Invasive Species Reading

What does every ecosystem have?

species that are considered native to it

What has species that are considered native to it?

every ecosystem

What does native species refer to?

organisms that have developed and evolved in a particular environment over thousands of years- they were not introduced from other animals

What refers to organisms that have developed and evolved in a particular environment over thousands of years- they were not introduced fro other animals?

native species

What are invasive species?

organisms that were introduced to a habitat where they were not previously found

What are organisms that were introduced to a habitat they were not previously found?

invasive species

What are invasive species generally spread by?

human activities such as ships, wood, plants, and pets

What are generally spread by human activities such as ships, wood, plants, and pets?

invasive species

How do ships spread invasive species?

aquatic organisms can be found in the ballast water in the bottom of ships or attached to the hull

Aquatic organisms can be found in the ballast water in the bottom of ships or attached to the hull, which describes what?

how ships can spread invasive species

How does wood spread invasive species?

insects can get into the wood in crates and boxes

Insects can get into the wood in crates and boxes which describes what?

how wood can spread invasive species

How can plants spread invasive species?

taking plants from one area to another could allow those plants to spread into the wild

Taking plants from one area to another could allow those plants to spread into the wild describes what?

how plants can spread invasive species

How can pets spread invasive species?

some invasive species began as exotic pets that escaped into the wild

Some invasive species began as exotic pets that escaped into the wild describes what?

how pets can spread invasive species

What is a key feature of invasive species?

that they grow, reproduce, and spread throughout the ecosystem quickly and aggressively, often harming the native species in the process

Whose key feature is that they grow, reproduce, and spread throughout the ecosystem quickly and aggressively, often harming the native species in the process?

invasive species

42 percent of threatened or endangered species are at risk from what?

invasive species

What percentage of threatened or endangered species are at risk from invasive species?

42 percent

Why don’t invasive species often not have predators in their new habitats?

because they are from a different area

Because invasive species are from are different area,

invasive species often not have predators in their new habitats

How come invasive species often take over their environment?

without predators, they are able to breed and spread quickly

Without predators, invasive species are able to breed and spread quickly, which is why _

invasive species often take over their environment

Invasive species pose what threats?

-preying on native species

-out-competing native species for food or other resources

-causing or carrying disease that native species are not immune to

-preventing native species from reproducing or killing the native species young

-changing food webs by destroying or replacing native food sources, and the native species may not be able to eat the invasive species

-decreasing biodiversity

-altering ecosystem conditions

What poses the following threats?

-preying on native species

-out-competing native species for food or other resources

-causing or carrying disease that native species are not immune to

-preventing native species from reproducing or killing the native species young

-changing food webs by destroying or replacing native food sources, and the native species may not be able to eat the invasive species

-decreasing biodiversity

-altering ecosystem conditions

invasive species

How does invasive species pose the threat of decreasing biodiversity?

because of their aggressive nature, invasive species can take over an ecosystem, creating a monoculture

Because of invasive species’ aggressive nature, they can take over an ecosystem creating a monoculture, which poses what threat?

decreasing biodiversity

How can invasive species pose the threat of altering ecosystem conditions?

some invasive species can change ecosystem conditions by changing water or soil chemistry (pH) or increasing the intensity of wildfires

Some invasive species can change ecosystem conditions by changing water or soil chemistry (pH) or increasing the intensity of wildfires, which poses what threat?

altering ecosystem conditions

Why can invasive species impact human health?

they can introduce new diseases that we are not immune to

Invasive species can introduce new diseases that we are not immune to, which is why they can impact what?

human health

What can invasive plants do to affect human activities?

clog and choke waterways, making it difficult for boats to pass

What can clog and choke waterways, making it difficult for boats to pass?

invasive plants

What can invasive barnacles, mussels and clams do to impact human activities?

attach to boats and other water structures, and they are often difficult and expensive to remove

What can attach to boats and other water structures, and they are often difficult and expensive to remove?

invasive barnacles, mussels and clams

What happens when plants invades livestock pastures and crop fields?

they destroy food for the livestock and destroy the crops

what do plants invade to destroy food for the livestock and destroy the crops?

livestock pastures and crop fields