For my current event, I read the article “Invasive Species Aren’t Always Unwanted” by Erica Goode. While traversing through our unit on evolution, we have often heard of invasive species causing a tremendous amount of damage to native populations, forcing them to adapt, wane, or ultimately falter completely. However, recent research suggests that not all invasive species have overwhelmingly negative affects on the area in which they reside. In the past, a certain fungus decimated the chestnut tree population across the continental United States. Currently, Asian carp are taking over the ecosystems in rivers throughout the Midwest. Because of this seemingly “unnatural” reduction in diversity, “the dominant paradigm in the field (of ecology) is still a ‘when in doubt, kill them’ sort of attitude,’” says Dov Sax, a reputable and honored evolutionary biology professor at Brown University referring to the invasive species. Nonetheless, recent studies are arguing for the counterpoint: that certain invasive species are indeed beneficial. In California, a study found that eucalyptus trees, the site of monarch butterfly socialization and feeding during the winter, hold an established, revered history beginning with their importation in the early 1880s. While they would be classified as “invasive,” they are critical and healthy to the ecosystem’s function. A separate sub-study supported the hypothesis that the tamarisk tree (a long-time invasive species in the southwest), once thought to hog water and other resources without providing much benefit to its neighboring organisms in the region, is actually a remarkable port for birds and does not take in significantly more water than other species of trees. Together, these studies are challenging the status quo in ecology.
This article and the studies it points to have widespread implications as the earth perpetually warms and becomes interconnected. As the article points out, “…as climate change pushes more species out of their home ranges and into new areas, the number of so-called invaders is likely to multiply exponentially.” Since the planet is warming, many species are migrating north to where it is slightly colder, thus residing in temperatures that resemble their ideal conditions. For example, the Zika virus is spreading north by mosquitoes migrating due to climate change. This leaves existing species open to new interactions with these alien ones, increasing our own: human beings. We need to study these species and find out their ultimate implications if we are to continue with our current way of life. On a parallel note, as the world becomes even more deeply connected economically, politically, and socially, our travel leads (often unintentionally) to the introduction of new species and diseases into previously unexposed populations. For example, a previous study found that the brown snake species was accidentally introduced to Guam, an area whose birds had had no previous experience with these predators. In the absence of proper defenses having arisen over time via natural selection, the bird population has been decimated. While the introduction of an alien species can come with both positive and negative consequences depending on the situation, one thing is clear: in this day and age, the study and understanding of ecology is very important.
Overall, this article was written extremely well and thus easy to understand. Each idea flowed to the next, and the author backed her claims up with relevant studies and quotes from established sources like the journal Nature. In addition, the article itself was published in the Science section of The New York Times, a newspaper widely considered to be one of the world’s trustiest. Personally, I particularly liked that the author included both sides of the debate over invasive species and was careful to point out any bias in the quotes or studies referred to. Also, the author used the NY Times database to utilize pictures and facilitate the reader’s understanding of the article. As a result, this article proved interesting, wholesome, and worthwhile. This article was practically flawless, and I would not change any aspect of it.
Link to Article:
MLA Citation:
Goode, Erica. "Invasive Species Aren’t Always Unwanted." The New York Times. The New York Times, 29 Feb. 2016. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/science/invasive-species.html?_r=0>.
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