Question

How can exotic species affect populations of native species?

Answer 1

Hint: Exotic species are the alien or nonindigenous species that occur in the areas outside the natural niche. Native species are the species which originate and develop in the natural habitat and are adapted to a particular natural environment.

Complete answer:
The native species are the species which occur naturally at a particular natural habitat. The native species are stable in their naturally occurring environment. For example wild animals have their own range and distribution where they live freely, are stable and breed naturally.
When an exotic species or non-indigenous species which do not belong to the particular natural habitat is introduced then it leads to negative ecological effects, For example if human being is introduced to the wild animal habitat or forest habitat then it disturbs the living environment of the wild animals and it hampers the movement and life affecting the ecology negatively.

Effects of exotic species on native species-
1)As the exotic species are new to the environment, they grow in large numbers rapidly due to the absence of predators.
2)The high exotic or invasive species can out-compete or kill the native species.
Competition for food and habitat increases.
3)The invasive species can lead to extinction of the native species and thus affect the biodiversity and alter the habitat.
4)The invasive species lead to huge economic and disruptive effects on the ecosystem.

Note: After habitat loss, invasive species or the exotic species are the major threat to biodiversity. The alien species is not considered harmful until it causes any such harm to the ecology or health of the organisms living in the ecosystem.