The article about the White Nose Syndrome (WNS) brings up a good point about the introduction of diseases via human trade or travel from Europe. The bats are dying from the WNS disease that compromises their ability to store fat during hibernation seasons. This disease did not originate in the US, but is having a huge effect on bats in North America.

In class we have talked a lot about invasive plants, but not as much on invasive diseases. Ever since settlers came to the Americas they have brought diseases with them such as small pox. These diseases were deadly to the Native Americans who had no ability to fight off these infectious diseases because their immune systems had never been exposed to these kinds of pathogens.

International trade has always been seen as a good thing between friendly nations, but it can have deadly consequences. When things are shipped to the US or other countries, they not only bring their goods, but also their diseases, insects, and seeds.

This video gives a pretty good synopsis on the impact of invasive species if you’re not as familiar on the subject. It also talks about what implications climate change will have on invasive species, check it out!