Exotic Species as Evolutionary Potential in a Climate Changing World
John M. Morton, Alaska Wildlife Alliance
Invasive species are conventionally viewed as species which spread easily and are impactful enough to impair ecosystem services, an economic construct. However, naturalized, feral and ornamental species are effectively here to stay and so can represent evolutionary potential in a rapidly warming climate in which novel species assemblages are expected. This latter perspective requires a long view of the consequences of species colonizations, which does not jive with the much shorter time span invoked in defining what makes a species “invasive”. Here in Alaska, where over 560 exotic species now reside and most of which are not deemed injurious or invasive, we should reconsider this catalog as a reservoir of species generally well adapted to fill novel niches created as extant native species move northward in latitude, upward in elevation, or become extinct. Additionally, novel species immigrating from the Yukon and British Columbia (e.g., mule deer) will further restructure extant communities, thereby creating opportunities for exotic species that are already established. These ecological realities demand a rethinking of what is “native” and the ultimate goal of invasive species management in Alaska.
Dr. John Morton retired from the US Fish and Wildlife Service after 32 years as a wildlife biologist, most recently at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. He has extensive experience studying and managing invasive species including the effects of brown tree snake introduction to Guam, nutria eradication from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and elodea eradication from the Kenai Peninsula. In more recent years, John has been involved in climate change adaptation. He is currently the vice president of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance.
