According to the U.S. Geological Survey, rising temperatures are promoting the growth and expansion of invasive animal species' habitats. In turn, as invasive species have spread to more areas across the other area, dangers to native creatures and their ecosystems have grown. Let’s talk about them.
Lanternfly
Warming temperatures
will only expand the lanternfly's habitat range and population growth. A recent
study shown that despite seasonal temperature variations, spotted lanternflies
can spawn numerous times a year. The population's growth rates are accelerated
as a result.
In the Northeast, 17
states have been plagued by the bug that destroys crops. The spotted
lanternfly, a flying and plant-hopping bug, is believed to have entered the
United States in 2012 on a stone shipment from China, according to the Cornell
University in Ithaca's New York State Integrated Pest Management Program.
By 2033, the spotted
lanternfly may have spread to California's grape-growing counties, endangering
the beer and wine industries. The lanternfly can also harm hardwood trees, hop
crops, and apple trees.
Burmese
Pythons
The Burmese python is
not one of the 44 native snake species found in Florida, despite the fact that
the state is well-known for its wide variety of snakes and reptiles.
According to a new
study on Burmese pythons in Florida, the snakes have spread as far north as
Lake Okeechobee, and more are likely to arrive in the region during the next
five to ten years. Residents worry for their safety, though, as the majority of
the snakes will continue to live in their native habitat.
When the snakes were
brought and offered for sale as exotic pets in 1979, Florida became their new
home. Since they originated in warmer regions like India, Lower China, the
Malay Peninsula, and several East Indies islands, they adapted to South Florida
with ease. If the weather in the state gets warm enough, they could be able to
expand their range northward.
The Everglades and its
environs have suffered significant damage to their ecosystem and species. Since
the introduction of the snakes, several wildlife populations all across the
Everglades have decreased.
Warmer weather,
according to researchers, has contributed to an increase in the number of feral
pigs. A study that appeared in Scientific Reports claims that the number of
feral pigs increases in tandem with the availability of food supplies, which
are plentiful all year round due to warmer winters.
These invasive pigs,
also known as wild hogs, feral pigs, razorbacks, or swine, were introduced to
the Americas in the 1500s and have since spread throughout more than 75 percent
of the country, causing an estimated $1.5 billion in damage annually.
The Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that
there are now over 9 million feral swine in the country.
According to the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service, the number of native plant and animal
species in the United States is rapidly declining as a result of feral swine,
and many of these species are already in danger. The pigs can spread diseases
like brucellosis and tuberculosis to people, cattle, and other animals. They
also carry at least 40 parasites and 30 bacterial and viral infections.
The infestation of the
Japanese beetle has been substantially facilitated by the climate. According to
a research by the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department
of Agriculture, the Japanese beetle may significantly expand its range into
North America reaching as far north as Canada if temperatures continue to rise.
By the information of
the United States Department of Agriculture, the first Japanese beetle was
found in the United States in New Jersey in 1916. Since then, the beetle has
spread across the majority of the states east of the Mississippi River due to
warmer temperatures and a lack of natural predators.
Japanese beetles are a
serious plant pest that is challenging to manage. More than 300 agricultural
and ornamental plants' leaves, flowers, or fruits are consumed by Japanese
beetles. It is estimated that control efforts for the larval and adult stages
cost more than $460 million annually.
According to a recent
study, rising temperatures may create ideal circumstances for the spread of
hammerhead worms. Warm climates and moist soil are preferred by hammerhead
worms.
According to a recent
study, rising temperatures may create ideal circumstances for the spread of
hammerhead worms. Warm climates and moist soil are preferred by hammerhead
worms.
Hammerhead
worms
Hammerhead worms are
progressively spreading across the U.S.; they are native to Southeast Asia and
enjoy the country's hotter climes. In addition to having an odd appearance and
perhaps appearing in your yard, hammerhead worms release poisons that can be
harmful to people or animals.
Because earthworms,
which are crucial for soil health and agricultural growth, are eaten by
hammerhead worms, their quick growth and spread under favorable climatic
conditions raises questions about the quality of the soil.
According to several
Geological Surveys, rising temperatures are causing invasive animal species'
habitats to spread, posing an increasing threat to native ecosystems. These temperature fluctuations are expected
to be advantageous for such invading species. Recent research has demonstrated
that this invasive species can breed many times annually despite seasonal
temperature variations, which will increase population growth and expand its
ecological range. The native wildlife and their sensitive habitats are
seriously endangered by this expansion.