Invasive species are plants and animals that spread rapidly, often displacing native flora and fauna and causing harm to surrounding environments. Invasive species are often alien or exotic, having been introduced through human activity to areas outside of their natural range. Invasive species can often be characterized by a few traits that result in their high success rates in new habitats. These traits include resilience to disease and pests, hardiness (well adapted to many climatic and soil conditions) and a high reproductive rate with high viability of offspring. Invasive species can have highly damaging effects on new habitats as they alter natural ecosystem functions. They also often have negative impacts on biodiversity as they form monocultures that replace all diversity within an area. Biological invasion by alien species is second only to the destruction of natural habitats as the leading cause of biodiversity loss!
The Toronto Zoo is a leader in animal and plant conservation. As such, there is an emerging Invasive Species Management Program. This program encompasses continuing research, education and management initiatives to help prevent and control the spread of invasive species.
Click below to find out more about the Toronto Zoo's Invasive Species management programs.
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Invasive species are plants and animals that spread rapidly, often displacing native flora and fauna and causing harm to surrounding environments. Invasive species are often alien or exotic, having been introduced through human activity to areas outside of their natural range. Invasive species can often be characterized by a few traits that result in their high success rates in new habitats. These traits include resilience to disease and pests, hardiness (well adapted to many climatic and soil conditions) and a high reproductive rate with high viability of offspring. Invasive species can have highly damaging effects on new habitats as they alter natural ecosystem functions. They also often have negative impacts on biodiversity as they form monocultures that replace all diversity within an area. Biological invasion by alien species is second only to the destruction of natural habitats as the leading cause of biodiversity loss!
The Toronto Zoo is a leader in animal and plant conservation. As such, there is an emerging Invasive Species Management Program. This program encompasses continuing research, education and management initiatives to help prevent and control the spread of invasive species.