Invasive Species
Sometimes it happens that a species that evolved in one ecosystem gets transported into a new ecosystem and in time upsets the ecological balance of that ecosystem. What happens is that the invading species proliferates and crowds out native species. Sometimes, as with the zebra mussel, an invading species can cause significant damage to human infrastructure. The silver carp is literally a danger to boaters.
The term invasive is a bit misleading. It implies a conscious attempt to take over. Nature isn't conscious. It's - well - more like a force of nature. Resisting an invasive species, whether plant or animal, is like resisting the tide. Right now Florida is being invaded by Burmese pythons that are being resisted by hunting. Florida holds a Python Challenge where there is a prize of $10000 for the most dead pythons. I wonder if it will help.
An invasive species is an evolutionary success story. They are good at surviving and reproducing. They eat a wide variety of food. They are prolific breeders. When they escape from their home ecosystem they find that they have few natural enemies. Life has a way of burgeoning under such circumstances.
There is a certain irony in people resisting invasive species. Humans are an invasive species par excellence. We've taken over the earth and we're casting our eye on Mars. And we have a sort of Trumpian jealousy at any life form consuming resources without our permission.
Humans are one of the main vectors for the spread of invasive species. All sorts of things hitch-hike in the cargo that we ship all over the world. The python invasion of Florida was caused by people releasing pet pythons into the wild.
It's interesting that in many places deer are behaving like an invasive species. My sister in New Brunswick needs a pretty elaborate fence to protect her garden. The deer have no predators and are so tame that fawns sleep on her lawn. On islands in particular that can lead to population explosions that outstrips the food supply followed by mass starvation.
One approach to invasive species is to eat them. For instance, selling venison in supermarkets might alleviate the deer overpopulation problem. Perhaps python makes tasty steaks. We'd be the apex predator that keeps the population under control.
What do you think?
I open the floor
I present regular philosophy discussions in a virtual reality called Second Life.
I set a topic and people come as avatars and sit around a virtual table to discuss it.
Each week I write a short essay to set the topic.
I show a selection of them here.