Photos by J. Anthony http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/

Course Description: Zebra mussels (Europe), Kudzu (Asia), and Chestnut blight (Asia) are widely known examples of exotic (non-native) species that have had profound impacts on ecosystems in the U.S. after accidental or intentional introduction. And recently, microbial invasions such as Ebola and West Nile Virus (Africa) have threatened human health and challenged disease management strategies around the world. Over the course of this century, the globalization of commerce and agriculture has broken down many of the natural barriers that have in the past confined plant and animal species to separate continents. Humans transport species into new ecosystems, either by accident or by design, and often without considering the ecological consequences. These introduced species are often ecologically benign, or even beneficial to humans, but sometimes they prosper at the expense of native species. Species introductions have the potential to alter ecosystems, economies, and human health. Other global changes in demographic and land use patterns, climate, and fire regimes are likely to contribute to the success of "invaders" over the next century.

This course will examine the causes, consequences, and global patterns of biological invasions. The impacts of invasive species on physical and biotic systems, including the human condition, will be a major theme, along with discussion of current high-tech mitigation strategies. Societal attitudes toward “exotic” and “invasive” species will also be considered along with many examples of harmless and beneficial species introductions, including crops.

Examples of past reading materials:

- Cox, G.W. 1999. Alien Species in North America and Hawaii. Island Press, Washington D.C. 385 p.
- Theodoropoulos, D.I. 2003. Invasion Biology: Critique of a Pseudoscience. Avvar Books, Blythe, CA. 236 p.
- Bright, C. 1998. Life out of bounds: bioinvasion in a borderless world. The Worldwatch Environmental Alert Series, L. Starke (Ed.), W. W. Norton & Co., NY. 287 pp.
- Crosby, A. 1986. Ecological imperialism: the biological expansion of Europe. Cambridge University Press, NY. 368 pp.
- Van Driesche, J., and R. Van Driesche. 2000. Nature out of place: biological invasions in the global age. Island Press, Washington D.C. 363 pp.
- Additional reading from relevant scientific literature.