Question

The kudzu plant is a vine that grows at a really fast rate. It covers other plants by attaching itself and crawling on them. It was moved from its native environment and brought to a new environment. What impact can the kudzu plant have on the new environment?

1) It can outcompete native plants for resources
2) It can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem
3) It can reduce biodiversity
4) All of the above

Answer 1

The kudzu plant impacts new environments by outcompeting native plants for resources, disrupting the ecosystem balance, and reducing biodiversity. Option 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

The kudzu plant, native to Japan, can have substantial impacts on a new environment where it has been introduced. This vine can(1) outcompete native plants for resources due to its rapid growth ability, sometimes growing up to a foot a day without the presence of its natural predators. The presence of kudzu in a non-native ecosystem can disrupt the balance by covering and shading other plants, leading to reduced biodiversity as it takes over the niches of native species.

Overall, the introduction of kudzu plant to a new environment can lead to significant ecological consequences, including modification of the entire ecosystem and detrimental impacts on the diversity and abundance of native species. Research has shown that human activities, such as the intentional planting for soil conservation in the southeastern United States, have aided in this invasive spread, resulting in over 7 million acres being covered by this pest species.