Question
Explain why the fact that invasive species did not co-evolve with the native species unbalances an ecosystem.
Answers
Bot
Invasive species are species that are introduced into an ecosystem they are not native to and do not have any natural predators or competitors in that ecosystem. They have evolved in a different environment, so the native species do not have effective defenses against them. This lack of co-evolution means that the invasive species can easily outcompete the native species for resources.
This unbalances the ecosystem because the native species that were the main food source for other organisms may no longer be available, leading to a decline in the populations of those organisms. The invasive species may also disrupt the natural food chain, consume resources that the native species depend on, or introduce diseases that the native species are not immune to. These changes can have cascading effects on the ecosystem, ultimately leading to the loss of biodiversity and even ecosystem collapse. Therefore, the lack of co-evolution between invasive species and native species upsets the balance in the ecosystem and alters the natural dynamics.
This unbalances the ecosystem because the native species that were the main food source for other organisms may no longer be available, leading to a decline in the populations of those organisms. The invasive species may also disrupt the natural food chain, consume resources that the native species depend on, or introduce diseases that the native species are not immune to. These changes can have cascading effects on the ecosystem, ultimately leading to the loss of biodiversity and even ecosystem collapse. Therefore, the lack of co-evolution between invasive species and native species upsets the balance in the ecosystem and alters the natural dynamics.