Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that can really upset the balance of an ecosystem. When they come into a new environment, they usually don’t have any natural predators that would keep their numbers in check. This means their populations can grow too large, which creates competition for resources like food, water, and shelter.
For example, when the zebra mussel was introduced to freshwater systems in North America, it started to outcompete the local mussels for food and space. This has led to some native mussel species disappearing.
Predators: Invasive predators can harm local animal populations. A good example is the brown tree snake on Guam. After it was introduced there, many bird species began to decline. This shows how one new predator can change the whole community.
Competition: Invasive plants can overwhelm native plants by hogging sunlight and nutrients. Take Japanese knotweed in the UK, for instance. It grows so tall that it covers other plants and can even change the soil around it, making it hard for local plants and their pollinators to survive.
Invasive species can also mess up important partnerships in nature. For instance, when non-native honeybees come into an area, they may compete with the local bees for flowers. Since the local bees may struggle to compete, fewer native plants get pollinated. This can make it harder for them to grow and reproduce.
In short, invasive species change the way animals and plants interact in their new environments. This often leads to fewer types of living things and can change the way communities are structured. It’s important to understand these effects so we can take better care of our ecosystems.
Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that can really upset the balance of an ecosystem. When they come into a new environment, they usually don’t have any natural predators that would keep their numbers in check. This means their populations can grow too large, which creates competition for resources like food, water, and shelter.
For example, when the zebra mussel was introduced to freshwater systems in North America, it started to outcompete the local mussels for food and space. This has led to some native mussel species disappearing.
Predators: Invasive predators can harm local animal populations. A good example is the brown tree snake on Guam. After it was introduced there, many bird species began to decline. This shows how one new predator can change the whole community.
Competition: Invasive plants can overwhelm native plants by hogging sunlight and nutrients. Take Japanese knotweed in the UK, for instance. It grows so tall that it covers other plants and can even change the soil around it, making it hard for local plants and their pollinators to survive.
Invasive species can also mess up important partnerships in nature. For instance, when non-native honeybees come into an area, they may compete with the local bees for flowers. Since the local bees may struggle to compete, fewer native plants get pollinated. This can make it harder for them to grow and reproduce.
In short, invasive species change the way animals and plants interact in their new environments. This often leads to fewer types of living things and can change the way communities are structured. It’s important to understand these effects so we can take better care of our ecosystems.