Biological Invasion

Aditi Koirala
Anuska Subedi
Isha Paudyal
Priyasa Pandey

XI A
Contents
Introduction

Impacts
i. Health
ii. Social
iii. Environmental
iv. Evolutionary
v. Economic

 Management
i. Prevention
ii. Eradication
iii. Control
 Introduction
Biological invasions are a major force of change, affecting many dimensions of life on Earth.
Invasions result when species colonize new geographic regions, which are isolated from
existing populations. Humans have dramatically altered invasion dynamics, especially with
the global expansion of trade in modern times.

Biological invasions are considered as one of the most serious threats for global biodiversity
because they decline native biodiversity and cause global environment changes.

The negative impacts of biological invasion have been considered significant in countries
from underdeveloped to developed economy due to:
• Lack of expertise
• Limited resources available for management

An invasive organism is one that has arrived in a place from somewhere else and has a
harmful effect on that place

They affect organism by causing problems in environment, economy or even in human

health.
Ways of spreading invasive species

• Agricultural materials
• Aquaculture farming
• Ballast water and shipping
• Classroom or science labs
• Firewood
• Fishing gear food trade and it’s packing materials
• Passenger baggage
• Plants and plants parts
• Recreational boat and vehicles
 What are invasive plants?
Invasive plants are usually non- native species that have been introduced
intentionally or by accident and spread from human settings into natural areas
with negative effects on our economy, environment and health. Invasive plants
usually possess traits that make them effective invaders, such as short life
cycle, high growth rate, large number of seeds with good dispersal ability and
good colonizing capacity. There’s been an increase in invasions over time.
 Some invasive species

Purple
English ivy Loosestrife

Giant
Himalayan blackberry Hogweed
What is name of the given species?
It’s Lantana camara
 Did you know?
Mikania micrantha (Lahare banmara),
Chromolaena odorata ( Seto banmara),
Eichhornia crasspes ( jal kumbhi), Lantana
Camara ( Banfada) are among the 100 most
dangerous invasive species in the world.
 Everybody
must have seen
this plant on
your way home
from school or
in different
place around
the Kathmandu
valley. Many of
us confuse it as
sirish (blue
mimosa) but
it’s actually an
invasive plant
namely
Jacaranda
mimosifolia.

(Jacaranda mimosifolia) is native to South America ( Brazil, Mexico and Argentina).

Nepali botanists and historians suggest that Rana aristocrafts brought this plant ot
Kathmandu in the late 19th and early 20th century.
 Why should we care?
Biological invasion has become one of the main cause of economic and
environmental damage. As a result of increasing in the decline of
productivity of both crop land and pastures. It is therefore important to
control invasive species in farming fields and grazing land to reduce their
impacts, and prevent further spread to new areas.

You can make a difference

You can help by simply identifying invasive plants in your area, safely removing and
disposing of them, and replanting with native, non- invasive plants. Your
participation in this process will help restore and protect our native plants and
ecosystem integrity.
Invasive species of Nepal
Invasive species of Nepal
 Impacts
Invasions by non- native species are changing the composition and function of many
communities across the globe.
Non- native species dominates some terrestrial, wetland, freshwater and marine
ecosystems ( in terms of species richness and abundance) and can exert strong effects as
predators, competitors, parasites and pathogens of native biota.
Their impacts can be classified as:

1) HEALTH IMPACT
• Invasion of species can affect human health either directly by introduced nuisance
species.
• Or directly by introduced species acting as vectors for human pathogens.
• Not only human health but health of domestic and wild animals are also affected
• Four categories of it’s impacts can be identified:
a) causing diseases or infections
b) Exposing humans to wounds from bites/stings, biotoxins, allergens or toxicants
c) Facilitating diseases, injuries or death
d) Inflicting other negative effects on human livelihood
• For example: Novel Corona Virus caused by Covid- 19 virus.
• Malaria caused by Plasmodium Vivax
• Pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumonia
2) SOCIAL IMPACT

• Changes in ecosystem affect social aspects of humans.

• Ecosystems provide goods and services such as fresh water, food and fibres or
recreation
• These services when altered by invasive species are a threat to sustenance of
good quality of life
• Sustenance of food, shelter, health, security and social interaction are
affected
• Therefore, the Convention on Biological Diversity (2002) demands impacts of
biological invasions should be an object of socio- economic interest
• Some identified impacts on social aspects are:
a) Livelihood options narrowed
b) Food security decreased
c) Risks to human and animal health
d) Increased social challenges
3) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

• Impacts on all levels of ecological organization: individuals, species, communities and

ecosystems

• The mechanisms by which introduced species exert impact on native species are:
a) Competition
b) Herbivory
c) Predation
d) Parasitism
e) Physical or chemical modification of habitats

• Cause loss of biodiversity

• Decreased availability and quality of natural resources
• Affect food web structure of communities and ecosystems
• EXAMPLE: after introduction of Lates niloticus into lake Victoria, extinction of about
200 species of native cichlid fishes.
4) EVOLUTIONARY IMPACTS

• Caused mainly by removing or lifting natural dispersal and reproduction barriers

which prevent reproduction between invading and native species.

• Prevents allopatric speciation and could restrict future biodiversity

• Alteration in genetic diversity that results in outbreeding depression

• Affects genetic architecture of native species

• Affects size growth, distribution and behavior of native species.

EXAMPLE: introduced predatory fishes often result in altered habitats use by prey
species
5) ECONOMIC IMPACTS
• Economic impacts result from effects of introduced species on native biota
and funds expended to control invasion effects.

• Reduce harvest quantity or quality in agriculture or aquaculture.

• Health hazards to human beings and livestock.

• Degradation of value and quality of soil.

• Technical constructions for control of invasive species.

• EXAMPLE: wood- boring bivalve Teredo navalis (shipworm) causes severe

problems with harbour constructions and causes about 205000000 US
dollars per year damage in the US alone.
 Management
There is a need of systematic and comprehensive studies on the ecological and
economic impacts of invasive species for their proper management.
Management of invasive species involves three basic strategies:

1) Prevention
2) Eradication
3) Control
Prevention
 First and best strategy for invasive species management.
 Early detection and removal of invasive species.
 But it’s obstacle is that it can’t be effective in the context of globalization and increasing
human mobility.

Eradication
 Complete removal of invasive species from the habitat or region
 Possible only when the species occur in small area

Control
Chemical control
 The process of controlling invasive species by using chemicals like pesticides, herbicides,
insecticides and fungicides.
 It is not eco- friendly but guaranteed for killing target invasive species.
Biological control
 It is the international of natural enemies which works best in infestation near the water.
 It uses the bioherbicide for damaging specific invasive species.
Manual control
 Eco- friendly and very useful for small infestations.
 Like: digging, flooding, destruction and removal of nest etc.

Mechanical control
 It is useful for medium- large infestations in areas but quite expensive
 It may harm environment
 Like: mowing, cutting, girding and constructing barriers for invasive species using
equipment.

References
Forestaction.org
English.onlinekhabar.com
Researchgate.net/

Fonts used:
Calibri