14. Invasive species are organisms that are introduced to an ecosystem where they are not naturally found. They can have negative impacts on native species and the ecosystem as a whole. Choose an invasive species (can be real or fictional) and describe two ways it could impact a native ecosystem. Then, suggest one method for controlling the invasive species.
- The invasive species I chose is zebra mussels, which can impact a native ecosystem by outcompeting native mussel species for resources and attaching to the hulls of boats which can spread the invasive species to other ecosystems. One method for controlling zebra mussels is by treating bodies of water with copper sulfate to kill off the invasive species. Another method is by promoting native mussels by seeding them in the affected areas to outcompete the zebra mussels.