Why Invasive Species aren't always bad (Blog #6)

 I know we've all heard about invasive species: they are organisms that come into the ecosystem of natives and outcompete them, wanting to drive them out completely. After reading Invasive Species Aren't Always the Bad Guys by Isobel Whitcomb, I've started to realize some of the positive effects they can have on the environment around them. Due to climate change, seed dispersal is starting to become much higher, and with that, more invasive species are finding themselves growing in native plant areas. Though many native areas are now becoming extinct much quicker than previously, and invasive species are actually increasing the rate at which dispersal happens, allowing the species to not become extinct in the area it used to be in. I think it's important to recognize that while invasive species do outcompete and negatively affect native species, it's also important to recognize that not everything they do is a negative, and can actually help the native populations.

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