Alien and Invasive Species
-Introduced alien species can escape into local ecosystems and become invasive
-The interaction of humans in an environment usually results in the introduction of invasive species, which can spread rapidly and harm the ecosystem
-These species can harm the environment by predating smaller species and causing their extinction or by competing with other species for food or habitat and also cause disturbance to it's distribution
-Introduced alien species can escape into local ecosystems and become invasive
-The interaction of humans in an environment usually results in the introduction of invasive species, which can spread rapidly and harm the ecosystem
-These species can harm the environment by predating smaller species and causing their extinction or by competing with other species for food or habitat and also cause disturbance to it's distribution
The Cane Toad
-Cane toads were introduced to Australia to use them as predators for larvae that would eat cane harvests -This method was unsuccessful, and instead the toads would reproduce and spread extremely fast, making it a invasive specie -They harmed the Australian environment because domestic and wild animals would eat the toad and die due to it's poisonous toxins that it releases when being threatened |
Alien Species Compete with Endemic Species
-Competitive exclusion and the absence of predators can lead to reduction in the numbers of endemic species when alien species become invasive
-When an invasive species has the same niche as a native specie, the Competitive exclusion principle will apply to the scenario
-Either both species will end up with reduced niches, or the one of the species will overpower the other
-Most of the times the native specie is the one that ends defeated by the invasive one, because the only scenario in which the native specie overpowers the niche, is when the invasive specie has a good amount of predators
-Competitive exclusion and the absence of predators can lead to reduction in the numbers of endemic species when alien species become invasive
-When an invasive species has the same niche as a native specie, the Competitive exclusion principle will apply to the scenario
-Either both species will end up with reduced niches, or the one of the species will overpower the other
-Most of the times the native specie is the one that ends defeated by the invasive one, because the only scenario in which the native specie overpowers the niche, is when the invasive specie has a good amount of predators
Biomagnification
-Pollutants become concentrated in the tissues of organisms at higher trophic levels by biomagnification
-Toxins can be stored in the fat of organisms as they obtain it from inorganic compounds
-As species consume other species with toxin accumulation they accumulate those toxins in their body, and the next predator will consume a bigger toxin accumulation, and the next one an even bigger one, and so on
-In conclusion, the higher the specie is in the trophic level, the more toxin accumulation it will consume, since they consume more amounts of organisms throughout their lives
-This is called biomagnification
-Pollutants become concentrated in the tissues of organisms at higher trophic levels by biomagnification
-Toxins can be stored in the fat of organisms as they obtain it from inorganic compounds
-As species consume other species with toxin accumulation they accumulate those toxins in their body, and the next predator will consume a bigger toxin accumulation, and the next one an even bigger one, and so on
-In conclusion, the higher the specie is in the trophic level, the more toxin accumulation it will consume, since they consume more amounts of organisms throughout their lives
-This is called biomagnification
Plastics in the Ocean
-Macroplastic and microplastic debris has accumulated in marine environments
-Plastic can be thrown directly into the oceans (by ships), or it can enter by the polluted waterways that open up in the ocean
-Macroplastic is visible debris in bigger chunks
-Microplastic is not visible and is the result of the degradation of macro plastic
-Plastic in the oceans can result in:
-Macroplastic and microplastic debris has accumulated in marine environments
-Plastic can be thrown directly into the oceans (by ships), or it can enter by the polluted waterways that open up in the ocean
-Macroplastic is visible debris in bigger chunks
-Microplastic is not visible and is the result of the degradation of macro plastic
-Plastic in the oceans can result in:
- The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of organic chemicals released by the plastic
- Absorb other inorganic chemicals and lead to the concentration of these chemical toxins
- Aquatic animals eat it or are harmed by it