Introduced Species

Humans have helped to spread many species across the world. Plant species used in agriculture, for example, have been deliberately introduced to new areas by humans. Use the hyperlinks below to find out about the introduced species listed. These links open new windows.

• The Water Hyacinth
• The Starling
• The Colorado beetle, rats and rabbits

Sometimes wild animals are introduced for hunting as a sport. Exotic plants are grown in gardens and sometimes their seeds escape and colonize the surrounding area. Such animals and plants can spread rapidly because they have no natural predators in their new habitat. They compete with the native flora and fauna or kill them. In some cases, introduced species completely take over a habitat and eliminate the species who were living there originally.

Sometimes the introduction of species is intentional and beneficial for humans. Every major agricultural species has been introduced by humans to new regions of the globe: tomatoes, rice, wheat, potatoes, and many more.

As methods of transportation have increased in speed and intensified their traffic, humans have been more careful not to introduce harmful species to new regions. One group of organisms which people are especially concerned about are micro-organisms. Because bacteria, viruses and other germs are not visible, they can travel without being detected.

• Extinction of Species : Homepage
• Some Human Activities which Modify Habitats
• How Humans Can Help
• Biodiversity
• The Great Barrier Reef as an example of biodiversity
• Natural Parks in France
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