6 Invasive Species That Are Actually Saving the Planet

Even though the word "invasive" sounds sketchy, not all non-native species are totally terrible! Here are six invasive species that can actually do more good than harm! Hosted by Stefan Chin.

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[Abiesbracteata]

In botany, there is a difference drawn between "invasive" vs. "naturalized" species: both are introduced by human activity, but a "naturalized" species is one that settles into the established native ecosystem without out-competing native species, whereas the "invasive" species frequently causes major problems and disruptions to the native ecosystem.

[Sublimeoo]

Mandatory: "...life, uh... finds a way."

[zaelheimricht]

''Proof that green crab aren't dangerous for the ecosystem.''
''i have results that show they are, and one they aren't.''
*''I knew it!"*

[pattondurio]

“Here’s all of the horrible things they’ve caused. And now here’s the single niche thing they slightly help.”

[connorcunningham]

You may want to clarify that Honeysuckle is also a horrific invasive plants in many areas like Cincinnati where I am at. It takes over everything and is ruining the understory of forests, outcompeting herbaceous plants and shading out important native tree seedlings.

[ryanalving]

In Virginia, not more than a few years ago, invasive stinkbugs were an epidemic every spring/summer. They spoiled fruit crops, lots of things wouldn't eat them, and they would pile up like flies.
Then, a species of very tiny wasp that was native to its homeland in asia was introduced which lays its eggs inside of stinkbug eggs. I haven't seen a living stinkbug in a loooong time, and I like it

[jmo]

Nah, bush honeysuckle has turned into a nightmare here in Missouri. You can hardly go anywhere without seeing it covering native plants.

[pensiring]

"Burning your house down is generally considered a bad descision - but you will have it warm for a moment!" - the video

[Bubba]

Also, feral horse trails in the snow help out the antelope population significantly. They tried to get rid of the feral horse population once, but soon realized the tracks left behind by horses in the snow help expose green vegetation for antelopes to eat.

[ezekielmartin]

I love how one of the points in favor of horses is that they've helped with industry and with settling more land, as though those aren't the two biggest contributors to environmental decline in the world...

[rexlongfellow]

'...and then humans showed up.'


~Story of our entire species

[ChincerDante]

as someone that sometimes introduce plants into my own garden it is surprising how fast a plant goes from "cute and innocent" to spreading all around to the point you have to remove it before it destroy everything, also sometimes you remove a weed only for another to florish in the absence, it is a never ending cycle in rural areas full of birds i have three species of clover and so many different vine plants (which are harmless until they suffocate other plants)

[dr.castor]

There is a big difference between invasive and naturalized species.
Willows are naturalized to Canada. Buckthorn is invasive.

[TheKirbylore]

"Helpful Invasive Species" counters itself. If they're helpful they're not invasive, they're just "Introduced"

[aaronadams]

As someone who has helped participate in the eradication of Saltcedar, no it is not a good plant. Tamarisk is a nightmare that creates monocultures and pushes out native species. The willow flycatchers will nest in Tamarisk, but the reason they can't find native trees is that Tamarisk has contributed to pushing them out of their native home. Tamarisk also concentrates salt in its leaves (why it is also known as "salt cedar") that kill native plants and increase the salinity of irrigation water. One pond I helped treat was home to an endemic fish species that the tamarisk was threatening by lowering the water level and increasing its salinity. I'm usually on board with you guys, but Tamarisk is undoubtedly a villain that is contributing to the demise of already stressed ecosystems. I'd say kill it with fire, but the plant likes fire and in many places increases the fire risk. Hopefully, the introduction of the tamarisk beetle helps to control it.

[MrBlandUsername]

Is there a way I can email the producers or something so I can go through how basically every part of this is incorrect? I don’t want to leave a multi page response as a YouTube comment.

I am in the field of ecological restoration, so I’m not just a rando commenter here.

[Wingedwolfstar]

I don’t think Feral horses being helpful to humans counts as a “helpful invasive species” :/

[curtismahon]

The Russian olive is another example. They've become so naturalized that almost all bird species in Washington state eat their fruit over the winter. In fact, their fruit is the only reason that yellow rumped warblers are seen in parts of the state during the winter. Its been documented that if you remove the berries from the russian olives in the winter the wintering warblers will move south or just die from lack of food

[stefanklass]

You got it wrong. Invasive and non-native is not the same thing! Invasive implies harmful to the local eco system.

[charliespinoza]

I feel like you made this video as a test to see if we were all paying attention.