invasive species – Page 2

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Can a newly invasive tick spread Lyme disease?

April 20, 2020 John Foster 0 Comments invasive species

As spring arrives, animals of all shapes and sizes, native or invasive, come out from sheltering over winter. Unfortunately, this also includes pests that we might not be so excited to see again, including those that spread disease such as mosquitoes and ticks. Lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the United States, and spread by native black-legged ticks. However, since 2017 there has been an invasive tick expanding into Lyme disease territory, but the question of whether these invasive ticks can spread Lyme disease remains unanswered.

Environmental Science

Invader in red: the impacts of the red-eared slider turtle across the globe

April 8, 2020 Kevin Aviles Rodriguez 0 Comments Conservation, Ecology, invasive species

I’ve always been a big fan of animals. I love visiting pet shops and looking at all the cool animals. However, movement of animals via the pet trade has resulted in the introduction of exotic wildlife to many ecosystems globally. A particularly widespread invader is the red-eared slider turtle. Read on to find out how these invaders in red have spread and whether policy has been effective in controlling them.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

What Smokey the Bear didn’t know about invasive species

March 13, 2020September 12, 2022 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments invasive species, United States, Wildfire

Fires are increasing across the United States and researchers are looking to weed out the one of the culprits — invasive grasses. Using information from fires and non-native grass invasion across the country, researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst set out to determine if invasive grasses increase the number of fires across the United States. Of the twelve grass species analyzed, 66% increased fire frequency, adding another layer to the complexity of managing wildfires. As individuals we can help halt this “grass-fire cycle” by reducing the spread of invasive grasses and human-caused sparks.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Spotting the Shy Guy – Why Collaboration With Local Indigenous People Can Be An Asset to Conservation Management

February 26, 2020 Jessica Espinosa 0 Comments amphibians, behavior, conservation biology, ecosystems, indigenous communities, invasive species

A recent Australian study highlights the importance of including local and indigenous people in conservation research. While examining mitigation of lizard population declines, scientists stumbled upon a surprising finding about how researchers’ cultural differences can affect fieldwork and experimental outcomes.

Climate Environmental Science

Mosquitoes in Winter (what the..?)

February 19, 2020February 22, 2020 Whitney Kroschel 0 Comments adaptation, Climate Change, insect, invasive species, mosquitoes

In many regions witnessing a mosquito in winter is common. Though many mosquitoes die off when temperatures get too cold outside, many of them don’t. It all depends on the species; and with warming climates, we can expect to see a lot more of them in the coming decades.

Cities Ecosystems Environmental Science Toxicology

It’s all in the genes: how water pollution keeps silver carp at bay.

October 30, 2019October 30, 2019 Lauren Bonatakis 0 Comments chicago, great lakes, invasive species, physiology, Pollution, silver carp

Silver carp are a notorious invasive fish that are spreading throughout the Mississippi River Basin. Despite their rapid-fire range expansion, silver carp have yet to make it to the Great Lakes. A recent study explores the possibility that polluted Chicago-area waters may be preventing the spread of silver carp into Lake Michigan and beyond.

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Friend or foe? Invasive earthworms can benefit agriculture but harm forests

September 17, 2019September 17, 2019 Kara Cromwell 0 Comments agriculture, carbon, Conservation, Ecology, environmental science, forest ecology, forests, invasive species, invertebrates, nutrient cycles

Earthworms are welcome guests in the garden, but it’s a different story in the forest. By consuming and removing leaf litter too fast they set in motion complex cascades of ecological changes, with long-term negative effects on soil fertility and biodiversity.

Climate Environmental Science

Native milkweed supports healthy monarch communities

August 28, 2019August 21, 2019 Ashley Riane Booth 0 Comments behaviour ecology, butterflies, Climate Change, Conservation, Ecology, insects, invasive species, invertebrates, milkweed, monarch butterflies

“Monarch butterflies do really well on the exotic milkweed species that’s being widely sold and planted under current environmental conditions. But under warmer conditions, the exotic plant becomes too toxic and monarchs become less healthy.”

Case Studies Cities

Dumpster diving diet: city rats have higher protein diet distinct from other rural mammals

July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 Kevin Aviles Rodriguez 0 Comments Ecology, invasive species, stable isotopes

Rats have shared our cities for a long time. Because of this they can be used a model to learn more about how animals colonized cities and what features of cities can be advantageous for some species. A new study focuses their attention on whether 19th century city mice had an advantage over their rural neighbors. Read on to find out more!

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Dropping Like Flies: Two Fungi Might Have What it Takes to Stop Spotted Lanternfly.

June 28, 2019June 25, 2019 Abigail Bezrutczyk 0 Comments biocontrol, Ecology, fungi, insects, invasive species

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a threat to apple and grape crops in the northeast– research in biocontrol may help to stop the spread of this invasive insect.