A big concern regarding exotic pets is the affect they could potentially have on the environment. If an exotics pet were to escape or be released into the Canadian wilderness it could wreak havoc on the local species and ecosystems as an invasive species.

Invasive Species

The IUCN defines invasive species as “animals, plants or other organisms introduced by man into places out of their natural range of distribution, where they become established and disperse, generating a negative impact on the local ecosystem and species.” Introducing a new invasive species is a huge concern with exotic pets. There is the chance that the animal could escape, or the owner may decide they no longer want to, or can no longer take care of their pet and release the animal in to the wild.

In order to be successful as an invasive species, the animal needs traits that allow it to survive and establish a population in its new environment. Fast growth and reproduction, high dispersal rates, high tolerance to many conditions, and ability to feed off a wide range of sources are all traits common in invasive species. So it is plain to see how the release of an exotic pet with these traits could easily result in the introduction of a new invasive species.

Invasive species represent the second most significant cause of species extinction worldwide after habitat destruction. Extinction happens because local species are often not adapted to deal with the new species. Invasive species normally cause extinctions by either out competing a native species for resources or becoming a predator to a native species and literally eating it into extinction.

 

In competition local species may not be adapted to having to share their resources and may not be able to tolerate lower levels due to competition. The native species may be out competed as it has no experience competing with the invasive species.

In terms of predation the local species may not have strategies to avoid being preyed upon by the invasive species. This is especially common on island ecosystems where there are often no large terrestrial predators. It could also be a case of the invasive species being so successful in it’s new environment that the shear number of individuals in it’s population are able to decimate local species.

Example Cases

• English Rabbit in Australia
• Burmese Pythons in Florida
• Zebra Mussel in  North America
• Brown Tree Snake in Guam
• Cane Toad in Australia

 

Lionfish

The Lionfish is a case of an invasive species that I would like to share as have worked on it, and seen its effects first hand. The lionfish is native to the Indo-Pacific coral reefs. It was introduced to the Caribbean reef ecosystems in the early 1990’s.

The lionfish has been called the ultimate invasive species. According to NOAA a single female lionfish can produce over 2 million eggs in just one year. They become sexually mature in their first year of life and can live to be around 16 in the wild. In the Caribbean lionfish have no natural predators, and the local species do not seem to beable to adapt to eat them. This is likely due to a particular trait the lionfish has, which even makes humans fear it. Lionfish have numerous venomous spins on their dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins. In their natural environment there are a small number of predators that are able to prey on the lionfish despite their spines. Unfortunately in the Caribbean none of the local species have managed to do so. To make things worse the lionfish prey on juvenile fish, and they aren’t too picky about what type either. Lionfish are also gifted excessive eaters, their stomachs can expand over 30 times in volume. This is a huge issue for the local Caribbean reef fish populations which are also suffering the strains of over fishing. Currently it is estimated that there are over 1,000 lionfish per acre in some locations. In my personal experience I have spoken to many local fishermen and divers in Belize who can all attest to seeing a drastic increase in the lionfish population in the past five years.

No one is 100% sure how the lionfish got into the Caribbean, although it is widely believed that they came from a private aquarium. This means they were some’s “pet” and they now wreak havoc on the Caribbean Reefs, a perfect example of how detrimental exotic pets can be if they are introduced to the local environment.