Contents Earthworms in North America Zebra Mussels in Western Europe and North America Canadian Waterweed in Europe

Transcription

1 Contents Earthworms in North America... 1 The Earthworms in Their Native Habitats... 1 Introduction and Spread... 2 Ecological Effects... 4 Interacting Alien Species... 7 Economic and Human Health Impacts... 7 Control Efforts... 8 Current Status and Likely Future... 9 Public Perception and Current Policies... 9 References... 9 Zebra Mussels in Western Europe and North America Cautionary Tale The Mussel in Its Native Habitat The Spread to Western Europe Effects of the Zebra Mussel in Newly Invaded Waters in Western Europe After Their Introduction, What Happened Next in Western Europe?. 16 The Spread to North America and Further Invasion There Ecological Effects of the Zebra Mussel in North America The Quagga Mussel, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis Economic Effects of the Zebra Mussel in North America The Likely Future Summary References Canadian Waterweed in Europe Some Basic Plant Facts Introduction and Spread in Europe Ecological Effects of Dense Stands of Canadian Waterweed Control Attempts ix

2 x Contents Then, What Happened? What About the Exceptions? Economic Effects References Himalayan Balsam in Europe The Plant Itself The Further Spread in Europe and Current Distribution Ecological Effects of the Himalayan Balsam Plant Species Diversity Effects of Himalayan Balsam on the Diversity of Plant-Associated Fauna Himalayan Balsam on Riverbanks and Increased Erosion Some Observations of the Spread and Impact of the Himalayan Balsam in the Flatlands of Southwestern Sweden Attitudes, Classifications, and Extermination and Control Attempts Economic Aspects of Himalayan Balsam Current Trends and the Likely Future of the Himalayan Balsam Invasion in Europe References The House Sparrow in North America A Little About the Bird Itself Introduction to North America The Economic and Ecological Effects of the House Sparrows Then What Happened? How Do the House Sparrows Fare in Their Native Countries? Some Loose Treads (Starlings and Predatory Birds) The Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) as Comparison An Interesting Sidetrack Summary References Rabbits in Australia The European Rabbit Introduction and Release in Australia The Population Explosion and Spread Ecological Effects Economic Effects Control Attempts Foxes Rabbit-Proof Fences Myxomatosis Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Current Control Status A Side Story About the Dingoes References... 88

3 Contents xi Crayfish Plague in Europe The Pathogen The Spread The First Phase The Second Phase Ecological Effects Economic Effects Control Attempts On the Virtues or Lack Thereof of Introducing the Signal Crayfish to Europe Official Policies and Public Perception References The Colorado (Potato) Beetle How It Went from Obscurity to Becoming a Plague Some Biological Facts About the Colorado Beetle Itself The Colorado Beetle in Europe and Asia An Agent of Biological Warfare? The Damage Inflicted by the Colorado Beetle How to Control the Beetle? Mechanical, Chemical, and Biological Attempts Economic Aspects of the Colorado Beetle Infestation Current Trends and the Most Likely Future Summary References Water Hyacinths in Africa and Asia The Plant Introduction and Spread to Africa and Asia A Different School of Thoughts as to the Spread Ecological Effects Economic Effects Case Story: Lake Inle Case Story: East Bengal Case Story: The Nile River Case Story: Lake Victoria Control Measures Utilization of Water Hyacinths Current Status References Starlings in North America A Little About the Bird Itself Introduction to North America and the Subsequent Spread Ecological Effects Economic Effects Control Efforts

4 xii Contents Public Perception and Official Policies The Role of Diseases and Parasites Another Possibly Contributing Factor to the Invasive Success How Do the Starlings Fare in Their Native Europe? Summary References The Argentine Ant on Mediterranean Shores The Ant Itself Introductions to the Mediterranean Area Supercolonies: How and Why? Ecological Effects of the Argentine Ant in the Mediterranean Area Control of the Argentine Ant Economic Aspects of the Argentine Ant Invasion The Mediterranean Supercolony: Current Population Trend Summary References Dutch Elm Disease in Europe and North America A Short Presentation of the Main Actors Elm Trees: The Victims and Hosts The Beetles: The Vectors of the Spread The Fungi: The Perpetrators Introduction and Spread Ophiostoma ulmi Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Early Signs and Progress of the Disease Ecological Effects Economic Effects Control Attempts Public Perception and Official Policies What Could Be in Store for the Future? References American Mink in Europe Something About the Biology and Habits of the American Mink European Competitors to the American Mink The Further Spread in Europe Ecological and Economic Effects What Mink Eats A Personal Experience Effects of Mink on Other Species and Vice Versa Economic Effects of Mink Divergent Trends Between Farmed and Feral Minks Control and Extermination Attempts The Future Summary References

5 Contents xiii Marine (Cane) Toad on Pacific Islands A Marine Toad That Is Not Marine at All Marine Toads in Puerto Rico: A Success Story? The Marine Toad, Its Original Distribution and Natural Enemies Toxicity and Defensive Strategies Some Notes on the Biology and Habits of the Marine Toad The Marine Toad Here, There, Everywhere Hawaii Philippines Fiji New Guinea Guam, Palau, and Marshall Islands Japan Australia Ecological and Economic Aspects of Marine Toad Invasions Eradication and Control Attempts The Marine Toad and the Human Environment Human Utilization of Marine Toads Summary References Raccoons in Europe (Germany) How They Got to Europe In Systema Natura, Where Do They Belong? Some Raccoon Facts Demographics of Raccoons in Their Natural Habitats Urban Raccoons The Development of the German Raccoon Population Ecological Effects of Invasive Raccoons in Europe The Raccoon as a Disease Transmitter in Europe Economic Aspects of Raccoons in Europe Ausländisch oder heimish? (Alien or Native?) The Future of Raccoons in Europe References Canadian Beavers in Tierra del Fuego Introduction and Spread of the Canadian Beaver The Canadian Beaver (Castor canadensis) Ecological Effects of Beavers in Its Native Range Beavers as Symbols and Mascots Tierra del Fuego Ecological Effects of Beavers on Tierra del Fuego The Beaver as a Tourist Attraction A Joint Argentine-Chilean Eradication Attempt References

6 xiv Contents African Killer Bees in the Americas The Honey Bee The African Honey Bee and Beekeeping in Southern Africa Honey Bees in America Introduction of African Bees to the Americas Killer Bees : The Role of Generals and the Media The Spread of African and Africanized Bees Ecological Effects Economic Effects Control Attempts Current Situation Public Perception and Official Policies Summary References The Warty Comb Jelly in the Black Sea Biology and Original Zoogeography of the Warty Comb Jelly The Black Sea The Sea of Azov The Introduction, Spread, and Population Explosion of the Warty Comb Jelly Ecological Effects of the M. leidyi Invasion from Late 1980 to Late Zooplankton Jellyfishes and Jellies Fish Effects of M. leidyi on Nutrient Status and the Vertical Transportation of Matter Cascading Effects Beroe ovata The Warty Comb Jelly After 1997 and Consequences of the New Regime Economic Effects Some Dissenting Views Brief Comments on Some Other Areas with Invasive Warty Comb Jellies Summary References Some Concluding Remarks Emanating from the Case Studies Delayed Invasiveness Ecological Effects of Invasive Species Assessments of Economic Effects of Invasive Species What Can We Expect from Ongoing Invasions? A Bleak Future (?) References Index

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