In: Biology
Which of the following statements about invasive species is true?
-All invasive species were dispersed by humans intentionally.
-All species' introductions are harmless.
-Invasive species are a problem for terrestrial environments, while their impacts are often limited in aquatic environments.
-Invasive species outcompete native species, often changing their habitats.
The correct statement is D.
Invasive species are certain organisms that invade areas which they are not native to. They pose a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. Most of the rapidly spreading invasive species have high rate of biomass production and have the ability to colonize a wide range of ecosystems. Due to their presence in the ecosystem, an imbalance is created in the various parameters that maintain the stability of an ecosystem. Oxygen content, pH, nutrient content, surface area (in water bodies) and temperature are some of the parameters. Common invasive species include Eichhornia crassipes, Prosopis juliflora, and Parthenium spp.
Statement A cannot be true because humans do not intentionally disperse all the invasive species. Agents like wind, water and even animals can disperse viable seeds/bodies of the invasive species upto long distances. Humans can also disperse such species accidentally while traveling from one place to another. Seeds of certain invasive plants can be transported along with humans accidentally.
Statement B cannot be true because many invasive species pose harm to the ecosystem they invade in. For example, Eichhornia crassipes grew in enormous amounts in the water bodies of Bengal, India. This created difficulties for the native organisms to thrive.
Statement C cannot be correct because invasive species have almost equal impacts on terrestrial and aquatic environments. The overall impact, however, depends on the growth and biomass production of the invasive species.