PRE-TEST Invasive Species

Why can bringing in another animal to eat invasive species sometimes cause problems?

• It costs too much money

• The new animal might also eat native species

• It only works for insects, not plants

• It removes nutrients from the soil

A park is invaded by a fast-spreading plant. Chemicals kill it but also harm nearby crops. Pulling by hand is too slow. Which is the best solution?

• Use a special insect that eats only that plant

• Spray more chemicals

• Build fences around the plants

• Burn the forest area

Why doesn’t pulling or cutting always stop invasive plants?

• The soil becomes poor after pulling

• The plants can grow back from small roots left in the ground

• Native animals protect the invasive plants

• Rain washes away native plants

Which method would not work well against invasive animals?

• Hunting and trapping them

• Building fences or barriers

• Spraying plant-killing chemicals

• Bringing in predators to eat them

Which of these is the best way to tell if a species is invasive?

• It grows or spreads much faster than native species

• It always looks bigger than native species

• It can only survive with human help

• It does not compete with native plants or animals