What are Invasive Species? | The Difference Between Native, Non-Native, Introduced and Invasive

Do you really know what invasive species are? Unfortunately, this term gets frequently misused and is often considered to be a synonym of non-native. However, there are criteria that any given species has to meet after being introduced to the new environment before being declared "invasive". Not all introduced species are invasive and many of them are, in fact, beneficial. And what about native species? Should we always prefer them over non-natives?
#invasivespecies #invasiveplants #bees #nativeplants #nativespecies

[greasher]

One of the best examples of naturalized species is Ascension Island, it is a desert island in the middle of the south Atlantic Ocean. Prior to being discovered in the 1500s it had few native plants, but over the centuries more and more plants were introduced, and now there is a cloud forest that has formed on top of the island.

[mastervule]

I clicked on the video and watched it whole without looking at subsribers or view count and was pretty surprised when I saw how unpopular your videos are! You definetly deserve more recognition and I believe with content of this quality you will be getting it soon! :D

[sthui]

Honeybees are definitely invasive to North America. Before that bumblebees and other natives pollinate the local plants just fine, with the introduction of a very generalist, large-swarming bee they would naturally outcompete the locals but especially specialist bees, and are now definitely the most common bee in the US. Not only do they not pollinate American plants that well, but also enable non-native plants to thrive because they were evolved to be pollinated by the honeybees.

[gregorytucker]

I always considered pigeons to not be a very harmful "invasive." They mostly live in areas heavily populated by humans, where most native species have been pushed out anyway. They fill in a niche in the cities and are now a good source for the raptors that also live around the cities

[ichifish]

Raccoons are invasive here in Japan. They were imported as pets after a TV show in the 1960s became popular. They crowd out the native tanuki and eat all the crayfish and frogs in the rice paddies.

[ShonnMorris]

So glad someone made this video. There is a current tendency to overuse the term invasive. yes, Honey Bees are important for crop pollination but most of those crops are also native to the old world where Honey Bees come from too. Honey Bees do push out some native pollinators in North America. In one case a native tree is often removed because it is toxic to Honey Bees, the California Buckeye. The buckeye however is important for some native pollinators. You mentioned the Tasmanian Bluegum in California. While in some areas it has choked out some native plants, it has also become naturalized in a positive way. It does seem to grow in specific places and they cannot grow where Redwoods are common. Most of the species that use them are those that would live in coniferous forest oddly enough. Some native animals depend on them for food as they may eat the seeds and as these trees bloom during the winter, their flowers have become an important food source for many animals. So much so that a couple of bird species has some populations that now spend the winter in Central CA rather than migrating to Central and South America.

One harmful non-native is the American Bullfrog which has caused steep declines in the number of Western Pond Turtles and is believed to be a contributing factor in the decline of California Red-legged Frogs. Although there are places where both species have lived together for years. The Red-legged Frog and Pond Turtle are very similar to European species like the European Pond Turtle and Common Frog which have also been displaced by American Bullfrogs in Europe. In fact, many American species introduced elsewhere are also not native to California and have been introduced causing similar problems.

[luisrenteria]

The tree of heaven (Melia azedarach), the goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata), the tepehuaje tree (Leucaena Leucocephala) and the Chinese privet (Ligustrum Lucidum) are all really problematic in northeastern Mexico, they displace broadleaf trees like oaks in the forests and our native Leucaenas (lead trees) form the thornscrub, yet, people still plant them as ornamentals 🥲

[joemyers]

Honeybees are being thought of as a problematic species, even in its native range. Due to them being kept by humans (which is why they're now classed as livestock rather than a wild species) their numbers are way higher than they should be so they are outcompeting other bees, some of which are uniquely tied to one plant so if that is swarmed by honey bees then they can die off. Search for 'you're worrying about the wrong bees' for articles on the subject.

[premkumar]

One more indigenous lecture. Kudos, thanks. Video on Lantana will be appreciated. 😊

[fabiana.]

Here in Argentina the 3 worst invasive animal species are Sus scrofa (the wild boar), Castor canadensis and Homo sapiens.

[HuckleberryHim]

Amazing video! There is so little discussion of this, and I wasn't expecting such high quality on such a niche topic from such a small channel. Mindblowing work! Instant sub.

Wild carrot is non-native where I am, but I once found one hosting three different black swallowtail caterpillars, a native butterfly. Common thistle, a Eurasian native, is also abundant here and very popular with native pollinators.

[lawrenceambrose]

Very informative and entertaining video. The accompanying photos and videos enhance the experience. These videos are outstanding.

[Cjinglaterra]

English ivy is a problem in my yard here in Missouri. It ruined the garden it was originally planted in and about all I have been able to do is keep it from spreading any further. Once established I have yet to find a way to get rid of it. And it’s not even a noxious weed in Missouri.

Multiflora rose is, but down here in the Ozarks I have not noticed it to be any more of a problem than the native blackberries. They’re both hardy plants, but can easily be managed by cutting. The only time I actually try to eradicate a specific multiflora rose is if it is someplace where I don’t want a bramble, or in the rare case of one growing right next to our native prairie rose.

[joranbooth]

English ivy is a big problem in my own yard. My biggest challenge is that it grows best in the shade, and I've had a hard time finding alternatives to out-compete it. I recently transplanted some ferns growing next to my shed to an ivy patch, so I'm hoping these take off.

[SuperManning]

I love your videos! They are so well-written and well-presented—great job!

[Zw-yrbp]

Kudzu, a prime example, I'm almost surprised you didn't talk about it when talking about ornamentalists bringing non-native plants to other countries.

Here in Alabama, it is a scourge against the local fauna, as due to the warmer climate, it thrives and chokes out other plants, while releasing a dangerous amount of green-house gasses, because they are legumes.

[TragoudistrosMPH]

Very interesting and well done. I wasn't really aware of the difference between invasive and non-native species, though it makes sense.

The examples were really useful!

[soniashapiro]

People use the term invasive for when they don't like something. Poison ivy. And yet, who calls lawn grass invasive? Why not?

[dorotheam.]

the Tree of Heavens is one that drives me nuts!

[kinilas]

Gonna have ro disagree with some of these. Dandilions and honeybees are both invasive in the US. Dandilions specifically support honeybees while taking up space from native species that would support native bees. Honeybees dont need support because 1- they are generalist and can get pollen from pretty much any plant. 2- they are farmed species and are not at risk if extinction like many of our native bees are. Native bees pollenate tons of food crops including many crops from north America that honeybees have trouple pollinating. One could make the argument that dandilions are a low priority invasive, but they are still invasive.
-a conservation ecologist.