Take a look at some of the state’s biggest exotic trouble-makers and what they mean for the future of Florida’s native species and habitat.

Photo by Timothy Collins & Timothy Rawlings

HOW DID THEY GET HERE?
Typically, an invasive species is a creature that has been introduced by humans to a new location where it does not occur naturally. These invasive species become capable of establishing a breeding population without the help of humans and can spread throughout the new region. In Florida’s case many of the established invasive species arrived as a result of the pet or shipping trade. Some have even been deliberately introduced into the environment to help control pests on farms. Others have been released into the wild by owners who no longer want them.

WHY FLORIDA?
Florida has an ideal tropical climate with a variety of habitats as well as easy access to the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. So it’s an ideal spot for invasive species to make themselves at home. Florida’s southern proximity and a climate and habitat similar to that of South America and the Caribbean make it very easy for invasive species to adapt and flourish in this region.

TYPES OF ANIMALS
You might be surprised to learn which animals in Florida are non-native. Ever stepped out on your patio at night and see those huge toads hopping around in your lawn. These toxic toads called Giant Toads (Bufo Marinus) are native to the Amazon Basin in South America. They were introduced into the Florida environment by the pet trade and to help eradicate pests from sugar-cane farms. Along with non-native amphibians, Florida is home to many foreign reptiles including lizards, geckos, snakes, and even the Spectacled Caiman, native to South America. Some of the most thriving non-native reptiles in Florida are the Burmese Pythons and Nile Monitors. There are also almost 200 non-native bird species residing in Florida. Some of them include the King Vulture, Mandarin Duck, and a variety of hawks, parrots, and perching birds. There are also many non-native mammals including the Norway Rat, Vervet and Squirrel Monkeys. .

Aquatic species are also another big obstacle in the fight against invasive species. Sources of these invasive species include accidental releases from the aquaculture industry, pet releases, live seafood escapes, and ballast water from ships. There are currently 40 species of exotic aquatic species that have established populations. The non-native species established in Florida’s marine environment include 9 species of fish, 3 mollusks (one of which is the apple snail), and 12 crustaceans.

Photo by United States Geological Survey

NOT ONLY ANIMALS
It is not only non-native animals that are changing Florida’s ecosystem. There are more than 900 nonnative plant species established in Florida and they make up at least 27 percent of the total flora of the state. For example, melaleuca trees are severely and rapidly altering ecosystems by out-competing indigenous plants and altering topography and soils. State officials estimate that melaleuca infests about 500,000 acres of native wetlands in southern Florida and is expanding at a rate of 50 acres per day. Citrus Canker is also another dangerous non-native organism that is not only affecting our trees but also the state’s economy.

Resources for this article provided by wikipedia.org, Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission and Invasive Species Working Group.