The Florida Everglades’ delicate and balanced ecosystem is being threatened by new species of plants and animals that have no natural predators. For instance, Old World climbing fern, which is not native to Florida, is smothering plants that grow naturally there and that are needed for food and protection to other species.
The Burmese python, which used to be imported to Florida for pet stores, has aggressively invaded the area. Click here for a photo of a python attacking an alligator. Pythons are also responsible for the dwindling number of animals in the area, from birds to deer. According to Wikipedia, these dangerous snakes “prey on 39 endangered species and 41 additional rare species.”
Florida is not the only region that suffers from invasive species. The Gulf of Mexico experienced an inundation of lionfish, which sport venomous fins. Other areas have fallen prey to fast-reproducing feral hogs.
So what? So we have plants and animals that don’t belong here. What’s the big deal?
Problem
Here’s the problem: Since they come from other areas of the world, they have no natural predators. Nothing holds them in check. They become the top of their food chain and ruin the delicately balanced food chain and ecosystems already in place. Click here for a photo of sea lamprey destroying a lake trout. These invasive plants and animals are imported for pet stores, imported for plant stores or research facilities, travel in ballast water in international ships, or are accidentally imported in fruits and vegetables imported to America.
Solution
What’s the solution? Lionfish have been controlled somewhat by creating a demand for them by eating them. Yes, that’s right. They’ve been harvested and sold in restaurants. Yum. But that doesn’t solve all the invasive-species problems.
Now it’s your turn: Write a problem-to-solution paragraph about invasive species. Begin with the problem and then write about one viable idea of yours that could solve this problem.
Note: You don’t have to prove that your idea will work or even do research on the issue for this paragraph. In a real essay, you would do both, but this is just for practice so that you can get the idea of how a problem-to-solution paragraph or essay works.
