Q.54 Elaborate how invasion by an alien species reduces the species diversity of an area.
Ans. When alien species are introduced unintentionally or deliberately in a habitat, some of them can cause decline or extinction of indigenous species, e.g, the extensive environmental damage caused and the threat posed to our native species by invasive weed species like carrot grass (Parthenium), Lantana, and water hyacinth (Eichhornia). Another example of exotic species invasion is the Nile perch, a large predator fish.
When this alien species was introduced into the lake of Victoria in East Africa, it started feeding on native, cichlid fish. As a result, indigenous cichlid fish became extinct and due to scarcity of food, predator Nile perch died too.
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