Exotic species or invasive species? Invasive exotic species? Are they the same? What effects do they have on ecosystems? Surely we are known to have someone who has had a small turtle of those sold in animal stores and that, for some causes or others, has ended in a river or lake. These actions, together with others, make species redistribute throughout the planet, which causes serious consequences. In Ecology Verde we update you on the Introduction of exotic species: causes and consequences. Be careful with what you have at home!
What are exotic species
The exotic species (introduced, alóctonas or foreign) are those species that have been introduced in an area that is not within its natural distribution range.
Its establishment is not always easy due to the characteristics of each ecosystem, which suppose in itself a set of filters that the new species must overcome to settle in it. They can only get it if they are able to reach these new areas, survive these ecosystem filters and reproduce.
Once the filters and settled, these species They can cause or not damage to the ecosystem which they have recently accessed, that is, exotic species do not have to assume a problem per se. An example of this are potatoes or corn, from America and that do not cause an environmental impact. In the case in which a species causes alterations in the habitat of native species (inhabitants of that area naturally) becomes a Invasive species.
What are invasive species
Invasive species can be species both exotic species and native species. They become invaders when the increase of their individuals produces changes in the ecosystems that access, both to levels of composition and structure and at the level of the processes that occur in it.
What happens with invasive species is that the species present prior to the invasion, having not co-evolved with these, are not able to compete for resources, being able to end up displaced or, in extreme cases, dying and extinguishing. Therefore, these invasive species can be harmful to the endanger biodiversity In that determined area.
What are invasive exotic species
It would be the result of the combination of the two previous sections. A Invasive exotic species It is, therefore, an artificial, accidentally or intentionally introduced species in an area that does not belong to its natural distribution and that finally, it exceeds the ecosystem filters adapting to him and managing to invade him. Generally invasive exotic species have a negative connotation since They are usually very harmful to the ecosystemconsidering as one of the main causes of the loss of biodiversity worldwide.
Causes for which these exotic species appear
Exotic species can be introduced by various reasons and forms. The fundamental reason is Exotic species tradebut they are also among them Tourism and transportation such as the zebra mussel, transported in the boat helmet without repairing its presence.
On the other hand, they can be accidentally or intentionally introduced to be used in activities such as hunting or sporting fishing (an example of an animal species used for such lines is siluro), gardening, its use as pets, which are subsequently abandoned and reproduced successfully (such as Argentine collection, mapaches or florid galapagos turtles), in peletería, scientific motifs, scientific motifs … scientific motifs … scientific reasons …
Consequences of the introduction of invasive exotic species
The Introduction of invasive exotic species (We make this distinction because, as we have said, exotic species do not have to assume in themselves a problem) it causes great disorders in the ecosystems biota, which is aggravated by other environmental problems such as deforestation, the contamination of soils and aquifers or transformations in the territory. What this produces is that the imbalance that causes the mobilization of all these species in ecosystems cannot be corrected naturally due to the speed of the process.
Not all introduced species will cause great ravages in relations between the other species, since many will not be able to adapt to the new medium and will not survive. However, those with greater adaptation capacityeven causing the denaturation of the ecosystem and the loss of biodiversity when the Death of native species fundamental that are displaced by the new arrivals. As a result, an ecosystem is obtained in which species have no relationship between them.
There is another damage more associated with the economic level. Serious direct effects occur in agricultural activities and public health (for example, the Asian wasp, Vespa Velutina or the tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus). Invasions are difficult to control and eradicate, being expensive and not always being possible. The best solution is to identify possible invasions of these potential invasive species to prevent their growth from becoming a problem.
Invasive exotic species in Spain
In Spain there are many invasive species of all the kingdoms of living beings (plants, animals, protists, fungi …). All of them are collected in the “Spanish catalog of invasive exotic species”, Approved by Royal Decree 630/2013.
Some examples of Invasive animal species in Spain are:
- Florida turtle (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS)
- Rana Toro (Lithpbates caestbeinaus)
- Gray or Argentina Cotorra (Mylopsychus monachus)
- Kramer Cotorra (Krameri psittacula)
- Raccoon (Prayo Lotor)
- American mink (NEOVISON VISON)
- Red Crab (Procambarus Clarkii)
- Siluro (Silurus glalanis)
- Greek partridge (Alecaris)
- Common tent (Cyprinus Carpio)
On the other hand, some of the Invasive plants species in Spain are the following:
- Ailanto (Ailanthus Altissima), which is in the vicinity of roads as “ornament” and that presents a great destructive power.
- Cane (Arundo Donax)
- Jacinto of common water (Eichhornia Crassipes)
- “Plumer” species (of the genus Cortaderia)
- Black bamboo (Phyllostachys Nigra)
- Calendula (Arctotheca calendula)
- Chumbera (Opuntia ficus-Indica)
- Mimosa (Acacia Dealbata)
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
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