BIO120H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Introduced Species, Phenotypic Plasticity, Adventive Species
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BIO120H1 Full Course Notes
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Document Summary
Also called adventive, exotic, or introduced species: consequences: Disrupt ecological processes in natural plant and animal communities. Displace native species leads to extinction. Affects human health (hiv, bird flu, etc. epidemics) Pesticides and herbicides are used to control invasions which can lead to cancers, etc. Economic cost = billion per year. ~42% of threatened and endangered species at risk due to alien invasions: certain ecosystems are more susceptible to invasions. Forms of disturbance: natural: volcanoes, thunderstorms, forest fires, manual: clear cuts, etc, ex. Pampas grass: invade abandoned fire trail disturbance allows for invasions. Successful invasive species: rapid development to reproduction, produce high number of offspring. Usually small in size easier to disperse: broad ecological tolerance however they are not as good at competing, high phenotypic plasticity. Orga(cid:374)is(cid:373)"s a(cid:271)ilit(cid:455) to alter phe(cid:374)ot(cid:455)pes i(cid:374) respo(cid:374)se to e(cid:374)viro(cid:374)(cid:373)e(cid:374)t. Plants that grow in good environment grow better than plants that grow in bad environments.
