Question

Nutria were first brought to the US for their pelts in the fur industry and subsequently escaped and have caused ecosystem cascades in many emergent marsh ecosystems. This is an example of? A) A native species that became invasive with habitat change. B) An invasive or exotic species as the terms mean the same thing. C) The fact that all invasive species are exotic. D) An exotic introduction that became invasive species.

Answer 1

The correct answer is

D) An exotic introduction that became an invasive species.

In the given scenario, nutria were intentionally brought to the US for their fur, making them an exotic species (a species introduced to an area outside of its native range). However, they subsequently escaped and established populations in the wild, causing negative impacts on the ecosystem, which qualifies them as invasive species. Invasive species are those that have been introduced to an area and have the ability to spread rapidly, outcompeting native species and causing ecological disruptions.

Option A is incorrect because nutria, in this case, are not native to the US; they were introduced from elsewhere. Option B is incorrect because although invasive and exotic species are closely related terms, they do not mean exactly the same thing. Option C is also incorrect because not all invasive species are necessarily exotic; some invasive species can be native to the region but become invasive due to various factors such as habitat change or introduction of a new predator.