Give 3 reasons why exotic species cause an imbalance to an ecosystem they are introduced to?

Answer 1

1) they compete with native species for food/space/resources

2) they can introduce foreign diseases to which the native species aren't able to fight off

3) if any of the native species might be close relatives, they could interbreed and produce hybrids with traits not beneficial in that environment


NOTE: To people who questioned #3, if the introduced species was from a different climate and interbred with natives, the offspring may not be able to survive as well in the climate of the native parent. With fewer surviving members, other organisms that depend on the species would be affected (the question asked about the ecosystem). If fewer of a prey species was produced, the number of predators would drop from lack of food. If it were a predatory species, the number of prey could increase, possibly causing further upset by having more herbivores that could overgraze, or destroy a fruit, nut, or seed crop for the year (which would in turn affect the populations of other animals that might depend on that food).

Also, if the native species was one which reproduced slowly, or had a short lifespan, the invasive could be competing with the natives for mates, or territories, causing a lower number of native offspring to be produced, or production of infertile hybrids which could also change the population number in the future.

Answer 2

My impression is that exotic species usually have no natural predators and therefore often outcompetes the native species. They can also consume the native species to extinction. I don't think the producing hybrids with unfavorable traits will cause an imbalance though as if these hybrids don't have adaptive traits, they'll simply die.

Answer 3

study what happend in australia while rabbits have been presented. look at what's at the instant taking place interior the florida everglades with the creation of unique reptiles such with the aid of fact the burmese pythons that are flourishing and destroying the glades. there are some distance too many different examples of human interference and screwing up the organic ecosystems.. (mudskippers are yet another occasion.

Answer 4

One's definitely because they have no natural predators, causing them to consume all the resources of the environment without worry.

Answer 5

haha... someone's being lazy to do research.