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All 15 Flashcards — Invasive species
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Question
Define an invasive species.
Answer
An invasive species is a non-native species that spreads and causes harm to ecosystems, biodiversity, or humans.
💡 Hint
Non-native + spreads + causes harm
Question
State the core definition of invasive species in one sentence.
Answer
Invasive species are non-native organisms that spread and cause harm to ecosystems, biodiversity, or humans.
💡 Hint
Non-native + spreads + harms
Question
State the cane toad case study as a simple arrow chain.
Answer
Introduced for pest control → toxic to predators → predators die → toads spread rapidly.
💡 Hint
Introduce → toxic → predators die → spread
Question
Explain why cane toads spread so successfully in Australia.
Answer
They are poisonous, so native predators that eat them die, reducing predation pressure and allowing rapid population growth.
💡 Hint
Low predation due to toxicity
Question
State two common pathways by which invasive species arrive.
Answer
Common pathways include global trade (ship ballast water), travel, the pet trade, and intentional introductions for farming or pest control.
💡 Hint
Trade/travel/pets/intentional release
Question
State why invasive species often grow quickly in population size.
Answer
They often have few or no predators or diseases in the new ecosystem and can reproduce rapidly.
💡 Hint
Few predators/diseases
Question
State the zebra mussel case study as a simple arrow chain.
Answer
Ballast water introduction → rapid reproduction → clog pipes → filter plankton → disrupt food webs.
💡 Hint
Ballast → reproduce → clog → remove plankton
Question
Explain why invasive species often spread rapidly.
Answer
They often escape their natural predators, parasites, and diseases, so survival and reproduction increase.
💡 Hint
Few predators/diseases
Question
Give one pathway for invasive species arrival.
Answer
Examples include ship ballast water, global trade, or the pet trade.
💡 Hint
Ballast / trade / pets
Question
State two ways invasive species can reduce biodiversity.
Answer
They can outcompete native species for food/space and can prey on native species or introduce disease.
💡 Hint
Outcompete + predation/disease
Question
State one ecosystem effect of invasive species.
Answer
They can outcompete native species, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt food webs by redirecting energy flows.
💡 Hint
Outcompete → biodiversity down
Question
Explain how zebra mussels disrupt food webs.
Answer
They remove plankton from the water. With less plankton, less energy is available to native filter feeders and higher trophic levels.
💡 Hint
Less plankton → less energy to food web
Question
State the rabbit case study as a simple arrow chain.
Answer
Introduced for hunting → few predators + plenty of food → population explosion → overgrazing → habitat damage.
💡 Hint
Introduce → explode → overgraze → damage
Question
Explain why invasive species are considered an indirect human impact.
Answer
Humans introduce them, but the damage happens through altered species interactions (competition, predation, disease) that disrupt food webs.
💡 Hint
Humans introduce; impacts via interactions
Question
State the best exam structure for a 4–6 mark invasive species answer.
Answer
Define the term, name a pathway, then apply a case study (cause → spread → ecological impact on biodiversity/food webs).
💡 Hint
Define → pathway → case study → impact
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