INVASIVE SPECIES

GROUP 2 SCIENCE 9
 WHAT IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES?

An invasive species is an introduced organism that becomes

overpopulated and harms its new environment. Invasive species are
animals or plants from another region of the world that don’t belong in their
new environment. They can be introduced to an area by ship ballast water,
accidental release, and most often, by people. Invasive species can lead to
the extinction of native plants and animals, destroy biodiversity, and
permanently alter habitats.
 EFFECTS OF INVASIVE SPECIES

INVASIVE SPECIES ARE AMONG THE LEADING

THREATS TO NATIVE WILDLIFE.
APPROXIMATELY 42 PERCENT OF THREATENED
OR ENDANGERED SPECIES ARE AT RISK DUE TO
INVASIVE SPECIES.

HUMAN HEALTH AND ECONOMIES ARE ALSO AT

RISK FROM INVASIVE SPECIES.
 HOW INVASIVE SPECIES SPREAD

INVASIVE SPECIES ARE PRIMARILY SPREAD BY HUMAN ACTIVITIES, OFTEN

UNINTENTIONALLY. SOME INVASIVE SPECIES ARE INTENTIONALLY OR
ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED PETS (BY HUMANS OR OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES). THEY
MAY NOT SOUND VERY THREATENING. BUT THESE INVADERS, LARGE AND SMALL,
HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE.
EXAMPLE OF INVASIVE
SPECIES

WILD BOAR
Domesticated wild boars were brought from their native lands as a new type
of food source. However, they either escaped or were released and
quickly adapted to their new environments. Wild boar damage native
plant species, take resources from competing predators, and even spread
disease among humans and animals alike.
 BURMESE PHYTHONS

These pythons are an invasive species in the Florida Everglades and arrived there as
pets where they were either released or escaped. They eat smaller animals like
wood storks, Key Largo wood rats, and limpkins and larger animals like 
alligators and bobcats. Additionally, they are taking the food and space of other
natural predators.
PREPARE FOR THE QUIZ
 QUIZ
1. WHICH ACCURATELY DESCRIBES AN INVASIVE
SPECIES?
A. An organism that has many natural predators
B. A non native species in that area
C. An organism whose population well under control
D. A native species to that area
2. INVASIVE SPECIES IS INTRODUCED
ORGANISM THAT BECOMES?

A. Overpopulated and healthy environment

B. Overpopulated and harms environment
C. Proper population and harms environment
D. Proper population and healthy environment
3. INVASIVE SPECIES CAN LEAD TO?

A. Healthy biodiversity
B. Extinction of native plants and animals
C. Their habitat will not be changed
D. Grow more plants
4. WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF INVASIVE
SPECIES(ANIMALS)?
A. Trout
B. Cardinal
C. Mosquito
D. Wild boar
5. WHICH IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES?
(PLANTS)
A. Giant Cake
B. Snake Plant
C. Cactus
D. Cast Iron Plant
6. INVASIVE SPECIES SPREAD BECAUSE
OF?

A. Human activity
B. Plants
C. Animals
D. insects
 7. SOME INVASIVE SPECIES ARE
INTENTIONALLY OR ACCIDENTALLY
RELEASED PETS BY?

A. Humans or insects
B. Plants or humans
C. Humans or invasive species
D. Invasive species or insects
8. INVASIVE SPECIES ARE ANIMALS OR PLANTS
FROM ANOTHER REGION OF THE WORLD THAT
DON’T BELONG IN THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENT

A. Deliberately releasing them

B. Watch them where they don’t belong
C. Grab them and take them out
D. Accidental release
 9. INVASIVE SPECIES INVADERS
HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS
ON___?
A. Plants
B. Wildlife
C. Insects
D. Humans
10. WILD BOAR ____ ADOPT TO THEIR NEW
ENVIRONMENT?

A. Quickly
B. Slowly
C. Unhumedly
D. Cant
 11. WILD BOAR DAMAGE____

A. Native plant species

B. Invasive species
C. Humans
D. Habitat
12. THIS INVASIVE SPECIES IS FROM?

A. Philippines
B. Germany
C. India
D. Florida Everglades
13. INVASIVE SPECIES ARE AMONG THE LEADING THREATS
TO NATIVE WILDLIFE. APPROXIMATELY _____ PERCENT
ARE THREATENED OR ENDANGGERED INVASIVE SPECIES

A. 50%
B. 35%
C. 42%
D. 20%
14. ___ AND ___ ARE ALSO AT RISK FROM
INVASIVE SPECIES.

A. Human health and animals

B. Economies and plants
C. Economies and animals
D. Human health and economies
15. WHAT DO BURMESE PHYTHONS EATS?

A. Plants and animals

B. Insects
C. Rice
D. Smaller animals and larger animals