Exotic species

Exotic speciesSpecies living outside its native distributional range

How do these species get introduced?

Its introduction can be:Intentionally: releases with an objective.

Ex: increase fisheries.

Accidentally: release pets into the wild, accidental escapes, shipping activities, etc.

Not everyone survives!

Not all the species that are introduced into new environments are successful.

An ecosystem´s resistance depends on competition between them and native species for food and habitat.

If the introduced species is compatible with the ecological conditions, they survive, they reproduce and disperse.

Invasion

Freed from their natural predators , pathogens and competitors, they have the ability to threaten the diversity of native species.

versus

ImpactsInvaders may alter habitat.

The feeding activity of exotics can alter the availability of food resources for native species.