Invasive species are plants or animals that don't belong in a certain area. When they show up in new places, they can cause big problems for local plants and animals. These newcomers can make it hard for native species to survive, leading to a loss of biodiversity and, sadly, more species going extinct.
Competition for Resources: Invasive species often fight local species for important things like food, water, and homes. For instance, the zebra mussel, which is a kind of shellfish, has invaded North America and has taken over by consuming the food and space that native mussels need. It’s thought that invasive species are behind up to 56% of the drops in native species populations.
Predation: Sometimes, invasive species become predators, hunting native species that haven't learned how to defend themselves. A great example is the brown tree snake in Guam. This snake has caused many local bird species to go extinct, hurting the bird population on the island.
Spreading Diseases: Invasive species can bring new diseases that local species don't have protection against. For example, a harmful fungus introduced to frogs all over the world has caused many of them to disappear. Scientists estimate that over 200 types of frogs have gone extinct because of this fungus.
Changing Habitats: Invasive species can change the places they invade in ways that make it hard for local species to live there. Take kudzu, a fast-growing plant found in the southeastern United States. It can cover forests, blocking sunlight from reaching native plants and changing the soil in ways that hurt them.
The effects of invasive species aren’t the same everywhere. Some places, like islands, are more affected. For example, about 75% of bird species that have gone extinct since the year 1500 lived on islands. Many of these extinctions happened because invasive mammals, like rats and cats, were introduced there.
As our world becomes more interconnected, the chances for invasive species to invade and cause problems grow. The continued decline of native species because of competition, predation, disease, and habitat changes shows just how important it is to manage and prevent these invasions. We need to take action to protect biodiversity and keep ecosystems healthy in our global environment.
Invasive species are plants or animals that don't belong in a certain area. When they show up in new places, they can cause big problems for local plants and animals. These newcomers can make it hard for native species to survive, leading to a loss of biodiversity and, sadly, more species going extinct.
Competition for Resources: Invasive species often fight local species for important things like food, water, and homes. For instance, the zebra mussel, which is a kind of shellfish, has invaded North America and has taken over by consuming the food and space that native mussels need. It’s thought that invasive species are behind up to 56% of the drops in native species populations.
Predation: Sometimes, invasive species become predators, hunting native species that haven't learned how to defend themselves. A great example is the brown tree snake in Guam. This snake has caused many local bird species to go extinct, hurting the bird population on the island.
Spreading Diseases: Invasive species can bring new diseases that local species don't have protection against. For example, a harmful fungus introduced to frogs all over the world has caused many of them to disappear. Scientists estimate that over 200 types of frogs have gone extinct because of this fungus.
Changing Habitats: Invasive species can change the places they invade in ways that make it hard for local species to live there. Take kudzu, a fast-growing plant found in the southeastern United States. It can cover forests, blocking sunlight from reaching native plants and changing the soil in ways that hurt them.
The effects of invasive species aren’t the same everywhere. Some places, like islands, are more affected. For example, about 75% of bird species that have gone extinct since the year 1500 lived on islands. Many of these extinctions happened because invasive mammals, like rats and cats, were introduced there.
As our world becomes more interconnected, the chances for invasive species to invade and cause problems grow. The continued decline of native species because of competition, predation, disease, and habitat changes shows just how important it is to manage and prevent these invasions. We need to take action to protect biodiversity and keep ecosystems healthy in our global environment.