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Invasive Alien Species

What are they?

Carolinian Canada is rich in biodiversity. Many species are native to the area and over thousands of years they have adapted to living in this climate under specific conditions. Other organisms, however, have only recently arrived in Canada with European settlers, accidentally in boats and planes, or others have been introduced on purpose.  These introduced species are referred to as alien species. 

  • Alien Species: species living outside their natural distribution (i.e. not native to the area)

    • Usually arrived through human help

 

There are different strategies in how organisms grow. Some grow slowly and take many years to mature (e.g. turtles), while others reproduce quickly (e.g. rabbits). Some adapt easily and can grow in a variety of conditions (e.g. dandelions), others are particular about where they live or what they eat (e.g. giant pandas eat almost nothing but bamboo). Some species are "weedy" or "invasive - they spread quickly, grow and reproduce quickly and seem to be able to live anywhere. Gardeners have spent many hours battling these types of aggressive plants!

  • Invasive species: species which are adaptable, aggressive and have high reproductive capacity

    • Pose threats to environment, economy or society
 
Some native species have characteristics of invasive species. Some alien species are not invasive at all. But some alien species are also invasive, and it is this combination that can pose serious threats to biodiversity in the Carolinian Zone. Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are among the top 5 causes of biodiversity loss and ecosystem change globally.

  • Invasive + Alien = Trouble

    • Aggressive - grow and spread quickly
    • Have no natural enemies in their new home

 There are many invasive alien species now living in Carolinian Canada, and more are likely to arrive.

  

What to do about invasive alien species?

Prevention: The first line of defense for invasive species is prevention. The most cost-effective approach to combating invasive species is to keep them from becoming established in the first place.

Early Detection and Rapid Response: When prevention fails, detect new populations of IAS quickly and deal with them before they become established and spread.

Control and Management: In some cases the IAS may be too widespread to eradicate. Reducing these established IAS populations and limiting their spread could dramatically decrease the associated economic and ecological impacts they cause. 

Restoration: IAS are more likely to colonize disturbed sites. Restoring native plant communities can reduce the risk of future invasions in areas where control actions have reduced or eliminated invasive species. 

 

Helpful Resources