INVASIVE SPECIES INVESTIGATOR!

WHAT IS A NATIVE SPECIES?Every kind of animal, plant, or micro-

organism 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

Panda bear, Asia

Kangaroos, Australia

Giraffes, Africa

Llama, South America

Bald eagle, North America

Penguins, Antarctica

Emperor dragonfly,

Europe

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 out-competes 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…

Water hyacinth

Hydrila

Purple loosestrife

Tree of heaven

Garlic mustard

Kudzu

Animals…

Emerald ash borer

Zebra mussels

Asian long horn beetle

Giant African land snail

Bullfrog

European starling

Or pathogens.

Culex mosquito

West Nile virus

Elm bark beetle

Dutch Elm disease

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.