Researchers Point Invasion Of Exotic Species Harms The Country’s Biodiversity, Culture And Economy
The invasion of environments by exotic species is the second cause of loss of diversity in the world and the first cause of biodiversity extinction in islands and protected areas, according to Ibama. This situation could get even worse: by 2050, these invasions are expected to grow by more than 35%.
Exotic species are those that are not natural in a given environment, but which nevertheless end up lodging and proliferating. They can be organisms, plants or animals that, entering a certain ecosystem or habitat different from their own, end up being a threat to the economy, biodiversity, productive capacity and functionality of environments. In addition, they can compete with natural species, leading them to extinction.
This is a serious problem with which Brazil is familiar: the golden mussel, the wild boar and the fat grass – which comes from Africa and ended up replacing species of grasses native to the cerrado – are an example. “They can be introduced by direct human action, as in the case of transport associated with transoceanic ships or by the irregular disposal of organisms kept in aquariums”, explains Professor Rubens Lopes, specialist in Biological Oceanography at USP’s Oceanographic Institute.
Rubens Lopes Figueira – Photo: IO USP
This phenomenon is increasingly damaging the country’s marine biodiversity. “Global warming has also intensified the movement of species by marine currents, as well as floating marine debris, which can cross the ocean from one continent to another, bringing exotic species”, he says. He also recalls that, at the beginning of the century, Brazil experienced a cholera outbreak caused by the transoceanic transport of pathogenic bacteria by ships’ ballast water – water placed in tanks that guarantee the vessel’s stability and maintain its operational safety .
“Currently, the sun coral is one of the main concerns, as well as the golden mussel, which, despite being freshwater, invaded South America for ballast water and causes great damage to hydroelectric plants”, says Lopes. The species proliferates very quickly and ends up clogging installations and pipes and the cost of removing them is high, in addition to being necessary several times a year.
Solving the problem
“The best strategy for managing exotic marine species is prevention, that is, instead of fighting an already established species, which is a very costly operation with a low chance of success, the ideal is to not allow its arrival”, explains Lopez.
For him, public policies and effective inspection actions of the main vectors of maritime transport are necessary to effectively combat these invasions. One path would be the implementation of an active inspection system in Brazilian ports, which prevents the release of ballast water and the entry of ships full of organisms encrusted in the hulls.