Invasive Species and Food Webs

When taken to a new habitat, non-native plants often threaten native plants of the new habitat.  Why do they do this?

• Non-native plants are able to mutate rapidly
• Non-native  plants cause native animals to relocate
• Non-native plants are able to be used for medicine
• Non-native plants compete with native plants for resources

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What effect will an invasive species have on the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

• The carrying capacity will increase
• The carrying capacity for everyone will decrease
• The carrying capacity will only decrease for those in competition for same resource
• The carrying capacity for all animals will stay the same

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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

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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

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1. What makes a species invasive?

• Moving to a new ecosystem and taking resources from natives

• their name tag says so

• Species that can't adapt

• Plants that take up too much space

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What kind of organisms can become invasive? 

• Lions, Tigers, Bears
• Plants, Animals, or Pathogens 
• Animals
• Plants

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If a blue catfish is introduced and eats the large fish who eat the smaller fish, what will happen to the population of the smaller fish?

• Increase
• Decrease
• Stay the same
• No affect on smaller fish

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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
• Produce many offspring
• Is a top predator

What is a native specie?

• A specie that is local and has lived in the same place
• A specie who has come from another state or country
• A specie that has no "home" and travels for its whole life
• None of the above

The lack of natural predators makes populations of invasive species unmanageable?

• True
• False

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