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ARTICLE

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People and Invasive Species

People and Invasive Species

Invasive species—organisms not native to a particular area—are one of the leading causes of global biodiversity loss, and humans are the reason why.

Grades

2 - 12

Subjects

Biology, Ecology, Conservation, Geography

Image

Wild Pig in French Polynesia

Humans have sometimes brought organisms to lands they are new to, making them invasive species. One such animal is the domesticated pig (Sus domesticus). They were taken to the islands of the South Pacific as a food source.

Photograph by Damsea
Humans have sometimes brought organisms to lands they are new to, making them invasive species. One such animal is the domesticated pig (Sus domesticus). They were taken to the islands of the South Pacific as a food source.
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Cats (Felis catus), domestic pigs (Sus domesticus), and pythons are just a few animals that are invasive species in some environments. An invasive species is an organism that came from somewhere else. It is harmful in its new ecosystem.

Invasive species can live in many different places. They use up food and water. They do not have enemies in their new home. This means their population can grow quickly. They can hurt or eat the native species.

Human Influence

People and goods move all over the planet. They can take invasive species with them. This is how most invasive species spread.

One example is the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), or brown rat. It is really from China. But it has spread all over. In the 1700s, the rats came to the Pacific Islands on ships. These rats eat native species. They spread deadly diseases.

Another example is a vine called kudzu. It is from Asia. In the 1930s, people in the southern United States planted kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata). They hoped it would help to prevent erosion. But the kudzu vine took over.

A Poison Toad and Pythons

Then there is the cane toad (Bufo marinus). It lives in South and Central America. It came to Australia in the 1930s. People hoped it would eat pests in sugar cane farms. But the cane toads became the problem. They have poison that can kill the animal that eats it.

Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) came to the U.S. Florida Everglades. Some people keep pythons as pets. But they grow to be very large. Owners wanted to get rid of them. The snakes were let go into the wild. Burmese pythons have no enemies in Florida. That means their population is growing. They eat native birds. They also eat alligators.

What Can Be Done?

Many people are working to reduce invasive species. The lionfish is an example. Lionfish turned up in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. But they are from the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Lionfish eat native fish. They also hurt fisheries and coral.

Some invasive fish can be eaten by people. You might see lionfish served in restaurants. People are encouraged to eat it.

Humans started the problem of invasive species. Humans can also help to solve the problem.

Media Credits

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Director
Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society
Author
National Geographic Society
Production Managers
Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society
Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society
Program Specialists
Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society, National Geographic Society
Margot Willis, National Geographic Society
Producer
Clint Parks
Intern
Roza Kavak
other
Last Updated

October 19, 2023

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