- Competition for resources: Introduced species may compete with native species for food, habitat, and other resources, leading to declines in native populations.
- Predation: Introduced species that are predators may prey on native species, reducing their numbers and disrupting predator-prey relationships.
- Disease transmission: Introduced species can carry diseases and parasites that can be transmitted to native species, potentially causing population declines or even species extinctions.
- Hybridization: Introduced species may interbreed with native species, leading to hybridization and the loss of unique genetic diversity.
- Ecosystem engineering: Introduced species can modify the physical environment, altering the structure and function of ecosystems.
- Disruption of mutualistic interactions: Introduced species can disrupt mutualistic relationships between native species, such as pollination or seed dispersal, which can have cascading effects on the community.
- Alteration of nutrient cycling: Introduced species may alter nutrient cycling processes within the ecosystem, affecting the availability of nutrients for other organisms.
- Changes in fire regimes: Introduced species can alter the frequency and intensity of fires, affecting fire-adapted communities.
- Economic and societal impacts: Introduced species can cause economic losses and social disruptions due to their impact on agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and human health.
By introducing new interactions, modifying existing ones, and altering ecosystem processes, introduced species can disrupt the delicate balance of ecological communities and have far-reaching consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Understanding and managing the impacts of introduced species is critical for preserving native biodiversity and maintaining the health of ecosystems.