Transcript Invasive Species Notes

Alien Invasion
What’s in a name?
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Introduced species
Invasive species
Noxious species
Alien species
• DEF – A species outside naturally
occurring range that is displacing
“native” species, or causing ecosystem
damage in some way
Who cares?
• Most “introduced” species don’t become
invasive – but hard to predict which
ones will
• One of the greatest threats to our
biodiversity (behind loss of habitat)
• Estimate 138 billion dollars of damage
per year
Tamarisk
or Salt Cedar
• Introduced during 1800’s as an
ornamental and for erosion control
• Accumulates salt in soil
• Lowers water table
• Increases risk of fire
• Dominates riparian (river) areas of west
and southwest
Why Worse?
• In the last 60-70 years, the Tamarisk
have become a real problem in the
west.
• Why in only the last 60-70 years? They
have been around for 200 years?
Make A Stand!
Salt Cedar & Glen Canyon Dam
Drain It!
• Invasive Species Control
• Wasted Water via Evaporation &
Seepage
• Redundant Water Control
• Hoover could produce more Electricity
• Tourism and restoring Glen Canyon
Keep It!
• Electricity Loss, subsidized by fossil
fuels
• Lake Powell Tourism
• Current Fisheries will be Impacted
Negativrly
• 700+ Year Life Span
• $$$$$
Drain it?
• Make a Stand!
• Discuss in your group why you made
your stand
• Have one person write down your
groups thoughts
• Have one spokes person describe your
groups beliefs to the class