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Invasive Species (Species (Endemic species are those which are native to a…
Invasive Species
Species
Endemic species are those which are native to a defined geographic region (e.g. koalas in Australia)
Invasive species typically threaten the biodiversity of the ecosystem they are introduced into by displacing native species
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competitive exclusion
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According to competitive exclusion, one species will have a competitive advantage and survive at the expense of the other
Evolution via natural selection results in adaptations that function to minimise direct competition between species in nature
Steps
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They will often have faster reproduction rates (are capable of forming a larger population than endemic species)
They commonly lack a predator capable of limiting their survival (due to being introduced into a foreign environment)
They may possess certain features that are suited to the new environment (e.g. more aggression, better foraging, etc.)
Cane Toads
introduced in Australia in 1935 to control the spread of the sugar cane beetle that was damaging crops
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Wild Rabbits
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Why they are invasive
They have killed native plant species by ringbarking (removing a strip of bark that prevents future growth beyond that point)
The loss of native plants has left the topsoil exposed and vulnerable to extensive erosion from wind and rain