Invasive species are foreign organisms that are transported from one ecosystem to another. Invasive species have no natural predators in their new environment and outcompete native species for resources. Invasive species can have devastating impacts on ecosystem biodiversity, but did you also know that they have huge economic impacts for humans? For example, zebra mussels are invasive species that entered the United States through the Great Lakes. They continued to spread all over the country. Zebra mussels have massively decreased biodiversity in many aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, zebra mussels can destroy boats, decimate fishing sites, destroy beaches and docks, and clog pipes. In the next 10 years, zebra mussels are expected to cause 3.1 billion dollars worth of damage in the United States. Sometimes, like the zebra mussel, the invasive species is transported accidentally. But sometimes, like the case of the cane toad, the species was transported intentionally.
Invasive species are foreign organisms that are transported from one ecosystem to another. Invasive species have no natural predators in their new environment and outcompete native species for resources. Invasive species can have devastating impacts on ecosystem biodiversity, but did you also know that they have huge economic impacts for humans? For example, zebra mussels are invasive species that entered the United States through the Great Lakes. They continued to spread all over the country. Zebra mussels have massively decreased biodiversity in many aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, zebra mussels can destroy boats, decimate fishing sites, destroy beaches and docks, and clog pipes. In the next 10 years, zebra mussels are expected to cause 3.1 billion dollars worth of damage in the United States. Sometimes, like the zebra mussel, the invasive species is transported accidentally. But sometimes, like the case of the cane toad, the species was transported intentionally.