As warmer weather settles into Ontario and we’re enjoying the outdoors, the head of an environmental non-profit organization is encouraging people to report invasive species and biodiversity threats.
“Invasive species are one of the second leading causes of why we’re losing biodiversity, so it’s a really tangible issue that people can become involved in and help support concrete action,” Colin Cassin, executive director of the Invasive Species Centre, told CityNews.
“Ultimately, our systems, our economy, are built on thriving biodiversity and important habitat types as well that are really based on the foundation of life that sustains us all. So where we are and how we’re doing in terms of our environment and economy are inextricably linked.”
The Invasive Species Centre was one of many organizations that recently celebrated International Day for Biodiversity.
“Biodiversity is all the living critters and creatures that make our ecosystems go, the ecosystems that our economy and society rely on, and so protecting them and protecting the space that they occupy is critically important in making sure we’re doing right by them but also right by us,” Cassin said.
There isn’t a shortage of issues facing scientists in Ontario and Canada.
Water soldier, an aquatic plant with pointy, jagged leaves similar to the top of a pineapple, and sea lamprey, a fish characterized as having vampire-like teeth that can bite other fish, are among the emerging threats the Invasive Species Centre is monitoring.
Last year, boxwood shrubs — a popular choice for Ontario property owners — were under threat due to invasive pests. There was also a surge in reports of the toxic hammerhead worm.
As CityNews reported in 2023, oak wilt was detected in the country for the first time.
“It’s a disease that attacks oak trees and neighbouring trees that are connected by roots underground. The disease can actually spread from one tree to another. So if we see a rapid decline in an oak this year, it’s good to Google oak wilt and make a report,” Cassin said.
One invasive species that’s made headlines in recent years is LDD moth (formerly known as gypsy moth). Experts said we aren’t expected to see it return this coming year as it’s at the bottom of the lifecycle.
As for what’s contributing to the rise of certain invasive species, Cassin said climate change is a major part of the issue.
“What we used to have in many parts of Canada were cold winters, which were ultimately a backstop in terms of suppressing invasive species populations. (It’s) hard for some of those forest pests and bugs and critters to overwinter,” he said.
“With [shorter] duration and cold-temperature winters, sometimes we do see that some of those populations, the buffer, the default insurance policy we used to have of cold winters, isn’t suppressing some of their populations.”
Cassin gave the following suggestions on ways to minimize the potential spread in Ontario and beyond:
- Don’t transport firewood out of the neighbourhood or community it originated from to stop pests from spreading
- Try to plant species native to the community, consult experts at your local nursery
- Diversify plants and trees in case invasive species come along that target a certain type of plant or tree
- Don’t release invasive species of fish (e.g. goldfish) into natural bodies of water as it could potentially affect native aquatic life
- Report sightings of invasive pests and fungai to authorities as those can be plotted on mapping applications available to the public like EDDMapS
“Reporting invasive species is really key. The earlier we can find new invasive species, the better chance we have at having a positive success story in terms of early intervention and management,” Cassin said.
For more on how to report sightings of invasive species and threats to biodiversity, click here.
