Science Common Sense

350 - How do invasive species affect native ecosystems?

Invasive species are plants or animals that come from another place and enter a new environment. They can harm the native ecosystem in several ways:

1. Competition for food and space: Invasives compete with native species for food, water, and space, making it hard for them to survive.
2. Habitat destruction: Invasives can alter the environment, making it hard for native species to live there.
3. Predation: Invasives can eat native species, reducing their population.
4. Disease: Invasives can spread diseases to native species, making them sick or killing them.

For example, if a non-native snake enters a forest, it might eat the native birds and other animals, changing the balance of the ecosystem. This can have a ripple effect, affecting many other species that depend on those birds and animals.

So, invasive species can harm the delicate balance of native ecosystems, which can lead to big problems and even extinction of native species.