to explain benefits of screening non-native species besides relaying effects of invasive species US’ environment. Identifying, Quantifying and screening Non-native species Experts have contended that the ongoing disease outbreaks and non-native species invasion could have prevented early in advance but it is inevitable now. This is by blocking initial entry at the US borders such that they are unable to enter. A Ghanaian importer responsible for the importation of Gambian rats, which led to the highly vulnerable monkey-pox virus cited borders’ laxity. During an interview Carroll’s sentiments concerning this laxity cited, “Europe uses strict quarantines to catch diseased wildlife imports, making inexpensive for both the exporter and importer. That’s why he loved to send animals to the United States, because there are no rules.” In contrast, appropriate ways have been devised against the importation of live animals, which implies this report meant that maybe agencies mandated with this responsibility of ensuring air tight entry to the US’ soil did not act as necessitated; hence those loopholes entail effective fixing. Intentional imports are easy to regulate compared to unintentional because some occur in form of contaminations. In most cases, importation of animals is basically for recreational, commercial and educational purposes. According to defenders of wildlife sentiments, US alone imports millions of animals annually (Roman & John 454). These animals ought to bear identification as well as quantified on basis whether they are either native or exotic to the US. Those which defenders cannot identify their range, they place them in their own category. Based on 2000-2004 statistics, respective agencies could not identify numerous shipments of organisms by their genus name except by class and family. Weight and number in most cases quantify legal exports. Legal can be both native and non-native. Data gathered is not always exhaustive but still risk screening ought to take place. To ensure introduced species have not resulted to any harm in their respective destinations, agencies mostly review US data of varied places where these species inhabit or reside. Suppose they find a harmful species, they label it as “risk annoyed” whereby currently there are more than 300 known potentially risky species imported. Based on experience, some of these animals will escape and form viable wild populations or cause disease epidemics. Land borders, ports and airports are the strategic points to do screening. Hawaii and Florida are some of the special cases that have experienced adverse effects of nonnative species. This is because of these two regions’ geography, climatic history and economy that present favorable inhabits for harmful species. For instance, Hawaii has a set of islands; hence more than half of its species are non-native. New species that were introduced in the past have entirely dominated their ecosystem whereby they continue to augment. The fact Hawaii is in isolation; it is an alarming call for respective authorities to address this case as necessitated. However, its government has utterly failed in implementing appropriate measures besides ignoring the ecosystem. Florida’s ecosystem is also facing threats from the invasive trees and weeds (Molnar, Rebecca & Mark, 482). Effects of Non-indigenous Invasive Species Human activity has led to the introduction of new species that end up thriving and becoming harmful pests. These species has led to adverse effects not only on the environment but also to their destinations’ ecosystems. For instance, the introduction of zebra mussel near Detroit through ship water tanks from the Black sea has led to its rapid reproduction, which is always at an early stage. This is because they the ability to dissolving its organic matter as food, a property that is not evident among the surrounding common in native organism (Cochran 46). Consequently, this has prompted the zebra to dominate almost the entire ecosystem. This is also evident in Mexico and in Connecticut though at early stages. Domination of the ecosystem by invasive species usually leads to the creation of one gene pool and species all globally end up competing for survival. For instance, the Florida wasp became extinct after the introduction of the non-native Southeast Asian wasp. The native wasp was important in local pest control unlike the Asian wasp. This implies invasive ecosystem can even change the whole food web of the ecosystem besides sometimes coming with diseases, which native species are not adapted to thus resulting to their death. Economic losses are also felt due to invasive species. Sectors mostly affected include agriculture, fisheries, forestry besides infrastructure. Non-indigenous weeds, insects, mollusks, birds, and pathogens reduce crop as well as livestock production causing losses after harvesting. Management of agricultural pests requires costly research, development and application of control strategies. Direct livestock production losses and indict economic effects usually occur due to Euphoria esula. This spurge has spread to 1.5 acres of rangeland destroying it (Inderjit 2). Annually, US losses due to weed amounts to billions of dollars, which is extremely demoralizing to farmers who have utilized expensive inputs. Non-indigenous insect species pose threats to agriculture. In the forestry sector, insects and pathogens continue to destroy trees that had been important for urban plantings and a source of food for the wild. Both wild fisheries and aquiculture have been damaged by harmful species whereby some these fisheries have ended up decimating. US parts with approximately $10 M annually in their quest to conduct effective researches meant to come up with effective control measures that will reduce predation of the parasite sea lamprey in the Welland Canal (Bax, Williamson, Gonzales & Geeves 313). An equal amount is also goes to the stocking fish annually besides $100 M spent nationally to control aquatic weeds, majorities of which are non-indigenous. Infrastructure and health are other sectors that have been affected by these invasive species. Non-indigenous pests damage commercial and residential structures, hence threatening occupants’ health as well as reducing property values. Non-indigenous aquatic weeds grow in masses similar to the habitat of mosquito larvae to reed. Numerous policymakers and conservation activists contend all introduced species lead to unequaled environmental crises of our lifetime (Richardson 273). Out of the million indigenous species in the US, a small fraction is said to be problematic. One may wonder why the government puts a lot of effort to quantify exotic species given that most plants in our gardens and the pets we keep are from other parts of the world. Some of these nonnative species have special and beneficial factors to the economy as well as to the environment. However, as much as the problematic ones are few, the effects they cause are diverse and critical thus strict rules ought to be in place (Richardson 273). Conclusion Solutions to invasive species are complicated because it is already too late for their elimination. This is because eradicating them is extremely pricey and requires a lot of research. Controlling them is also difficult, which implies any society at their vicinity ought to cope with it (Venner 5). Areas that have not been affected adversely should learn from those states that are in crisis and are trying to cope with the intention of taking appropriate measures. More screening should be done at the borders, to prevent further damage to the environment, economy, health and for the sake of the future generation. Work Cited Bax, Nicholas, Williamson, Angela, Aguero, Max, Gonzalez, Exequiel & Geeves, W. Marine invasive alien species: a threat to global biodiversity. Marine Policy. 27. 4 (2003): 313-23. David, L. and Sweeney, J. Ecological Impacts of Non-Native Invertebrates and Fungi on Terrestrial Ecosystems. Dordrecht: Springer, 2009. Internet resource. Inderjit, S. Invasive Plants: Ecological and Agricultural Aspects. Basel: Birkhäuser, 2005. Print Molnar, L., Rebecca L. Revenga, G . & Mark, D. Assessing the global threat of invasive species to marine biodiversity. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 6.9 (2008): 485–92 Richardson, D M. Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology: The Legacy of Charles Elton. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Print. Roman, J. & John A. Paradox lost: genetic diversity and the success of aquatic invasions. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 22.9 (2007): 454-64. Venner, Marie. Control of Invasive Species: A Synthesis of Highway Practice. Washington, D.C: Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, 2006. Print. The Regulation of Live Animal Imports in the United States: Defenders of Wildlife. New England Herpetological Society, Inc. 2005-2014. Web. 9Th March 2013. Read More