Invasive Species

How do invasive species usually affect the availability of natural resources in an ecosystem?

• Invasive species reduce the availability of natural resources for native species by outcompeting the native species for those resources.

• Invasive species reduce the availability of natural resources for native species by interbreeding with the native species of that region.

• Invasive species increase the availability of natural resources for native species by creating more material for decomposers.

• Invasive species increase the availability of natural resources for native species by balancing the food web of the ecosystem.

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Kudzu is an invasive plant species in the southern part of the United States. It is a fast growing vine that can cover fields and trees. The image provides evidence of kudzu's rapid growth in an area.

How does kudzu's rapid growth impact native plant populations?

• Kudzu can harm native plant populations because it blocks them from receiving sunlight.

• Kudzu can harm native plant populations because it causes more rainfall in the area.

• Kudzu can help native plant populations because it protects them from overheating.

• Kudzu can help native plant populations because it attracts new animals to the area.

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The kudzu plant grows and spreads very fast. The picture shows how kudzu plants grow.

What will happen to the environment where kudzu plants grow and spread?

• The temperature and wind speed in the area will drop.

• The type of soil will become less rocky and more sandy.

• The amount of rain in the area will increase.

• The amount of light that reaches other plants will decrease.

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In the 1800s and 1900s, many new types of plants were brought to the U.S. from Asia. One example is the Japanese honeysuckle plant, shown in the picture.

At the time, it was thought that this was a good idea because these plants could be used to protect soil from erosion.

In many cases, there were no animals that ate the plants in the new environment, and there were no diseases that affected the plants. Because nothing killed the new plants, they were able to out-compete native plants for sunlight, space, and water.

Now scientists know that it can be dangerous to bring a new plant into a different environment. There are many organizations that work to help educate the public about the dangers of using invasive plants in the landscape.

What does the information above show?

• Scientific ideas do not change over time.

• When scientists find a solution to a problem, the solution never causes any new problems.

• People have never used science to try to solve problems.

• Ideas and conclusions change over time as new knowledge is gained.

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In the 1700s, rabbits were taken into Australia. Rabbits are not native to Australia, which means that there were no rabbits in Australia before this time. The rabbit population grew quickly. The rabbits ate the same grass and other kinds of plants that many other native animals usually ate.

The rabbits changed the natural balance of wildlife in Australia by

• hunting and killing many kinds of native animals.

• becoming the most popular pet in Australia.

• eating food other animals needed to survive.

• eating too many harmful weeds from farm fields.

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Which of the following is the best practice for the health of the environment when landscaping at home?

• Choose plants from foreign ecosystems that are healthy.

• Choose native plants that are compatible with the local soil type.

• Choose foreign plants from ecosystems with the thickest soils.

• Choose plants that will be most appealing to the neighbors.

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The tree of heaven is a species of plant found in the shaded states on the map.

The tree of heaven has the following characteristics:

 quick growing stems, leaves, and roots

 produces a very large quantity of seeds

 produces a chemical that makes it taste bad to other organisms

 seeds that grow in a wide variety of soil conditions

 native to northeast and central China

Given this information, how is the tree of heaven most likely to interact with native plant species in an ecosystem in Wyoming (WY)?

• The tree of heaven will cooperate with native plant species for resources.

• The tree of heaven will directly produce resources for native plant species.

• The tree of heaven will outcompete native plant species for resources.

• The tree of heaven will provide new niches for native plant species.

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The Chinese tallow is a tree that grows quickly and starts producing seeds sooner than other trees. A tallow tree can start producing seeds in 3 years, while an oak tree takes 25 years. A tallow tree can even grow new trees out of its roots without seeds.

What will happen to the environment where Chinese tallow trees grow?

• The number of types of trees will increase.

• The amount of rainfall will decrease.

• The amount of empty space will decrease.

• The amount of sunlight will increase.

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The purple loosestrife was brought to the United States from Europe in the 1800s. Since that time, the loosestrife has been taking over wetlands, clogging waterways, and replacing the cattail in its normal environment. What impact might this situation have had on the animals in the wetlands?

• The loosestrife has decreased the amount of habitat available to animals that nest only in cattails.

• The loosestrife has decreased the amount of food available to the animals that eat only cattails.

• The loosestrife has decreased the population size of animals which feed only on prey that eats cattails.

• all of these

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What is the effect of an invasive species on the biodiversity of an ecosystem?

• Invasive species fill the niches of many organisms and therefore increase biodiversity.

• Invasive species fill the niches of many organisms and therefore decrease biodiversity.

• Invasive species create many new niches for organisms and therefore increase biodiversity.

• Invasive species create many new niches for organisms and therefore decrease biodiversity.

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