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INVASIVE SPECIES INVESTIGATOR!
WHAT IS A NATIVE SPECIES?Every kind of animal, plant, or micro-
organism has a home where it has existed for thousands of years; it is a native of this home range…a native
species.
NATIVES AND THEIR HOMES
Panda bear, Asia
Kangaroos, Australia
Giraffes, Africa
Llama, South America
Bald eagle, North America
Penguins, Antarctica
Emperor dragonfly,
Europe
WHAT IS AN EXOTIC OR ALIEN SPECIES?
A species that isn’t native to an area – it came from somewhere else.
Not all exotic species are harmful…
they can be beneficial…and beautiful!
But when an exotic species out-competes a native
species for resources such as food, water and
sunlight, and rapidly grows out of control, it becomes
invasive.
WHAT IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES?
Species introduced deliberately or unintentionally outside their natural habitats where they can establish
themselves, invade, out-compete natives, and take over their new environments.
In other words, invasive species move in and take
over!
Invasive species can be plants…
Water hyacinth
Hydrila
Purple loosestrife
Tree of heaven
Garlic mustard
Kudzu
Animals…
Emerald ash borer
Zebra mussels
Asian long horn beetle
Giant African land snail
Bullfrog
European starling
Or pathogens.
Culex mosquito
West Nile virus
Elm bark beetle
Dutch Elm disease
WHY ARE INVASIVE SPECIES A BAD THING?
THEY HAVE NO NATURAL ENEMIES IN PLACE TO LIMIT POPULATION GROWTH.
THEY STEAL RESOURCES LIKE FOOD AND WATER FROM NATIVE SPECIES.
THEY THREATEN THE HEALTH OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
THEY THREATEN THE HEALTH OF HUMANS.