Recap of September First Friday with Florida First Detector
On September 2, 2022, we dove into an overview of invasive species Florida. An invasive species is a non-native species that causes economic or environmental harm or harm to humans. It is estimated that invasive species cost over 1.2 trillion dollars annually in the United States. Non-native species move around the globe in many different ways. Sometimes they are intentionally or unintentionally moved by humans to new areas.
Florida is at high risk for the establishment of invasive species. This is because of the state’s many points of entry, and tourism that brings many people and goods to the state every year. On top of that, Florida’s mild winters and diverse climates allow for many non-native species to thrive.
There are a few stages in invasive species management. The first is prevention, followed by eradication, containment and then finally, protection. Prevention is often times the most cost effective form of control for invasive species. While there are many organizations that work in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species, it is up to everyone to help.
Eradication is the complete removal of a species from a geographic area. We are currently working to eradicate the giant African land snail from Florida.
Containment is keeping that species to the area it is currently found. There is special regulation on the movement of citrus due to citrus greening. Federal quarantines help prevent the spread of citrus greening to states outside of Florida.
Protection is the stage where the invasive species is here and we much work to manage it. For example, air potato is an invasive species that is now widespread in Florida and there is ongoing efforts to reduce its impact through integrated pest management.
Though we will get into more details next month, there are lots of resources to help identify plant problems. If you suspect something might be a newly introduced invasive species, submitting a sample is the next best step. Reach out to your local extension office for additional resources or check out the recording for a list.
Want to watch the recording?
What is the upcoming schedule?
We are meeting online via Zoom from 12:00PM-1:00PM on the First Friday of every month from Sept 2022-Aug 2023. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu
Or
Visit the Florida First Detector Website
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