By Suri Zheng
Invasive species are considered one of the most biological threats to the ecosystem. And that is why we need to get rid of them quickly.
This species looks unharmful, right? Wrong. It is an invasive species, a species that brings a negative impact on the surrounding environment, known as Myriophyllum aquaticum or Parrots feather. Parrot’s feather is a plant that originated along the Amazon River and was brought to South America, South Africa, the USA, Europe, and New Zealand through Aquarium trade in the 20th century.
At first, when the plants were brought over, there was no problem except that they sucked up a bit more water than other plants, but scientists quickly noticed that the plants were taking over the waterways! Once the Parrot’s feather reproduces in asexual reproduction it can draw up nutrients from the water and store them in its roots. Once these plants have attached to rock sediments, they can multiply, taking up more and more space. Parrot’s feather are known to emerge rapidly as their stems shoot toward open spaces near water, taking up land, and sunlight and reducing the amount of oxygen.
Reducing Parrot’s feather is a must because it can harm not only their surrounding environment but also harm our health. As Parrot’s feather expands along waterbeds they can be a refugee camp for mosquitoes and at the same time decrease predators like fish. So, this increases the chance of mosquitoes carrying diseases and passing them on to humans. They can also block up the waterways leaving little water for crops and everyday needs. In conclusion, Parrot’s feather poses a significant threat to the community by endangering the local wildlife, blocking waterways and irrigation systems, and creating mosquito-borne diseases.
