Just because something is non-native doesn’t make it…
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Just because something is non-native doesn’t make it invasive.
While all invasive species are non-native *not all non-native species are invasive.* There are also non-native naturalized species. Also invasive/non-native can vary/change by slim margins (one body of water a few miles from another for example, or one part of a state and not the other).
Furthermore “non-native” is sometimes a matter of how far back you look in history/timeline.
Anyway why is this an issue? Well, some people (an increasing number it seems) refer to all non-native species as invasive. Which pants a limited picture of the environment and ecosystem.
So *generally* the distinction is that a non-native that *out competes or causes harm* to native species is considered invasive. Non-native species aren’t necessarily from the area (introduced by some mechanism, not always human) but also aren’t causing harm to the native populations of flora and fauna.
Some non-native species are actually pretty critical to the environment we currently live. Take the honey bee for example. *Here in the US the honey bee that most of us know and love is non-native and in many areas out competes the native bee species. It is also absolutely critical for pollinating some of our native species.*
Take your lawn grass and dandelions for example, most of that is non-native (brought from Europe) to the US and can be considered invasive in some areas (though generally due to the amount of human intervention it takes to keep that grass healthy it’s often not considered invasive) it rarely outcompetes the native species when left alone.
It gets even more complicated when you add “adventive” species. Those that are new to an area but not fully incorporated into the ecosystem (exists perhaps in small pockets or only in one area for example).
Lastly, it can be confusing because different scientists often use the words in different ways, and some of them argue that with climate change, classifying plants and animals that are better suited for thriving in an environment “invasive” just because they weren’t from there when the conditions were different in the past ca actually be an issue because we spend so much time and money trying to stop the spread of flora and fauna **that are better suited for the environment** simply because were resistant to change.
#home
While all invasive species are non-native *not all non-native species are invasive.* There are also non-native naturalized species. Also invasive/non-native can vary/change by slim margins (one body of water a few miles from another for example, or one part of a state and not the other).
Furthermore “non-native” is sometimes a matter of how far back you look in history/timeline.
Anyway why is this an issue? Well, some people (an increasing number it seems) refer to all non-native species as invasive. Which pants a limited picture of the environment and ecosystem.
So *generally* the distinction is that a non-native that *out competes or causes harm* to native species is considered invasive. Non-native species aren’t necessarily from the area (introduced by some mechanism, not always human) but also aren’t causing harm to the native populations of flora and fauna.
Some non-native species are actually pretty critical to the environment we currently live. Take the honey bee for example. *Here in the US the honey bee that most of us know and love is non-native and in many areas out competes the native bee species. It is also absolutely critical for pollinating some of our native species.*
Take your lawn grass and dandelions for example, most of that is non-native (brought from Europe) to the US and can be considered invasive in some areas (though generally due to the amount of human intervention it takes to keep that grass healthy it’s often not considered invasive) it rarely outcompetes the native species when left alone.
It gets even more complicated when you add “adventive” species. Those that are new to an area but not fully incorporated into the ecosystem (exists perhaps in small pockets or only in one area for example).
Lastly, it can be confusing because different scientists often use the words in different ways, and some of them argue that with climate change, classifying plants and animals that are better suited for thriving in an environment “invasive” just because they weren’t from there when the conditions were different in the past ca actually be an issue because we spend so much time and money trying to stop the spread of flora and fauna **that are better suited for the environment** simply because were resistant to change.
#home
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