1. INVASIVE SPECIES INVESTIGATOR!

2. WHAT IS A NATIVE SPECIES? Every kind of animal, plant, or micro- organism has a home where it has existed for thousands of years; it is a native of this home range…a native species.

3. NATIVES AND THEIR HOMES Panda bear, Asia Kangaroos, Australia Giraffes, Africa Llama, South America Bald eagle, North America Penguins, Antarctica Emperor dragonfly, Europe

4. WHAT IS AN EXOTIC OR ALIEN SPECIES? A species that isn’t native to an area – it came from somewhere else.

5. Not all exotic species are harmful… they can be beneficial… and beautiful!

6. But when an exotic species out- competes a native species for resources such as food, water and sunlight, and rapidly grows out of control, it becomes invasive.

7. WHAT IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES? Species introduced deliberately or unintentionally outside their natural habitats where they can establish themselves, invade, out-compete natives, and take over their new environments.

8. In other words, invasive species move in and take over!

9. Invasive species can be plants… Water hyacinth Hydrila Purple loosestrife Tree of heaven Garlic mustard Kudzu

10. Animals… Emerald ash borer Zebra mussels Asian long horn beetle Giant African land snail Bullfrog European starling

11. Or pathogens. Culex mosquito West Nile virus Elm bark beetle Dutch Elm disease

12. WHY ARE INVASIVE SPECIES A BAD THING? THEY HAVE NO NATURAL ENEMIES IN PLACE TO LIMIT POPULATION GROWTH. THEY STEAL RESOURCES LIKE FOOD AND WATER FROM NATIVE SPECIES. THEY THREATEN THE HEALTH OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE. THEY THREATEN THE HEALTH OF HUMANS.