Question

explain how exotic/ non-native/introduced species contribute to the loss if biodiversity.

Answer 1

Biodiversity refers to the number of all varieties of species with their variability present in the defined area.for example marine biodiversity, terrestrial biodiversity etc.

Normally species can come and exit from any biodiversity or we can say it's a natural phenomena of any species going extinct from ecosystem or exist in an ecosystem.But if any new species introduce into the ecosystem which are not native to the ecosystem may damage their ecosystem.

As we know the exotic species have some features which enable them to live in new environment.. such as(1)They have ability for rapid reproduction and growth, which helps them to increase their populations in less time.

(2)They posses phenotypic plasticity which means they have ability to adapt the new environment rapidly by changing themselves physiologically.

(3)They have high dispersal ability means disperse in many area very rapidly.

(4)They also have ability to survive any type of food present in that environment,which results they are not dying easily.

(5)They are also a good competitior and predator,which helps them to survive in new environment.

Additionally after having so many adaptable features Exotic species /non native species, are capable of causing extinction of Native species and also because of limited food and resources available in the ecosystem.Thus , they are responsible for loss of biodiversity.

some examples: Accidental introduction of an Atlantic comb jelly fish into the black sea, increases their number rapidly and competed out the native fauna and now have 95% of total biomass of black sea.So, there is biodiversity loss of native species.