INVASIVE SPECIES INVESTIGATOR WHAT IS A NATIVE SPECIES

INVASIVE SPECIES INVESTIGATOR!

WHAT IS A NATIVE SPECIES? Every kind of animal, plant, or microorganism has a home where it has existed for thousands of years; it is a native of this home range…a native species.

NATIVES AND THEIR HOMES Llama, South America Kangaroos, Australia Giraffes, Africa Panda bear, Asia Emperor dragonfly, Europe Bald eagle, North America Penguins, Antarctica

WHAT IS AN EXOTIC OR ALIEN SPECIES? A species that isn’t native to an area – it came from somewhere else.

Not all exotic species are harmful… they can be beneficial… and beautiful!

But when an exotic species outcompetes a native species for resources such as food, water and sunlight, and rapidly grows out of control, it becomes invasive.

WHAT IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES? Species introduced deliberately or unintentionally outside their natural habitats where they can establish themselves, invade, out-compete natives, and take over their new environments.

In other words, invasive species move in and take over!

Invasive species can be plants… Tree of heaven Purple loosestrife Garlic mustard Hydrila Water hyacinth Kudzu

Animals… Zebra mussels European starling Emerald ash borer Asian long horn beetle Bullfrog Giant African land snail

Or pathogens. Elm bark beetle West Nile virus Dutch Elm disease Culex mosquito

WHY ARE INVASIVE SPECIES A BAD THING? THEY HAVE NO NATURAL ENEMIES IN PLACE TO LIMIT POPULATION GROWTH. THEY STEAL RESOURCES LIKE FOOD AND WATER FROM NATIVE SPECIES. THEY THREATEN THE HEALTH OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE. THEY THREATEN THE HEALTH OF HUMANS.