The importation of some organisms has caused problems for native organisms.

Organisms which are imported into an area from another region are called exotic species. Many examples of this are found world-wide.

-Ex: of exotic species having negative effects would include the rabbits and deer which were imported into Australia.

-These exotic species won the competition with many native herbivorous marsupials and became nuisance species.

The starling was brought into the United States from Europe.

-The starling has out competed many of our native songbirds.

-We also have alien invasive species which have caused problems in New York State.

-These include the plants such as the Water Chestnut, Eurasian Water milfoil, and Purple Loosestrife and animals such as the Alewife and Zebra Mussel.

The Purple Loosestrife, Purple loosestrife is a plant native to Europe.

 

-It was brought to North America in the early 1800's by immigrants who valued its beautiful purple flowers. It is now a serious pest of wetlands.

-Once purple loosestrife enters a wetland, it takes over.

-Common native wetland plants, such as cattails, cannot compete with purple loosestrife.

-Once these native plants are choked out, the wildlife that depends on them for food and shelter are also eliminated.