Super Species
It's a bird . . . It's a plane . . . It's not from around here!
By Martin Moen
Like Kal-El crash landing his spaceship from Krypton, non-native plants and animals are arriving at our doorstep. And like Superman, some of them have traits—developed in their home environment—that allow them to flourish in their new homes.
Unfortunately, the impact of non-native species is anything but a comic book fantasy. A 2005 study by Cornell University estimated invasive species cost the U.S. more than $138 billion per year in damage and control costs. Control costs approach $500 million per year in the Great Lakes Basin alone.
These costs affect Minnesotans. For example, zebra mussels have now entered the St. Paul water system and likely will increase water costs by clogging pipes and shutting down water supplies. The total cost to the United States of the zebra mussel invasion is estimated at $3.1 billion over the next ten years.
But it’s not just the economic impact; these invaders also bring ecological harm and sheer nuisance.
Ray Newman, Susan Solarz and David Andow discuss the need for more research into invasive species. The project they lead is supporting up to 25 Ph.D. students.
Understanding the issues
Invasive species are organisms whose superior abilities enable them to out-compete other species in the race for nutrients and reproduction. These “Clark Kents” have been introduced by accident or on purpose. Scientists estimate there are more than 125 non-native invasive species in Minnesota. And those are the ones we know about.
“Unlike climate change and habitat loss, invasive species can go undetected, sometimes even when they are at their most severe,” says David Andow, professor of entomology in CFANS. “It requires a trained eye to identify an invasive insect or plant.”
The history of invasive species in the Minnesota landscape stretches back over 100 years. We’ve learned to adapt to these strangers in our midst. But our relationship with invasive species today is vastly different due to our increased regional mobility and our growing dependence on global trade. And perhaps the most significant difference is the confluence of various environmental problems.