10 Most Invasive Species on the Earth
Bullying is not just a problem in school yards. Other species struggle in natural environments because of invasive species- plants or animals that are moved to a new habitat and take over. This often leads to an imbalance in populations where the native species are dying out.
Invasive species are usually hardier, more demanding and reproduce much faster. Since they are new to the habitat, they don’t have any native predators.
That means there are less predators to stop them from taking over an area.
In this article, we are going to take a look at ten invasive species on the earth.
#10.
Asian Carp
Asian Carps are originated from Eastern Russia and China.
They are an invasive species of fish that breeds quickly and has a high survival rate. Asian Carps were originally introduced to control algae blooms in catfish farms in North America and Europe.
Sadly, the fish escaped from the farms and quickly became a major pest. Asian carp are able to travel up rapids at speeds of 5 miles per hour, which makes them difficult to catch or contain.
Asian Carps eat the same food sources as native fish, which can have devastating effects on the ecosystem. The most common prey for Asian carp is plankton, that supports the entire ecosystem.
They are also known to prey on the eggs of other fish species. When carp eat, they stir up sediments and organisms from the lake and river beds changing a clear lake into murky one and changing the type of species that can survive there.
#9.
Zebra Mussel
Zebra Mussels are native to Black, Caspian, Aral and Azov seas.
Zebra mussels are small water-dwelling animals that were introduced to Europe and North America in the 1980s.
Zebra mussels are one of the most aggressive freshwater invaders because their population numbers grow so quickly.
They have been designated as an invasive species because they are the most abundant mollusk in the Great Lakes and can clog up water pipes, disrupt coastal ecosystems and cost billions of dollars in damages to human species.
In addition, massive populations of zebra mussels filtering water can severely impact native plankton, which reduces food for fish. These plankton-eating fish then have to find a new source of food or move to a new lake in order to survive. Unfortunately, that isn’t an option for many species. Zebra mussels also leave very little for native mussels to filter, causing them to starve as well.
#8.
Cane Toad
The cane toad is a large, terrestrial and mostly nocturnal amphibian. It was originally native to Northern South America, Central America and Mexico, but has been introduced to other regions of the world with warm climates, such as Australia.
Cane toads were brought over as a way to control crop pests.
However, the cane toad corrupts local ecosystems by consuming both the pre-existing prey and other organisms and by introducing toxins into the environment that are dangerous for predators.
Cane toads have an amazing defense mechanism; they produce toxic ooze. While predators in their native habitat are immune to this toxic ooze, predators in other areas are not.
Many animals that attempt to eat a cane toad die instead. With nothing around to keep their numbers in check, populations of cane toads in non-native habitats have exploded and they are taking their toll on native animal and plant species.
#7.
European Starling
The European Starling is a medium-sized bird with glossy black plumage and white spots. And they are native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa.
European starlings have been introduced to North America, where they now live in the eastern and central regions. They spread rapidly and now live in most parts of North America.
European starlings were brought over as a way to control pests, as pets and by a group of people trying to introduce all the birds mentioned in the works of Shakespeare into North America.
The main problem about the European starlings is that they form huge flocks, many times with more than 3,000 birds. When a flock this size feeds on fruit and grains, it can cause serious damage to a farm. These birds also fight with native species over food. They are aggressive and territory. They will even take over other birds’ nests, leaving native birds without a place to lay their eggs or raise their young.
#6
The European Rabbit
The European Rabbit also known as common rabbit is originated from Southern Europe and North Africa. And they were introduced to all continents except Antarctica and Asia.
The European Rabbits were brought over as a source of food and as a way to remind people of the country they came from during colonial times.
Rabbits reproduce very quickly. In one year, one female can have between 18–30 babies! Their population numbers grow so large and they eat so much that they have pushed native plant species to the brink in certain areas.
They compete for food shelter with native animals, leading to a decline of indigenous species in the area. They can also cause soil erosion from burrowing and overgrazing. These are detrimental effects which lead to serious impacts — many species dependent on this environment such as herbivores and plants have decreased numbers because of the European Rabbits.
#5.
Kudzu
Kudzu also known as Pueraria montana is a type of plant that was introduced to the U.S. in 1876 from Japan, where it was traditionally used as food for humans and animals.
Kudzu began to be used as an ornamental plant in the U.S. during the late 1800s and quickly became a popular vine to cover buildings, telephone poles, and fences because of its rapid growth rate.
In the late 20th century, kudzu became a problem because it can quickly cover trees, houses, and other vegetation.
The plant is an aggressive vine, capable of growing up to 26 cm (a little less than 1 ft.) a day.
Since it expands so quickly, it smothers other plants, stopping them from having access to sunlight.
Kudzu is a fast-growing invasive plant that prevents native plants from growing and disrupts the ecosystem.
It’s also incredibly difficult to uproot once it starts spreading.
#4.
Asian long-horned beetle
The long-horned beetle, is an invasive species in the United States. This insect was originally found in China and Japan and was introduced to New York in 1996. They have spread to twenty-three states so far, mainly on the Eastern seaboard.
In the late 1800s, Asian longhorn beetles were accidentally brought to North America in shipments of wooden packaging materials and trees.
The Asian longhorn beetle likes to lay eggs on any deciduous tree to create its larva. After laying the eggs, it continues to eat on the bark of the tree which makes things hard for other parts of the tree.
As they grow, the larvae burrow into the middle of the tree leaving large tunnels as they move, making the tree physically weaker.
As adults, Asian longhorn beetles emerge from the tree and break through the bark. This leaves large holes and many trees don’t survive when they’re infested with Asian longhorn beetles.
#3.
Small Indian Mongoose
The small Indian mongooses are native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. They live in remote areas such as grasslands, savannas, and cane fields. They hide under bushes to avoid predators while they feed on rodents and other animals that are attracted to crops.
They were introduced to Asia, Central America, South America for pest control for rats and snakes. Today this effort has come back to haunt these islands as mongooses threaten the survival of various native species, particularly birds. However, in their natural environments mongooses are currently threatened themselves due to habitat loss.
They are blamed for the decline of bar-winged rail, Jamaica petrel , hawksbill turtles, pink pigeon, Amami rabbit and many other birds, reptiles and mammals. And these species are critically endangered for extinction.
In addition, they also carry rabies and other human diseases as well.
#2.
Northern Pacific Seastar
The Northern Pacific seastar is a sea star that is native to the North Pacific region. The species was originally only found in the Northern Pacific, but it has spread throughout the world.
Their ability to cling to rocks and withstand major temperature changes have made it an invasive species.
According to the National geographic, north pacific seastars are aggressive eaters! They are omnivorous and can eat anything they can find. This is problematic because they reproduce quickly.
The introduction of sea stars to a certain area led to an estimated 12 million of them just two years after their introduction. They are blamed for the decline in spotted handfish, which are an endangered species.
#1.
Water hyacinth
Water Hyancith are large plants that grow in swamps and along the edges of lakes, ponds and streams. They grow in parts of Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas.
Water hyacinth was first brought to the US as a decorative plant, but it ended up getting used for animal feed and in tanks, because they were transferred on boats or had seeds that got spread around.
Water hyacinths are incredibly tough and can pose a threat. These plants grow at a fast rate and can choke the entire water body if not controlled. They’re one of the world’s most prolific weeds, with specimens found across 50+ countries.
These plants grow quickly and will double in size in only a few days if they stay warm enough. They’re thick and dense, too, which can kill off or squeeze out all the animal life that might be nearby.
They also block sunlight and oxygen from getting to other plants below the water, which can have a huge effect on the ecosystem.
So here we are with the list of 10 Most Invasive Species in the World. How was it? Did you like it? We hope you did.
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