Everything wants to live in Florida
Millions of people visit or move to Florida to enjoy our mild climate. Trouble is, without harsh winters, plants and animals from similar climates all over the world can survive and thrive here too.
Tampa Bay has busy seaports, sprawling development and many interconnected wetlands. Invasive species can easily move in and spread out.
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TRESPASSER!
First observed in Tampa Bay in 1999, tens of thousands of Asian green mussels have dogged power plant intake pipes and encrusted bridge and dock pilings. Thought to have entered the U.S. in ship ballast water, this trespasser has spread from the Great Lakes as far south as Charlotte Harbor in Florida.
Fast Facts:
Florida has more invasive species than any state except Hawaii.
Florida spends about $60 million annually controlling and eradicating invasive exotic plants.
Ship ballast water is the single largest source of aquatic invasions worldwide.
An average of more than 61 million gallons of ballast water per ship is discharged into the Gulf of Mexico. Over 17,000 ships from foreign ports enter Gulf ports each year.
Sources: Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
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In the game of life, people have always moved plants and animals around. In Florida, we introduced honeybees, cows, oranges and hundreds of other species from around the world. Like most non-natives, they're useful and generally play by the rules.
But invasive species are non-natives with an attitude. They're wild cards that have a domino effect on the environment and our economy. Away from home and out of control, they degrade habitats, harm native species, introduce diseases, threaten Florida's biodiversity, and cost lots of money to control.
- Ship Ballast
- Modern ships use ballast water to keep an even keel in rough seas and as they load and unload. Water taken in at one port - containing millions of living organisms, from viruses and micro-algae to tiny fish and mollusks - can be dumped half a world away. These stowaways frequently survive the pumping and rapid trans-oceanic trips.
- Boats
- Bits of vegetation and larval fish clinging to boats and boat trailers can quickly take root in the next body of water you visit.
- Airplanes
- Thanks to our central location, Florida airports are major hubs for shipping exotic plants and animals. Inspectors and dogs keep busy checking cargo, luggage and airplane wheel wells for invasive species.
- Cars, trucks and roads
- Cars and trucks can carry invasive pests from place to place, but roadways are even worse. The disturbed land around roads allows invasive plants to spread far and wide.
- e-commerce
- Via the Internet, live plants, animals and fish can be sent anywhere in the world with a click of a mouse. Express shipping and insulated Styrofoam containers ensure that most will survive the journey.
- Colonial Ships
- European explorers and colonists wanted familiar food and crops in the new world. Many Old World species came to North America as livestock and crops on colonial ships.
You can make a difference!
Home aquariums:
Keeping aquarium fish is a fun hobby, but some exotic aquarium fish and plants are released into the wild each year by people who don't want them anymore.
What you can do!
- Do your homework before purchasing an aquarium and its inhabitants. Be sure you can care for them throughout their entire lifespan.
- If you're unable to care for your fish, don't ever "set them free" in nearby waters. They have the potential to become invaders. Take them to a local pet shop, give them to another hobbyist, or donate them to a public aquarium, school or other interested facility.
Fishing:
Non-native fish and plants that take up residence in local waters can devastate local game fish populations, damage boats, and clog rivers and lakes making them impassable.
What you can do!
- Thoroughly clean all vegetation from boats, motors, trailers and fishing gear with a hard spray after each use.
- Drain all bilge water and live wells before taking your boat to another waterway.
- Don't toss unwanted live bait into your lake, river or bay.
Pets:
Non-native pets are becoming increasingly popular. Even when properly cared for, birds, reptiles and amphibians can still escape. In the wild, non-natives can wipe out or drive away native species.
What you can do!
- Buy pets from reputable dealers, especially if they are non-natives.
- Never release pets into the wild. Take them to a local pet shop or donate them to an interested facility.
Gardening:
Non-native plants like the Brazilian pepper and Australian pine may look pretty, but these invaders quickly take over, out-competing native plants for space and light while offering little or no value to animals. Although many non-native plants are non-invasive, emphasizing natives can provide food, shelter or nesting sites for butterflies and birds. Native plants also require less water, fertilizer and pesticides.
What you can do!
- Learn how to identify and remove invasive plants from your yard before they spread.
- Plant native or non-invasive trees, shrubs and flowers.
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