Question

Why does an invasive species often have harmful effects on native species?

-Humans cannot correct the negative effects that an invasive species has on the fitness of native species.
-Native species are less competitive with or have fewer defensive adaptations against an invasive species.
-An invasive species only causes harmful effects on native species when it is introduced unintentionally.
-An invasive species always reduces the population sizes of native species through heavy predation.

Answer 1

An invasive species often has harmful effects on native species through competition for resources, predation, and lack of co-evolutionary history.

Step-by-step explanation:

An invasive species often has harmful effects on native species for several reasons:

1. Competition for resources: Invasive species tend to out-compete native species for resources such as food, water, and habitat. This can lead to a decrease in the population size of native species and even their extinction.
2. Predation: Some invasive species may have no natural predators in their new environment, allowing their populations to grow rapidly and prey on native species. This can disrupt the local food chain and ecosystem.
3. Lack of co-evolutionary history: Native species often have evolved over time to adapt to their specific environment, whereas invasive species are introduced from a different habitat. This can give invasive species a competitive advantage over native species, as they may have adaptations that allow them to thrive in the new environment.