WHAT IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES?

• Invasive species are plants, animals, or other organisms that are introduced to a given area outside their original range and cause harm in their new home.

• Because they have no natural enemies to limit their reproduction, they usually spread and reproduce quickly.

• Invasive species are recognized as one of the leading threats to biodiversity and impose enormous costs to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and other human enterprises, as well as to human health.

TYPES OF INVASIVE SPECIES

•Animals

• Plants

• Pathogens (virus/bacteria)

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH AN INVASIVE SPECIES?

• Can cause an imbalance in the natural environment

•Outcompete native organisms for resources

• Threaten agriculture

• Endanger the health of plants and animals

HOW DO INVASIVE SPECIES TRAVEL?

• Humans- Can simply carry a organism• Some invasive species can stow away on a ship or

plane.

• Wind- Seeds can be carried great distances

• Water- Organisms can be transported on

natural “rafts”

SOME EXAMPLES OF INVASIVE SPECIES:

• Zebra mussel

• Kudzu

• Red fire ants

These three invasive species are found in Tennessee.

ZEBRA MUSSEL

•Originally from the Caspian and Black Sea.

• Introduced to the Great Lakes in 1988.

• Can be found in Tennessee

• Cause many problems:

• Can harm other fresh water mussels

• Can block intake pipes for power plants

• Can cause problems for recreational activities

Zebra Mussel

Zebra mussels

covering a crayfish

KUDZU

• It is a climbing, coiling, and trailing vine native to

southern Japan and south east China.

• It occurs as an invasive species in the U.S. and is

found in Tennessee.

• It is considered a harmful weed that climbs over

trees or shrubs and grows very rapidly.

• Kudzu kills other plants due to its heavy shading

from the sun.

KUDZU

RED FIRE ANTS

• The red fire ant is an insect that originated in South

America and was accidentally introduced to

Alabama in 1930s. They reside in Tennessee as

well.

• Red fire ants are aggressive. They attack with

painful venom and chance of allergy.

• Red fire ants may also damage fruits, berries and

young crops.

• Red fire ant mounds are a hazard to farm

equipment and can damage electrical boxes.

RED FIRE ANTS

PREDATOR – PREYRELATIONSHIPS

What if kudzu was introduced to this food web and killed the

producers?