Study Shows U.S. Ecosystem Damage

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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

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1/25/99

OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by EE

Forest plants and animals functioning as invaders are estimated to

cost the United States some $123 billion a year, in a new study. Non-

indigenous species are responsible for more than 40 percent of the

plants and animals that are on the nation's endangered or threatened

list.

g.b.

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Title: Study Shows U.S. Ecosystem Damage

Source: Associated Press

Date: January 25, 1999

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Scientists have long known that foreign

plants and animals are damaging various parts of the U.S.

ecosystem. They just didn't know it's costing the nation about $123

billion a year.

A study by David Pimentel, an ecologist at Cornell University,

estimates that alien weeds such as purple loosestrife are costing

Americans $35.5 billion annually, insects like fire ants are

costing $20 billion more and disease-causing organisms are costing

$6.5 billion.

The remaining economic costs are spread over causes ranging from

rats and plant diseases to non-native fish.

"It doesn't take many troublemakers to cause tremendous

damage," Pimentel told The Oregonian in today's editions.

Even animals as familiar as dogs and cats cause huge problems.

The nation's 63 million domestic cats and 30 million feral cats are

estimated to kill about 200 million birds each year -- birds that

would otherwise eat many insect pests.

At an estimated $30 per pest-eating bird, that amounts to $6

billion in damage by cats alone.

Dog bites send 800,000 people to emergency rooms annually,

resulting in about $30 million in medical costs. Wild dogs running

in packs in Florida, Texas and other states cause an estimated $10

million a year in livestock losses.

Gypsy moths, elm disease, fire ants and zebra mussels also are

among other damaging organisms listed in the study.

The study confirmed what many Oregon ranchers, farmers and

fishermen already feared.

In a state that stretches from ocean to desert, and relies on

agriculture as its largest single industry, the threat from

non-native plants and animals is serious.

The colorful loosestrife takes over native aquatic species in

wetlands and along streams, removing hiding cover and food for

birds and other animals.

Cheatgrass on rangelands accelerates the spread and frequency of

wildfires. Bullfrogs are killing off native turtle species, and the

green crabs pose a threat to clams, oysters and Dungeness crabs.

In addition to the economic costs, Pimentel said, nonindigenous

species are responsible for more than 40 percent of the plants and

animals that are on the nation's endangered or threatened list.

Yet Pimentel points out that 98 percent of the nation's food

supply comes from introduced species such as wheat, rice, domestic

cattle and poultry. Those have a value of about $500 billion a

year.

Pimentel reported his findings Sunday at the annual meeting of

the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Anaheim,

Calif., where he urged policy-makers to devote more resources to

the problem.

"It's too late to send these organisms back," Pimentel said.

"We will be lucky to control further damage to natural and managed

ecosystems."

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