Misplaced Pages

#223776

73-585: The stitchbird or hihi ( Notiomystis cincta ) is a honeyeater -like bird endemic to the North Island and adjacent offshore islands of New Zealand . Its evolutionary relationships have long puzzled ornithologists , but it is now classed as the only member of its own family , the Notiomystidae . It is rare, being extirpated everywhere except Little Barrier Island , but has been reintroduced to two other island sanctuaries and four locations on

146-415: A planetary body after the former is introduced by a space probe or spacecraft , either deliberately or unintentionally. It has also been hypothesized that the origin of life on earth is due to introductions of life from other planets billions of years ago, possibly by a sentient race. Projects have been proposed to introduce life to other lifeless but habitable planets in other star systems some time in

219-456: A diet of nectar supplemented by varying quantities of insects. In general, the honeyeaters with long, fine bills are more nectarivorous, the shorter-billed species less so, but even specialised nectar eaters like the spinebills take extra insects to add protein to their diet when breeding. The movements of honeyeaters are poorly understood. Most are at least partially mobile but many movements seem to be local, possibly between favourite haunts as

292-601: A honeyeater. It is now known as " MacGregor's honeyeater " and is classified in the Meliphagidae. The wattled smoky honeyeater ( Melipotes carolae ), described in 2007, had been discovered in December 2005 in the Foja Mountains of Papua , Indonesia . In 2008, a study that included molecular phylogenetic analysis of museum specimens in the genera Moho and Chaetoptila , both extinct genera endemic to

365-830: A native of East Asia, has been introduced into parts of Europe for ornamental reasons. Many plants have been introduced with the intent of aesthetically improving public recreation areas or private properties. The introduced Norway maple for example occupies a prominent status in many of Canada's parks. The transport of ornamental plants for landscaping use has and continues to be a source of many introductions. Some of these species have escaped horticultural control and become invasive. Notable examples include water hyacinth , salt cedar , and purple loosestrife . In other cases, species have been translocated for reasons of "cultural nostalgia", which refers to instances in which humans who have migrated to new regions have intentionally brought with them familiar organisms. Famous examples include

438-437: A new region may escape from captive or cultivated populations and subsequently establish independent breeding populations. Escaped organisms are included in this category because their initial transport to a new region is human motivated. The widespread phenomena of intentional introduction has also been described as biological globalization . Positive Introductions Although most introduced species have negative impacts on

511-584: A novel environment (e.g.: in Europe , house sparrows are well established since early Iron Age though they originated from Asia ). Immigrant species are species that travel, sometimes by themselves, but often with human help, between two habitats. Invasiveness is not a requirement. Introduction of a species outside its native range is all that is required to be qualified as an "introduced species". Such species might be termed naturalized , "established", or "wild non-native species". If they further spread beyond

584-463: A parasite or herbivore with it. Some become invasive, for example, the oleander aphid , accidentally introduced with the ornamental plant, oleander . Yet another unintentional pathway of introduction is during the delivery of humanitarian aid in the aftermath of natural disasters. This occurred during relief efforts for Hurricane Maria in Dominica , it was found that the common green iguana ,

657-467: A population decrease. This was seen in the Atlantic Salmon population when high levels of escape from Atlantic Salmon farms into the wild populations resulted in hybrids that had reduced survival. Potential positive effects include adding to the genetic diversity of the population which can increase the adaptation ability of the population and increase the number of healthy individuals within

730-758: A population. This was seen in the introduction of guppies in Trinidad to encourage population growth and introduce new alleles into the population. The results of this introduction included increased levels of heterozygosity and a larger population size . Wide-spread introductions of non-native iguanas are causing devastating effects on native Iguana populations in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles , as hybrids appear to have higher fitness than native iguanas, leading to competitive outcompetition and replacement. Numerous populations have already become extinct and hybridization continues to reduce

803-449: A species is considered "introduced" when its transport into an area outside of its native range is human mediated. Introductions by humans can be described as either intentional or accidental. Intentional introductions have been motivated by individuals or groups who either (1) believe that the newly introduced species will be in some way beneficial to humans in its new location or, (2) species are introduced intentionally but with no regard to

SECTION 10

#1732775451224

876-414: Is a nasal pek like a bellbird . Males give a piercing three-note whistle (often heard in spring) and a variety of other calls not given by the female. Research has suggested that they face interspecific competition from the tūī and New Zealand bellbird , and will feed from lower-quality food sources when these species are present. The stitchbird rarely lands on the ground and seldom visits flowers on

949-598: Is known that the honeyeaters are important in New Zealand (see Anthornis ) as well, and assumed that the same applies in other areas. Honeyeaters can be either nectarivorous , insectivorous , frugivorous , or a combination of nectar- and insect-eating. Unlike the hummingbirds of America, honeyeaters do not have extensive adaptations for hovering flight, though smaller members of the family do hover hummingbird-style to collect nectar from time to time. In general, honeyeaters prefer to flit quickly from perch to perch in

1022-488: Is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health". The biological definition of invasive species, on the other hand, makes no reference to the harm they may cause, only to the fact that they spread beyond the area of original introduction. Some argue that "invasive" is a loaded word and harm is difficult to define. From a regulatory perspective, it is neither desirable nor practical to list as undesirable or outright ban all non-native species (although

1095-493: Is seldom understood in the beginning, and many non-native ornamentals languish in the trade for years before suddenly naturalizing and becoming invasive. Studies have shown that introduced species display a greater likeliness of naturalizing when there is an appropriate environmental match, the plant species are short lived herbs or cultivate from seeds. Peaches , for example, originated in China, and have been carried to much of

1168-575: Is the European rabbit in Australia . Thomas Austin , a British landowner, had rabbits released on his estate in Victoria because he missed hunting them. A more recent example is the introduction of the common wall lizard ( Podarcis muralis) to North America by a Cincinnati boy, George Rau, around 1950 after a family vacation to Italy . Intentional introductions have also been undertaken with

1241-593: Is the seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia . Caulerpa was first observed in the Mediterranean Sea in 1984, off the coast of Monaco . By 1997, it had covered some 50 km . It has a strong potential to overgrow natural biotopes , and represents a major risk for sublittoral ecosystems . The origin of the alga in the Mediterranean was thought to be either as a migration through the Suez Canal from

1314-859: Is the reintroduction of a species that has become locally endangered or extinct, done in the interests of conservation. Examples of successful reintroductions include wolves to Yellowstone National Park in the U.S., and the red kite to parts of England and Scotland. Introductions or translocations of species have also been proposed in the interest of genetic conservation , which advocates the introduction of new individuals into genetically depauperate populations of endangered or threatened species. Unintentional introductions occur when species are transported by human vectors. Increasing rates of human travel are providing accelerating opportunities for species to be accidentally transported into areas in which they are not considered native. For example, three species of rat (the black, Norway and Polynesian) have spread to most of

1387-551: Is the small Indian mongoose ( Urva auropunctata ). Originating in a region encompassing Iran and India , it was introduced to the West Indies and Hawaii in the late 1800s for pest control. Since then, it has thrived on prey unequipped to deal with its speed, nearly leading to the local extinction of a variety of species. In some cases, introduced animals may unintentionally promote the cause of rewilding . For example, escaped horses and donkeys that have gone feral in

1460-410: Is used to describe introduced species that cause ecological, economic, or other damage to the area in which they were introduced. Acclimatized species are introduced species that have changed physically and/or behaviorally in order to adjust to their new environment. Acclimatized species are not necessarily optimally adjusted to their new environment and may just be physically/behaviorally sufficient for

1533-594: The American bison and the turkey are non-native species to North America. Collectively, non-native crops and livestock account for 98% of US food. These and other benefits from non-natives are so vast that, according to the Congressional Research Service, they probably exceed the costs. Other examples of species introduced for the purposes of benefiting agriculture , aquaculture or other economic activities are widespread. Eurasian carp

SECTION 20

#1732775451224

1606-684: The Australian Dung Beetle Project in an effort to reduce the impact of livestock manure. The timber industry promoted the introduction of Monterey pine ( Pinus radiata ) from California to Australia and New Zealand as a commercial timber crop. These examples represent only a small subsample of species that have been moved by humans for economic interests. The rise in the use of genetically modified organisms has added another potential economic advantage to introducing new/modified species into different environments. Companies such as Monsanto that earn much of their profit through

1679-771: The Australian chats , myzomelas , friarbirds , wattlebirds , miners and melidectes . They are most common in Australia and New Guinea , and found also in New Zealand , the Pacific islands as far east as Samoa and Tonga , and the islands to the north and west of New Guinea known as Wallacea . Bali , on the other side of the Wallace Line , has a single species. In total, there are 186 species in 55 genera , roughly half of them native to Australia, many of

1752-553: The Cuban tree frog , and potentially the Venezuela snouted tree frog were introduced with the former two becoming established. Most accidentally or intentionally introduced species do not become invasive as the ones mentioned above. For instance, Some 179 coccinellid species have been introduced to the U.S. and Canada; about 27 of these non-native species have become established, and only a handful can be considered invasive, including

1825-416: The Notiomystidae . The stitchbird is a small honeyeater -like bird. Males have a dark velvety cap and short white ear-tufts, which can be raised somewhat away from the head. A yellow band across the chest separates the black head from the rest of the body, which is grey. Females and juveniles are duller than males, lacking the black head and yellow chest band. The bill is rather thin and somewhat curved, and

1898-560: The State of Hawaii has adopted an approach that comes close to this). Regulations require a definitional distinction between non-natives that are deemed especially onerous and all others. Introduced "pest" species, that are officially listed as invasive, best fit the definition of an invasive species. Early detection and rapid response is the most effective strategy for regulating a pest species and reducing economic and environmental impacts of an introduction. Management of invasion pathways are on

1971-592: The United States Environmental Protection Agency is "A species that has been intentionally or inadvertently brought into a region or area. Also called an exotic or non-native species". In the broadest and most widely used sense, an introduced species is synonymous with "non-native" and therefore applies as well to most garden and farm organisms; these adequately fit the basic definition given above. However, some sources add to that basic definition "and are now reproducing in

2044-531: The Waitākere Ranges failed. Reintroduction to these new sites has created genetic bottlenecks that have reduced genetic diversity in the newly founded populations and led to inbreeding. The Tiritiri Matangi population is one of the most successful reintroduced populations with relatively fast population growth and now stable at around 150 individuals. Despite this, high levels of hatching failure (around 30% of all eggs fail to hatch) occur due to inbreeding. Only

2117-539: The Waitākere Ranges near Auckland and by the end of the year the first chicks had fledged there. In 2017, 40 birds were released into the Lake Rotokare Scenic Reserve in Taranaki, with 17 chicks raised. A further 30 were released in 2018. Honeyeater See text The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family , Meliphagidae , of small to medium-sized birds. The family includes

2190-465: The cane toad and red fox in Australia , nutria in North America , Eurasia , and Africa , and the common brushtail possum in New Zealand . In Taiwan , the success of introduced bird species was related to their native range size and body size; larger species with larger native range sizes were found to have larger introduced range sizes. One notoriously devastating introduced species

2263-425: The kākāpō and takahē . The world population is unknown; estimates for the size of the remnant population on Hauturu (Little Barrier Island) range from 600 to 6000 adult birds. There are also translocated populations on Tiritiri Matangi Island , Kapiti Island , Zealandia , Maungatautari , Bushy Park and Lake Rotokare . Attempts to establish populations on Hen Island , Cuvier Island and Mokoia Island and

Stitchbird - Misplaced Pages Continue

2336-573: The Americas may play ecological roles similar to those of the equids that became extinct there at the end of the Pleistocene . The exotic pet trade has also been a large source of introduced species. The species favored as pets have more general habitat requirements and larger distributions. Therefore, as these pets escape or are released, unintentionally or intentionally, they are more likely to survive and establish non-native populations in

2409-607: The Hawaiian islands, argued that these five species were not members of the Meliphagidae and instead belong to their own distinct family, the Mohoidae . Introduced species The impact of introduced species is highly variable. Some have a substantial negative effect on a local ecosystem (in which case they are also classified more specifically as an invasive species ), while other introduced species may have little or no negative impact (no invasiveness), and integrate well into

2482-697: The Indian subcontinent and is impacting a range of wild species including urban birds. Most introduced species do not become invasive. Examples of introduced animals that have become invasive include the gypsy moth in eastern North America , the zebra mussel and alewife in the Great Lakes , the Canada goose and gray squirrel in Europe, the beaver in Tierra del Fuego , the muskrat in Europe and Asia ,

2555-655: The Little Barrier Island population (Te Hauturu-o-Toi) is self-sufficient and does not require intervention for the population to survive. This species is classified as Vulnerable (D2) by the IUCN because of its very small range and number of populations. In 2005, 60 stitchbirds were released into Zealandia (wildlife sanctuary) in Wellington and in October that year, three stitchbird chicks hatched there,

2628-433: The Mediterranean region, where it can form monocultures that threaten critical conservation habitats. Japanese knotweed grows profusely in many nations. Human beings introduced it into many places in the 19th century. It is a source of resveratrol , a dietary supplement. It can grow in building foundations, threatening their stability, and spreads quite quickly. Mesquite ( Prosopis juliflora ) has spread very widely across

2701-465: The Meliphagidae, have recently been transferred to the Zosteropidae on genetic evidence. The genus Notiomystis (New Zealand stitchbird), formerly classified in the Meliphagidae, has recently been removed to the newly erected Notiomystidae of which it is the only member. The "Macgregor's bird-of-paradise", historically considered a bird-of-paradise ( Paradisaeidae ), was recently found to be

2774-462: The North Island mainland. Current population estimations for mature individuals in the wild are 2,500–3,400. In addition to hihi, the stitchbird is also known by a number of other Māori names, including: tihi, ihi, tihe, kotihe, tiora, tiheora, tioro, kotihe-wera (male only), hihi-paka (male only), hihi-matakiore (female only), mata-kiore (female only), tihe-kiore (female only). The stitchbird

2847-681: The Red Sea, or as an accidental introduction from an aquarium. Another troublesome plant species is the terrestrial plant Phyla canescens , which was intentionally introduced into many countries in North America, Europe, and Africa as an ornamental plant. This species has become invasive in Australia, where it threatens native rare plants and causes erosion and soil slumping around river banks. It has also become invasive in France where it has been listed as an invasive plant species of concern in

2920-436: The aim of ameliorating environmental problems. A number of fast spreading plants such as kudzu have been introduced as a means of erosion control. Other species have been introduced as biological control agents to control invasive species . This involves the purposeful introduction of a natural enemy of the target species with the intention of reducing its numbers or controlling its spread. A special case of introduction

2993-495: The conditions change. Fluctuations in local abundance are common, but the small number of definitely migratory honeyeater species aside, the reasons are yet to be discovered. Many follow the flowering of favourite food plants. Arid zone species appear to travel further and less predictably than those of the more fertile areas. It seems probable that no single explanation will emerge. The genera Cleptornis (golden honeyeater) and Apalopteron (Bonin honeyeater), formerly treated in

Stitchbird - Misplaced Pages Continue

3066-539: The economy. There have been calls from scientists to consider a species "invasive" only in terms of their spread and reproduction rather than the harm they may cause. According to a practical definition, an invasive species is one that has been introduced and become a pest in its new location, spreading (invading) by natural means. The term is used to imply both a sense of urgency and actual or potential harm. For example, U.S. Executive Order 13112 (1999) defines "invasive species" as "an alien species whose introduction does or

3139-524: The ecosystem they have been introduced to. Some species have been introduced intentionally to combat pests. They are called biocontrols and may be regarded as beneficial as an alternative to pesticides in agriculture for example. In some instances the potential for being beneficial or detrimental in the long run remains unknown. The effects of introduced species on natural environments have gained much scrutiny from scientists, governments, farmers and others. The formal definition of an introduced species from

3212-585: The ecosystems they enter into, there are still some species that have affected the ecosystem in a positive way. For example, in New Hampshire invasive plants can provide some benefits to some species. Invasive species such as autumn olive, oriental bittersweet, and honeysuckle produce fruit that is used by a handful of fruit-eating bird species. The invasive plants can also be a source of pollen and nectar for many insects, such as bees. These invasive plants were able to help their ecosystem thriving, and increase

3285-559: The first time for more than 120 years that a stitchbird chick had been born on the mainland. The hatchings were described as a significant conservation milestone by sanctuary staff, and in early 2019 Zealandia banded their 1000th hihi chick although the adult population is believed to remain at about 100 birds. In autumn 2007, 59 adult birds from the Tiritiri Matangi population were released in Cascade Kauri Park, in

3358-473: The forefront of eliminating unwanted invasive species this would include preliminary steps; educating the public, cooperation from industries and government resources. In Great Britain , the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prevents the introduction of any animal not naturally occurring in the wild or any of a list of both animals or plants introduced previously and proved to be invasive. By definition ,

3431-586: The intentionally introduced Harmonia axyridis , multicolored Asian lady beetle . However the small percentage of introduced species that become invasive can produce profound ecological changes. In North America, Harmonia axyridis has become the most abundant lady beetle and probably accounts for more observations than all the native lady beetles put together. Many non-native plants have been introduced into new territories, initially as either ornamental plants or for erosion control, stock feed, or forestry. Whether an exotic will become an invasive species

3504-849: The introduction of common starlings to North America by the American Eugene Schieffelin , a lover of the works of Shakespeare and the chairman of the American Acclimatization Society , who, it is rumoured, wanted to introduce all of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays into the United States. He deliberately released eighty starlings into Central Park in New York City in 1890, and another forty in 1891. Yet another prominent example of an introduced species that became invasive

3577-489: The invasive comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi , the dangerous bacterium Vibrio cholerae , or the fouling zebra mussel . The Mediterranean and Black Seas, with their high volume shipping from exotic sources, are most impacted by this problem. Busy harbors are all potential hotspots as well: over 200 species have been introduced to the San Francisco Bay in this manner making it the most heavily invaded estuary in

3650-632: The large canopy trees favoured by the tūī and bellbird (this may simply be because of the competition from the more aggressive, larger birds). Their main food is nectar, but the stitchbird's diet covers over twenty species of native flowers and thirty species of fruit and many species of introduced plants. Important natural nectar sources are haekaro , matata , pūriri , rata and toropapa . Preferred fruits include Coprosma species, five finger , pate , tree fuchsia and raukawa . The stitchbird also supplements its diet with small insects. The stitchbird nests in cavities high up in old trees. They are

3723-418: The larger species, notably the white-eared honeyeater , and the strong-billed honeyeater of Tasmania , probe under bark for insects and other morsels. Many species supplement their diets with a little fruit, and a small number eat considerable amounts of fruit, particularly in tropical rainforests and, oddly, in semi-arid scrubland. The painted honeyeater is a mistletoe specialist. Most, however, exist on

SECTION 50

#1732775451224

3796-848: The mainland and many offshore islands by 1885. The last sighting on the mainland was in the Tararua Range in the 1880s. The exact cause of the decline is unknown, but is thought to be pressure from introduced species , especially black rats , and introduced avian diseases. Only a small population on Little Barrier Island survived. Starting in the 1980s the New Zealand Wildlife Service (now Department of Conservation ) translocated numbers of individuals from Hauturu to other island sanctuaries to create separate populations. These islands were part of New Zealand's network of offshore reserves which have been cleared of introduced species and which protect other rare species including

3869-547: The native animal's chances of survival. Several introduced exotic trees served as nest sites for resident waterbird species in Udaipur city, India. Perhaps the most common motivation for introducing a species into a new place is that of economic gain. Non-native species can become such a common part of an environment, culture, and even diet that little thought is given to their geographic origin. For example, soybeans , kiwi fruit , wheat , honey bees , and all livestock except

3942-459: The new environment. Adventive species are often considered synonymous with "introduced species", but this term is sometimes applied exclusively to introduced species that are not permanently established. Naturalized species are often introduced species that do not need human help to reproduce and maintain their population in an area outside their native range (no longer adventive), but that also applies to populations migrating and establishing in

4015-517: The number of native iguanas on multiple islands. In plants, introduced species have been observed to undergo rapid evolutionary change to adapt to their new environments, with changes in plant height, size, leaf shape, dispersal ability, reproductive output, vegetative reproduction ability, level of dependence on the mycorrhizal network , and level of phenotype plasticity appearing on timescales of decades to centuries. It has been hypothesized that invasive species of microbial life could contaminate

4088-556: The only bird species that mates face to face, in comparison to the more conventional copulation style for birds where the male mounts the female's back. Stitchbird have some of the highest levels of extra-pair paternity of any bird with up to 79% of the chicks in the nest sired by other males, possibly as a result of forced copulations. The stitchbird was relatively common early in the European colonisation of New Zealand, and began to decline relatively quickly afterwards, being extinct on

4161-486: The outer foliage, stretching up or sideways or hanging upside down at need. Many genera have a highly developed brush-tipped tongue, frayed and fringed with bristles which soak up liquids readily. The tongue is flicked rapidly and repeatedly into a flower, the upper mandible then compressing any liquid out when the bill is closed. In addition to nectar, all or nearly all honeyeaters take insects and other small creatures, usually by hawking , sometimes by gleaning . A few of

4234-431: The place of introduction and cause damage to nearby species, they are called " invasive species ". The transition from introduction, to establishment and to invasion has been described in the context of plants. Introduced species are essentially "non-native" species. Invasive species are those introduced species that spread widely or quickly and cause harm, be that to the environment, human health, other valued resources, or

4307-778: The populated world. Tomatoes are native to the Andes . Squash ( pumpkins ), maize (corn), and tobacco are native to the Americas , but were introduced to the Old World . Many introduced species require continued human intervention to survive in the new environment. Others may become feral, but do not seriously compete with natives, but simply increase the biodiversity of the area. One example would be Dandelions in North America , which have become an essential source of early season nectar for both native and introduced pollinators, and do not meaningfully compete with native grasses or flowers. A very troublesome marine species in southern Europe

4380-436: The potential impact. Unintentional or accidental introductions are most often a byproduct of human movements and are thus unbound to human motivations. Subsequent range expansion of introduced species may or may not involve human activity. Species that humans intentionally transport to new regions can subsequently become successfully established in two ways. In the first case, organisms are purposely released for establishment in

4453-464: The purposes of sport fishing and hunting. The introduced amphibian ( Ambystoma tigrinum ) that threatens the endemic California salamander ( A. californiense ) was introduced to California as a source of bait for fishermen. Pet animals have also been frequently transported into new areas by humans, and their escapes have resulted in several introductions, such as feral cats , parrots , and pond slider . Lophura nycthemera ( silver pheasant ),

SECTION 60

#1732775451224

4526-492: The remainder occupying New Guinea. With their closest relatives, the Maluridae (Australian fairy-wrens), Pardalotidae (pardalotes), and Acanthizidae (thornbills, Australian warblers, scrubwrens, etc.), they comprise the superfamily Meliphagoidea and originated early in the evolutionary history of the oscine passerine radiation. Although honeyeaters look and behave very much like other nectar-feeding passerines around

4599-519: The selling of genetically modified seeds has added to the controversy surrounding introduced species. The effect of genetically modified organisms varies from organism to organism and is still being researched today, however, the rise of genetically modified organisms has added complexity to the conversations surrounding introduced species. Introductions have also been important in supporting recreation activities or otherwise increasing human enjoyment. Numerous fish and game animals have been introduced for

4672-427: The tongue is long with a brush at the end for collecting nectar . Thin whiskers project out and slightly forward from the base of the bill. Stitchbirds are very active and call frequently. Their most common call, a tzit tzit sound, is believed to be the source of their common name, as Buller noted that it "has a fanciful resemblance to the word stitch ". They also have a high-pitched whistle and an alarm call which

4745-456: The wild", which means that species growing in a garden, farm, or house may not meet the criteria unless they escape and persist. There are many terms associated with introduced species that represent subsets of introduced species, and the terminology associated with introduced species is now in flux for various reasons. Examples of these terms are "invasive", "acclimatized", "adventive", "naturalized", and "immigrant" species. The term "invasive"

4818-619: The wild. Among the popular exotic pets that have become alien or invasive species are parrots, frogs, terrapins, and iguanas. Some species, such as the Western honey bee , brown rat , house sparrow , ring-necked pheasant , and European starling , have been introduced very widely. In addition there are some agricultural and pet species that frequently become feral ; these include rabbits , dogs , ducks , snakes , goats , fish , pigs , and cats . Many water fleas such as Daphnia , Bosmina and Bythotrephes have introduced around

4891-423: The wild. It is sometimes difficult to predict whether a species will become established upon release, and if not initially successful, humans have made repeated introductions to improve the probability that the species will survive and eventually reproduce in the wild. In these cases, it is clear that the introduction is directly facilitated by human desires. In the second case, species intentionally transported into

4964-466: The world (such as the sunbirds and flowerpeckers ), they are unrelated, and the similarities are the consequence of convergent evolution . The extent of the evolutionary partnership between honeyeaters and Australasian flowering plants is unknown, but probably substantial. A great many Australian plants are fertilised by honeyeaters, particularly the Proteaceae , Myrtaceae , and Ericaceae . It

5037-427: The world as hitchhikers on ships, and arachnids such as scorpions and exotic spiders are sometimes transported to areas far beyond their native range by riding in shipments of tropical fruit. This was seen during the introduction of Steatoda nobilis (Noble false widow) worldwide through banana shipments. Further there are numerous examples of marine organisms being transported in ballast water , among them

5110-431: The world, causing dramatic changes in native freshwater ecosystems. When a new species is introduced, the species could potentially breed with members of native species, producing hybrids. The effect of the creating of hybrids can range from having little effect, a negative effect, to having devastating effects on native species. Potential negative effects include hybrids that are less fit for their environment resulting in

5183-603: The world. There is also the accidental release of the Africanized honey bees (AHB), known colloquially as "killer bees") or Africanized bee to Brazil in 1957 and the Asian carp to the United States. The insect commonly known as the brown marmorated stink bug ( Halyomorpha halys ) was introduced accidentally in Pennsylvania. Another form of unintentional introductions is when an intentionally introduced plant carries

5256-534: Was first introduced to the United States as a potential food source. The apple snail was released in Southeast Asia with the intent that it be used as a protein source, and subsequently to places like Hawaii to establish a food industry. In Alaska, foxes were introduced to many islands to create new populations for the fur trade. About twenty species of African and European dung beetles have established themselves in Australia after deliberate introduction by

5329-412: Was originally described as a member of the primarily Australian and New Guinean honeyeater family Meliphagidae . It had remained classified as such until recently. Genetic analysis shows that it is not closely related to the honeyeaters and their allies and that its closest living relatives are within the endemic New Zealand Callaeidae . In 2007 a new passerine family was erected to contain the stitchbird,

#223776