Environmental Science Invasive Species

What is an invasive species?

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

• An organism that is new to an environment and has a negative effect on that environment.

• A keystone species in an environment

• none of the above

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What is a native organism?

• It is an organism that has always lived in that area

• It is an organism that is moved into a new location

• An organism that has to grow around water

• An organism that can thrive in any biome

Invasive species alter the ecosystem by reproducing in number _____. This leads to ______ food for the native species.

• Quickly, less

• Quickly, more

• Slowly, less

• Slowly, more

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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 no predators.
• Invasive species keep the ecosystems in equilibrium.

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What do invasive species do to the biodiversity of their ecosystem?

• They increase biodiversity by adding to the population

• They decrease biodiversity because they deprive other organisms, which will cause them to die out

• They increase biodiversity by taking away niches of other organisms

• They decrease biodiversity by adding new niches to the ecosystem

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Kudzu has overgrown in many parts of Tennessee. What type of relationship does Kudzu have with the native ground plants?

• Competition

• Commensalism

• Mutualsim

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Which of the following best describes how an invasive species might disrupt an ecosystem and affect native populations?

• An invasive plant spreads rapidly in a forest, taking sunlight and soil nutrients from native plants.

• An invasive fish species is introduced into a river but remains isolated and doesn’t interact with other species, leaving the ecosystem unaffected.

• An invasive insect species arrives in a new area, but it only feeds on non-native plants that were introduced by humans, creating no competition with native species.

• An invasive bird species finds a role in the ecosystem by filling an empty niche, balancing with other species and increasing biodiversity without any negative impacts.

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If a new, NON-NATIVE species that eats rabbits was introduced into this food chain, what would probably happen?

• the population of rabbits would increase

• the population of eagles would increase

• the population of eagles would decrease

• there would be less sunlight

Answer explanation

If a new animal started eating the rabbits, there would be less rabbits.

Also, the eagle eats rabbits, too, so there would less food for the eagle, and there would be less eagles, too.

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Which of the following is a key characteristic of most invasive species?

• Ability to breathe in the air & in the water
• Large, sharp teeth
• Reproducing quickly

• too many predators

What is one major concern about the spread of zebra mussels, an invasive species, in Tennessee waterways?

• Zebra mussels only grow in shallow ponds, so they have minimal impact on larger rivers and lakes in Tennessee.

• Zebra mussels are beneficial because they compete with larger fish species, helping smaller native fish to survive.

• Zebra mussels improve water clarity, which leads to an increase in fish populations that benefit from clearer water.

• Zebra mussels attach to boats and other surfaces, clogging water intake pipes and harming water quality, which negatively affects native fish and plant species.

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