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In the Nature Preserve, I battle several invasive species, such as Air Potatoes, Caesar Weeds, and Brazilian Pepper trees, with my goal being to eradicate them. This is not a battle I think I will win, but periodic culling seems to keep them at bay. This plan was working but was put on hold due to hurricane Ian. While I was busy with other things, those plants continued spreading. In fact, they have taken advantage of Ian to spread even faster, at least it feels that way. These three species are the ones I have been concentrating on. The invasives that I battle are the ones we don’t like. It’s human nature to want to eliminate what we don’t like and keep what we feel is pretty or pleasing. Florida battles animal invasives too, such as pythons, lizards and other species that humans introduced. Florida puts up with huge toads, walking fish, and many more I am not familiar with. Let’s not forget about the feral pigs.
What is an invasive species? Google says an invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous and may cause harm. Even the same species, when separated from each other for a long period, evolve differences and when they are brought together again can cause unintended harm to each other. Native Americans were here in North America before us, so are we invasive? I guess we were, sort of. We did invade and cause them harm. When Europeans came to North America, the indigenous Americans were unable to cope with the diseases introduced. But we were the same species, we were just non-indigenous in the Americas.
Where is the line between invasive and indigenous? It is not only a rather fuzzy line, but they are also different things. Some writers keep the line fuzzy by using the terms interchangeably. Some non-indigenous species blend in well and we really like them; such as tulips and horses. The Monk Orchid which we find along the Nature Trail and in the Nature Preserve is considered invasive. It is from Africa, but it is unknown how, or when it arrived here. Some believe it arrived naturally via South America. Others, that it was imported on early ships. Yet, it has been here for hundreds of years and as far as I know, it does no harm.
Nothing stays the same but change, and yesterday’s change is now the new same. Yesterday’s invasives eventually become today’s indigenous. There, I just used the terms interchangeably. It seems to me that invasives are introduced by humans, while indigenous got here on their own. Also, once invasives arrive, complete their damage and nature is again in balance, they may have earned the title of indigenous. We can fight it, or we can evolve with it and hopefully enjoy a better place.
I try to present truth, entertainment, enlightenment, and evoke thought in my columns. Should you want to offer comments please feel free to email this writer at TangerineWoodsman@gmail.com.
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