We know invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species are bad news. They degrade, change, or displace native habitats, compete with native wildlife or plants, and even cause human health concerns. They are major threats not only to biodiversity, but also to our economy - notably fisheries, oil and gas, and outdoor tourism in Alaska.
For example, , estimated that if left unchecked to spread across the state, the aquatic invasive plant, Elodea could cost the commercial sockeye fishing industry $159 million per year. In kind, the damage to other Alaskan communities is incalculable, including subsistence users, local sportfisherman, tourism guides and others who depend on healthy ecosystems and fish for their economies and rich cultures.鈥�
Thankfully, in Alaska, right now we鈥檙e ahead of the curve with many invasive species. But before you celebrate that news, it鈥檚 important to understand that staying early on the invasion curve requires proactive efforts.
What is the invasion curve?
The invasion curve visually shows the stages of invasive species management as a progression through time and the associated control costs. As with most things鈥� the bigger a problem becomes鈥� the more expensive it becomes. And invasive species management is no different.
There are four key stages of action delineated with increasing time and cost.
- Prevention = most cost-effective
- Before a species arrives
- Focus is on education, public awareness
- Eradication
- Small number of localized populations
- Focus is completely removing population
- Containment
- Rapid increase in population size
- Focus is on reducing spread
- Long-term management = most expensive
- Populations continue to spread
- Focus is on protecting specific resources
If an invasive species can progress between these stages, the amount of time and money necessary to treat it increases exponentially.
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The Importance of Keeping a Watchful Eye
Overall, in Alaska, most invasive species fall into the prevention and eradication stages.
Part of the prevention strategy for Alaska involves watercraft inspections. With support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operates a watercraft inspection and decontamination station at the Alaska-Canada Highway Land Port of Entry to inspect watercraft coming into the state.
Thanks to keeping a watchful eye, Alaska is one of six western states not infested by invasive Zebra and Quagga mussels; however, infestations of invasive mussels are estimated to cost the Great Lakes region $300-$500 million annually in damages! With new detections of invasive mussels each year, the importance of dedicated prevention efforts is critical.
Early Detection, Rapid Response
For those harmful species that do establish, the next best thing in terms of money, time, and resources, is eradication. Eradication relies on finding an invasive species population when it鈥檚 small and removing it. Doing this is often referred to as early detection and rapid response. Across Alaska, a network of invasive species practitioners from state, federal, and Tribal agencies, as well as local conservation organizations, conduct early detection surveys.
The aquatic invasive plant, Elodea is a prime example of early detection and rapid response efforts - and subsequent successful local eradications. By systematically searching for the plant so that it can be detected when infestations are small, they are being eradicated. Once detected, we are treating and removing as soon as possible. Because of this dedication, Elodea has been successfully eradicated from 20 lakes, with another 11 under treatment.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure..."
This colloquialism coined by Ben Franklin couldn鈥檛 be more true when it comes to preventing the spread of harmful invasives. Continued dedication to invasive species prevention and early detection rapid response from USFWS, State of Alaska, and other members of the Alaska Invasive Species Partnership is critical for Alaska鈥檚 environment and economy.
Learn more about some of the Alaska programs and partnerships limiting the potential costs and impacts of invasive species:
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You can be part of the solution and everyday prevention of invasive species.
- Clean. Drain. Dry. your gear before moving to a new waterbody.
- in your garden.
- Join or other local invasive species prevention organizations.
- Report any suspected invasive species.
- Call 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748)
- Use
