Analyze attached article and answer the following questions by writing a paragraph.

Discussion 4: Invasive Species Lecture

Prior to reading the article “Global Change, Global Trade, and the Next Wave of

Plant Invasions” it is important that we understand the difference between plants

that are native, non-native, and invasive.

In simple terms, native plants live in a region naturally and before settlers began

moving in. A non-native plant grows in an area because it was imported or

introduced. You will see in the article that humans import and introduce plants

for many different reasons.

An invasive plant species is a non-native plant that has spread beyond its

boundaries and does ecosystem damage and or economic harm.

“When plants that evolved in one region of the globe are moved by humans

to another region, a few of them flourish, crowding out native vegetation

and the wildlife that feeds on it. Some invasives can even change

ecosystem processes such as hydrology, fire regimes, and soil chemistry.

These invasive plants have a competitive advantage because they are no

longer controlled by their natural predators, and can quickly spread out of

control” (CIPC 2016, 1).

Bibliography

CIPC. California Invasive Plant Council 2016. Invasive Plants: Definitions and

Impacts. Available from http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/definitions/index.php;

Internet; (accessed 14 January 2016).