Invasive species cause harm to the ecosystem in many ways:
- In the absence of natural predators, a new and aggressive species can breed, spread quickly and overrun the local habitat. Native species may not have evolved defences against the invader, further boosting the invaders’ growth.
- The threats from an invasive species also include preying on native species and outcompeting them for resources, thereby restricting the growth of native species.
- Some invasive species are capable of changing the conditions in an ecosystem, such as the soil chemistry.
- Invasive species can change the food web in an ecosystem by destroying native food sources.
- People who depend on the ecosystem’s native resources will also be affected.
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