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Unwanted Visitors
Invasive species are those that do not naturally live in an estuary, but were introduced, often accidentally, by humans. Invasive species compete with native plants and animals for shelter and food and weaken the ecosystem.
Organisms in an estuary can be grouped by their origins. Organisms native to an estuary are those naturally found living and reproducing there. Non-native organisms, or invasive species, are those that do not naturally live in an estuary, but were introduced or migrated there over time. Invasive species are often accidentally brought to an estuary by people. Once there, they may take over shelter and food resources and local animals and plants may have to struggle harder to succeed in living and maintain a strong population. Invasive species can drive out native species, which may change the ecosystem itself, and may damage the economies of coastal communities. Because they are not normally found there, invasive species often do not have a common predator and it may be very difficult to remove them once they are established in an area.
Many invasive species are found in the U.S. A few examples of well known estuarine invasive species include: Eurasian watermilfoil, hydrilla, purple loosestrife, Asian carp, Chinese mitten crab, European green crab, lionfish, northern snakehead, nutria and zebra mussel.
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Last Updated on: 06-24-2008
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