: Invasive Species

Question

I read that invasive species destroy ecosystem that they are in other than their original place but how do they not destroy the ecosystem where they are from?

In: 1

Answer 1

There are two factors:

First, their initial ecosystem adapted to them. E.g. birds in regions with lots of ground-based predators (such as cats or martens) will build nests in inaccessible, sheltered places. Birds on islands without predators dont because, in the past, they didnt have to. Once an invasive predator arriges on their island, they have no defence.

Second, most ecosystems that existed a couple hundred years ago are now gone or altered completely due to humans. That often means that the animals originally living here are now ill-equipped for them. Other ‘invasive’ species, which lived in ecosystems more similar to the human-created ones, are now better equipped for them and displace the original inhabitants.

Answer 2

There are two factors:

First, their initial ecosystem adapted to them. E.g. birds in regions with lots of ground-based predators (such as cats or martens) will build nests in inaccessible, sheltered places. Birds on islands without predators dont because, in the past, they didnt have to. Once an invasive predator arriges on their island, they have no defence.

Second, most ecosystems that existed a couple hundred years ago are now gone or altered completely due to humans. That often means that the animals originally living here are now ill-equipped for them. Other ‘invasive’ species, which lived in ecosystems more similar to the human-created ones, are now better equipped for them and displace the original inhabitants.