essay on invasive species

Question 1

What does Grime’s CSR theory describe in functional ecology?

Answer 1

J.P. Grime’s CSR model (Competitor-Stress tolerator-Ruderal) helps explain plant strategies for growth and reproduction under different stress and disturbance conditions. Invasive species often exhibit ruderal or competitor traits.

Question 2

What did Craine (2009) contribute to plant functional ecology?

Answer 2

In Resource Strategies of Wild Plants, Craine emphasized traits like nutrient acquisition and water use efficiency, important for predicting invasiveness.

Question 3

How does Pyšek & Richardson (2007) contribute to understanding invasive species?

Answer 3

They analyzed plant traits commonly associated with invasiveness, such as fast growth, high reproductive output, and phenotypic plasticity.

Question 4

What is the Biological Flora of the British Isles and how is it useful?

Answer 4

It’s a comprehensive database of species’ ecological traits, including dispersal mechanisms and soil preference—useful for predicting invasive potential.

Question 5

What is functional ecology?

Answer 5

The study of the roles and traits of organisms in relation to ecosystem functioning and environmental conditions.

Question 6

Define invasive species.

Answer 6

A non-native species that establishes, spreads, and causes ecological or economic harm in a new environment.

Question 7

What are plant functional traits?

Answer 7

Measurable features like leaf area, seed mass, growth rate, and nutrient uptake that influence fitness and ecological roles.

Question 8

What is trait-based ecology and why is it useful?

Answer 8

A method focusing on species traits rather than taxonomy; useful in predicting which species might become invasive based on shared traits.

Question 9

What does phenotypic plasticity mean in invasive species?

Answer 9

The ability to alter physiology/morphology in response to the environment—this adaptability helps invasives thrive in new habitats.

Question 10

What traits allow Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) to be invasive?

Answer 10

Rapid growth, vegetative reproduction, strong rhizome system, high phenotypic plasticity. spreads aggressively through underground rhizomes, regenerating from small fragments, and tolerates a wide range of soil types

Question 11

How do traits of Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam) contribute to its spread?

Answer 11

Explosive seed dispersal, high growth rate, shade tolerance, and ability to dominate riparian zones. makes it successful along riverbanks where it forms dense strands

Question 12

Why is Rhododendron ponticum invasive in UK woodlands?

Answer 12

It shades out native understory, produces allelopathic compounds, and thrives in acidic soils.

Question 13

What traits make Acacia species invasive in South Africa?

Answer 13

Nitrogen fixation, rapid growth, tolerance to drought, and ability to alter fire regimes.

Question 14

How can functional traits inform risk assessment of invasive plants?

Answer 14

By identifying traits linked to invasiveness, managers can screen and regulate species before introduction.

Question 15

How does understanding plant traits aid in targeted removal strategies?

Answer 15

Traits like root depth or seed bank longevity inform control methods (e.g., mechanical removal, herbicide timing)

Question 16

How can functional ecology guide habitat restoration post-invasion?

Answer 16

Knowing which native species have traits to outcompete invaders helps design resilient plant communities.

Question 17

Why is ecosystem function important in managing invasives?

Answer 17

Invasives can disrupt nutrient cycling, fire regimes, and hydrology; understanding functional roles helps prioritize control.

Question 18

What is the CSR model in plant ecology?

Answer 18

Grime’s model categorizes species as Competitors, Stress-tolerators, or Ruderals based on life-history traits.

Question 19

What is the concept of “Enemy Release Hypothesis”?

Answer 19

Invasives succeed because they escape natural predators and pathogens from their native range.

Question 20

What is “trait filtering”?

Answer 20

The process by which environmental conditions select for certain traits, helping predict which species might invade.

Question 21

invasive plant species challenges

Answer 21

ecological and economic challenge, threatening biodiversity, altering ecosystem functions, complicating land management

Question 22

functional ecology focuses on what?

Answer 22

roles and traits of organisms in relation to their environment. provides insight into why some species become invasive and how they can be managed

Question 23

plant functional traits that ecologists can analyze to predict, monitor, and mitigate biological invasions

Answer 23

growth rate, dispersal mechanisms, phenotypic plasticity, and resource-use strategies

Question 24

functional ecology enables prediction of what?

Answer 24

a plants invasive potential based on key traits

Question 25

what characteristics of invasive species did pysek and richardson identify

Answer 25

high reproductive output, rapid growth, and broad environmental tolerances. these allow species to outcompete natives and establish quickly

Question 26

clonal growth of fallopia japonica makes mechanical removal ineffective unless what?

Answer 26

root systems are entirely excavated

Question 27

how does trait knowledge help with time interventions

Answer 27

species with persistent seed banks like Acacia require repeated efforts over several years, while those with short-lived seeds may be eradicated through a single campaign if caught early

Question 28

trait-based restoration after invasion

Answer 28

matching native species to the altered environment

Question 29

invasive species leave what?

Answer 29

degraded soils and altered nutrient cycles

Question 30

functional ecology helps design resilient plant communities that resist what?

Answer 30

reinvasion

Question 31

after removing nitrogen-fixing acacia in south africa, what was planted after?

Answer 31

native species with similar functional traits like drought tolerance and competitive root systems were planted to stabilize the ecosystem

Question 32

trait-based restoration example in riparian areas formerly dominated by himalayan balsam

Answer 32

managers reintroduce competitive native grasses and sedges that can establish quickly and fill functional niches left vacant by the invader

Question 33

invasive species lists often flag

Answer 33

species with traits like fast spread, disturbance tolerance, and long-distance dispersal

Question 34

closing statement

Answer 34

as invasive species continue to challenge ecosystems under climate change and global trade, functional ecology will remain a cornerstone of effective plant conservation and habitat management