9.8 - Invasive Species

Question 1

What are invasive species?

Answer 1

• Species not native to an area, introduced often by human transport

Question 2

What characterizes an invasive spcies?

Answer 2

• No natural predators to control pop.
• Highly competitive (aggressive feeders or fast growers) for resources
• Can thrive in their non-native habitats

Question 3

What species are more likely to become invasive species? Why?

Answer 3

• R-selected and generalist species are more likely to be invasive
• High biotic potential & low parental care
• Highly adaptable
• Diverse habitat & food needs

Question 4

WHat is lost from invasive species

Answer 4

• US loses 120 bil a year
• Lost ag. productivity, tourism, property value decline, fishery decline, control and removal costs

Question 5

Control/removal methods

Answer 5

• Laws preventing transport of invasives (firewood for emerald ash borer)
  - Removal of hosts (dead ash trees for EBA) to reduce spread
• Careful boat cleaning & inspection (zebra mussels)
• Introduction of natural predator (biological control)
  - Chinese wasps to kill emerald ash borer
• Physical removal (hunting pythons, detaching z. mussels, pulling plants out, cutting trees down)