Invasive Species - (2/27 - 3/3)

Image Source: https://goo.gl/5MjIZj

Summary:

     An invasive species is a living organism that is not native to an ecosystem. Many invasive species get to an ecosystem they don't belong to through humans traveling/trading. Humans have introduced many species to ecosystems they don't belong to. An invasive species is usually harmful to the environment since it can disrupt the food chain. If there was an additional predator added to an ecosystem, the prey might be eaten faster killing both predators or the invasive predator might eat the prey faster than the original predator, leaving the original predator with nothing to eat. 

SP6 - Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions:

     This week, I constructed explanation about the invasive species I was studying which was the Asiatic Citrus Canker and I designed solutions by suggesting ideas on how to stop the disease from spreading/getting worse. I constructed an explanation of the basic information of the Asiatic Citrus Canker (where it was originally from, what type of species it is, what it does, the impact, etc.). I also found out all actions that were/are taken to attempt to eradicate the disease. That helped me construct the solution to the problem that the Asiatic Citrus Canker was causing. I suggested that we should continue disposing of plants with the Citrus Canker to stop and prevent its spread. Also, farming tools/equipment should be sanitized to prevent the disease from infecting the plant.

XCC - Stability and Change: 

     The system that by default stays the same/stable is an ecosystem. The primary consumers eat the producers (plants), the secondary consumers eat the primary consumers, and the tertiary consumers eat the secondary consumers. An ecosystem usually remains stable since there are always producers growing and providing food for the primary consumers. However, if there is a new species introduced into the ecosystem, then the ecosystem will most likely collapse/become unstable. The invasive species could speed up the amount of prey (specifically primary consumers & producers) being eaten which kills off the animals that eat that prey and eventually kills/significantly decreases the top of the energy pyramid. The invasive species could also introduce a new virus/disease that its native ecosystem is immune to, but not the non-native ecosystem it is in.