Invasive Alien Species

Subject: Environment

Section: Biodiversity

Context- Invasive alien forest insects will kill 1.4 million urban trees in US by 2050: Study.

Concept-

Invasive alien forest insects will kill 2.1-2.5 per cent of all street trees (1.4 million) in the United States in 30 years (2020-2050). This loss would cost $30 million annually to manage, a recent study has said.
Ninety per cent of all mortality would be due to the emerald ash borer (Agrilusplanipennis).

What Are Alien Invasive Species:

An alien species is a species introduced outside its normal distribution.
An alien species become ‘invasive’ when they are introduced deliberately or accidentally outside their natural areas, where they out-compete the native species and upset the ecological balance.
Invasive alien species (IAS) are animals, plants or other organisms that are introduced into places outside their natural range, negatively impacting native biodiversity, ecosystem services or human well-being.
The most common characteristics of invasive species are
- rapid reproduction and growth,
- high dispersal ability,
- ability to survive on various food types, and in a wide range of environmental conditions and
- the ability to adapt physiologically to new conditions, called phenotypic plasticity.
The alien invasive species are non-native to an ecosystem. They may cause economic or environmental harm or even adversely affect human health.

Invasive Alien Species & Climate Change:

IAS are one of the biggest causes of biodiversity loss and species extinctions, and are also a global threat to food security and livelihoods.
IAS are compounded by climate change. Climate change facilitates the spread and establishment of many alien species and creates new opportunities for them to become invasive.
IAS can reduce the resilience of natural habitats, agricultural systems and urban areas to climate change. Conversely, climate change reduces the resilience of habitats to biological invasions.