The Effects Of Foreign Species Introduction On An Ecosystem :: essays research papers

The Effects of Foreign Species Introduction On An EcosystemThe effects of foreign species introduction into an ecosystem are veryprofound. From small microorganisms to species of big(a) mammals, many foreignspecies introductions occur every day. New implications of their introductionare found just as often.When a foreign species is introduced into an ecosystem, often theecosystem contains no innate(p) predators for the new species. This lack ofpredators sometimes leads to in conjunction with a supply of food for thought suitable forthe new species, a period of exponential suppuration of the species. This growth andsevere increase in the size of the population can cause a shortage of food fornative species. When this occurs, the native species disappear and thebiodiversity in the ecosystem is reduced. The carrying depicted object is also reducedbecause the ecosystem will not be capable of supporting the same amount of life.If one species hogs the food and does not contribute its elf to the food cosmic string,the balance is disrupted and there will be less available for the native species.Once the new species has found its ecological niche however, balance begins torestore itself.When the biodiversity in the ecosystem is reduced, the ability of theecosystem to grow, or the biotic potential, is as well reduced. More speciesresiding in an ecosystem which depend on each other allows for a greater chanceof extract and perpetuation. This may occur for several reasons, for example abee and a flower. The bee requires the pollen of the flower to make its honey.However, while gathering the pollen from the flowers, it transfers some of thepollen to female flowers, allowing them to make seeds and spawn providedgenerations. However, a foreign species may, for example, eat the beestherefore allowing for decreased fecundity of the flowers.Another implication of the introduction of foreign species into anecosystem is the potential for toxins to be spread up the species chain isincreased. For example, in ports all over the world, ships empty their ballasttanks containing large amounts of sea water, often laced with organisms notnaturally found in their new region. The zebra mussel provides food for acertain type of fish, and also contains several toxins because it is a filterfeeder. The direct of toxins in the fish due to the biological amplification ishigh. But if and when a new type of fish are introduced, which eats zebramussels and provides a more preferred food for the fish which formerly ate themussels, a new level of biological amplification is inserted.