3.3 Flashcards
What are introduced species?
Plants or animals brought into a new ecosystem, either by accident or on purpose.
Was are invasive species?
Organisms that can take over the habitat of native species or invade their bodies, thus weakening their immune system.
How are do new species enter different ecosystems?
It occurs naturally or humans accidentally (or on purpose) assist this process.
What can introducing a new species to an ecosystem be destructive?
The natural surrounding have not had an opportunity to evolve with that new species as a factor.
What is an example of introducing a species into a new environment and it having consequences?
Did birds evolved on various islands where there were no natural predators yet. They didn’t have a reason to fly and escape the ground, so they lost the ability to fly. When humans brought over predators (rats and dogs etc.) the birds were killed because they weren’t able to fly and couldn’t adapt quickly enough.
What is competition?
When an introduced species competes or out competes a native species for resources.
Why do introduced species do better than the native species?
Because the native species don’t know how to act towards the new species, and they could have adaptations that give them an advantage.
What can happen if a introduced species out competes a native species for resources?
The species could take more than its share of nutrients and resources and this could result in the ecosystem being changed.
What is predation?
When a introduced predator severely alters and ecosystem.
Why is predation harmful towards ecosystems?
The other species haven’t evolved ways of escape from the introduced predators and this results in introduced species being a bike to wipe out entire populations.
What is the result of introducing diseases and parasites into a ecosystem?
An invasion of parasites or diseases can weaken or destroy important species in an ecosystem. Originally dominant species may be out competed by other species and the ecosystem will be greatly changed.
What is habitat alteration?
When a habitat is altered. Invasive species can physically change a habitat.
What are the results of habitat alteration because of invasive species?
They can change light levels, decrease dissolved oxygen in the water, increase soil erosion or just dig up the place (mole rats, prairie dogs, etc)
What is so dangerous about scotch broom to a mature community?
It is a reproductive machine, replaces native vegetation, is hard to kill, and overloads the soil with nitrogen.
What are native species?
A plant or an animal that naturally inhabits an area
