In Chapters 6 and 7 of Rambunctious Gardens, Marris presents two arguments on viewing exotic species. The conventional wisdom as of now is that exotic species are invasive. Marris quickly tells us, hwoever, that “the vast majority are not. Science is finding that some are quite well behaved and innocuous, or even helpful” (98). Be establishing this, Marris relates back to her original argument that we should embrace nature, not try and change it. She stresses that battling exotics is resourcefully consuming and unnecessary. Ultimately, she is saying that we, as humans, are the true enemy.
On one side of the argument are the majority of ecologists and conservationists who brands exotics as invasive. Marris presents extreme examples of this, including Bill Clinton’s executive order on war against invasive species and Shahid Naeem’s nighttime raids. There exists several arguments about how and why exotics do well in certain environments over others. Such explanations include lack of predators, lack of resistance, propagule pressure, and a reduction in the variety of life. Regardless of the reason, many still seek to obliterate non-native species from ecosystems in an attempt to revert back to a vague baseline. Marris combats these assertions by giving examples of beneficial organisms and inaccurate naming of exotics. She further informs us of how some ecologists are promoting and introducing exotics to help endangered species and hinder undesirable ones.
The opposing side of the argument are “a brave few” who embrace exotic-dominated ecosystems, novel ecosystems. Novel ecosystems refer to “the more dramatically altered systems” (114). In other words, an ecosystem whose composition of species has changed dramatically within the last few centuries—regardless of anthropogenic change. Marris hypothesizes that many are scared of change to explain the inclination of opposing exotic species. Exotic species usually kept in check by the surrounding organisms. The ecosystem as a whole is more stable and natural because of the lack of human intervention. Non-natives are hardly cited as the cause of extinction of other species. Even so, the extinction is a product of nature.
Ultimately, I agree with Marris and believe that the war on invasive species is an unnecessary one. Not only does it exhaust time and money, but it seems to be an endless circle which requires high amounts of attention. Exotic species are not new nor are they a recent phenomenon. I believe that “survival of the fittest” and evolution are a part of nature and therefore, should be allowed to happen on its own course. As Marris says, exotic species that adapt will create more diversity in the future. If a problem does arise to the point where the exotic does become invasive, they I think we should be able to deploy an extent of human intervention (which relates back to the notion of a rambunctious garden). “As the Earth responds to the changes we humans have made, does it make sense to destroy ecosystems that’s thrive under the new conditions?”
