yego.me
💡 Stop wasting time. Read Youtube instead of watch. Download Chrome Extension

Invasive Species 101 | National Geographic


2m read
·Nov 11, 2024

(birds tweeting)

[Announcer] Rapidly growing, consuming, adapting, they conquer. Jeopardizing local economies, threatening human health, and devastating entire ecosystems.

[Man] As whole rows of cherished landmarks are condemned, brought home to town-dwelling citizens are the rigid precautions being taken by the Department of Agriculture to save this tree from extinction.

[Announcer] Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause considerable damage when introduced to a new area. These species compete with native wildlife for resources and thrive at the expense of the local ecosystem. (tree crashing) The introduction of invasive species is often associated with human activity. Boats that travel between different bodies of water can carry hitchhikers, such as the zebra mussel. One of the most notorious invasive species in the United States, these rapidly reproducing mussels clog pipes and overtake beaches in the Great Lakes. Some invasive species, however, are introduced intentionally. (frog croaking) In the early 20th century, cane toads were brought to Australia as a form of pest control. Today, these poisonous amphibians number in the millions and have caused a decline in native predators on the island.

It's not just animals. Bacteria, fungi, and plants can also become invasive. Brought to South Africa in the 19th century, the black wattle is an invasive tree often used for timber and firewood. This beautiful tree, and other thirsty invasives, are depleting the country's already record-low water supply. Because of their impact on human health, ecosystems, and infrastructure, invasive species cost the global economy over a trillion dollars each year.

Many measures can be taken to help limit the spread of invasive species, but the most effective method is prevention. By carefully cleaning boats before transferring between different bodies of water, not releasing exotic pets into the wild, and planting gardens with native species, we can help prevent the spread of invasive organisms. Every living thing has evolved to play a specialized role within their ecosystem. In the ultimate balancing act, even one invasive species can drastically tilt the scales. If we stay mindful of our role in the spread of these organisms, we can prevent invasions before it is too late. (gentle cinematic music)

More Articles

View All
Photo Ark | Series Trailer
[Music] All right, this’ll work. Okay, we’re ready for the cobra. [Music] He’s running away from me. There we go, that’s just the first one. I’m all worn out. Okay, for the past 15 years, I’ve made a thousand trips to photograph over 10,000 species and s…
Who is God? | A Pastor, A Rabbi and an Imam | The Story of God
[Music] Okay, so stop me if you’ve heard this one: a rabbi, a pastor, and an Imam walk to a bar. Okay, so it wasn’t a bar; it was a diner to discuss my show, “The Story of God,” about who is God. So the Rabbi says, “I think it’s really intimidating to j…
Steve Jobs: The Objects Of Our Life (1983)
[Applause] Morning! Introductions are really funny. They paid me $60, so I wore a tie. Um, how many people—how many of you are 36 years or older than 36 years old? Yeah, all of you were born pre-computer. The computer’s uh, 36 years old. And there’s some…
Khanmigo: Teacher Activities Overview
This is Kigo, an AI-powered guide designed to help all students learn. Kigo is not just for students, though; teachers can use Kigo too. In fact, when teachers access Kigo, their device will transform into the teaching assistant they’ve always wanted. Le…
Safari Live - Day 296 | National Geographic
[Music] This program features live coverage of an African safari and may include animal kills and carcasses. Viewers, good afternoon! Everybody, I’m whisper shouting at you in excitement because for the very first time on Safari Live, there are the new a…
Buddha - Conquer Fear, Become Free
In The Dhammapada, the Buddha says that a wise person is beyond fear and, as a result, is truly free. And there’s a Zen story that shares a similar message. During a Japanese civil war, an army was taking control of different villages. And in one village,…