I hear a lot about invasive species in California, the state where I live. These exotic species from faraway lands displace the natives and threaten to take over local habitats.
Where will it lead?
(Swing bridge near Montezuma Falls in Tasmania)
But I never thought about the strange paradox of invasive species:
How can a plant or animal from a distant land outcompete native species that evolved in the local environment?
Surely the local species would be better adapted. Why are they able to invade?
An article in the New York Times details a possible answer.
Turning to Darwin to Solve the Mystery of Invasive Species
The secret may be the number and diversity of competing species in the original habitat. Habitats with a large number of competing species may produce stronger competitors. When one of them gets loose in a new habitat, it surpasses the native species and causes an ecological nightmare.
This explanation seems to make a great deal of sense. It explains why my state of California is seeing so many invaders from East Asia. It is also consistent with Darwin’s findings and expectations.
What do you think about this theory? Leave a comment below and let me know.
If you enjoyed this article, you may like others in the Nature Section.
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