Invasive Species

Polynesian rat disbursement

    While watching one of the many survival shows that are on Discovery Channel, the hosts were trapped on one of the Cook Islands.  One of their biggest problems was the abundant and ever so bold rat population.  It made me think, How did they get there?   The answer is simple human migration.  The spread of invasive species goes hand in hand with the evolution of ship building and the ability to travel the world.  The spread of the Polynesian rat can be directly correlated with the migration of the Polynesian people from Taiwan to various Pacific islands including Hawaii.  Some species were brought by accident like the Polynesian rat; while others were brought with a specific reason in mind such as the Burmese python for the pet trade industry which has now become a major burden on the Florida ecosystem.

    Some governments are trying to take a proactive stance on invasive species because the result of an invasive species on the ecosystem could be catastrophically devastating. The Nile perch, for instance, was introduced to Lake Victoria for its commercial food value back in 1954, but then went on to destroy most the indigenous species.  80% of the fish population in Lake Victoria is now Nile perch.  So as it goes, we need to be more watchful and weigh the consequences of our actions when it comes to introducing a potentially invasive species to a habitat that it was not meant for.