Invasive and keystone species

What is an invasive species?

• A native (naturally found) species which are added to an area. 

• A non-native (not naturally found) species added to an area. 

• A keystone species in an environment

• none of the above

What makes a species invasive?

• Moving to a new ecosystem and taking resources from natives

• Not having papers

• Species that can't adapt

• Plants that take up too much space

Invasive species can crowd out native species.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Why do the populations of invasive species grow so quickly?

• Invasive Species are native to an area.

• Invasive species are prey to many animals.

• Invasive species have fewer limiting factors in their new environment

• Invasive species keep the ecosystems in equilibrium.

Kudzu has overgrown many parts of southern Missouri and native ground plants have disappeared from the area. This is an example of:

• Parasitism between kudzu and the native plants

• A predator prey relationship between ground plants and kudzu

• Competition occurring between the native and invasive species

• Commesalism occurring between the kudzo and native plants

The field mouse population in Australia has grown so fast that they eat an average of  $4 billion of wheat every year. Their fast growth is caused by:

• A. The mice like to reproduce

• B. A lack of a native species to eat the field mouse

• C. Abundant food supply

• Both B and C

What kind of organisms can become invasive? 

• Lions, Tigers, Bears

• Plants, Animals, or Pathogens 

• Animals

• Plants

A keystone species in our area is

• Woolly Adelgid

• Emerald Ash Borer

• Sunflowers

• Hemlock tree

An invasive species in our area is

• Honey bee

• Oak tree

• kudzu

• cows

Why was the American chestnut considered a keystone species?

• It took over our forest.

• Many species depended on it for survival.

• The salamander population depended on it for food.

• It was the key to the city.