Biodiversity | Shenandoahpark

The Effects of Non-native Species

There thousands, even millions of species of animals that can be found all around the world and they all live in specific areas for specific reasons. The introduction of a non-native species in an environment could be very dangerous and harmful to the organisms that were already living there. The effects of this introduction could be drastic and would take time to undo. Below you will find an example of how a non-native species was introduced to Shenandoah and the effects that followed it.

Hemlock woolly adelgids: Decades ago the Hemlcok Woolly Adelgids were introduced to the park by accident through the transfer of Hemlock nursery stock, which used to be very popular. Years after these pesky creatures were introduced they still create an unimaginable amount of damage. The creature has destroyed thousands of hemlock plants, which in return has ruined the habitat for many organisms near the streams and springs of Shenandoah. The introduction of this insect has killed thousands of plants and in return destroyed the natural habitat of many innocent naturally occruing animals and plants living there.

References:

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/hemlock/hwa05.htm

Nonnative Species - Shenandoah National Park (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/nonnativespecies.htm