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What is the impact of invasive species?
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Invasive species kill native plant species

Invasive plants can be very aggressive. Because of their aggressive growth rates and appetite, they choke out and overgrow native plant species. Without the native plant species, the plant’s environment would fail.

The Argument

Invasive plants kill native plant species. A common vine called the Kudzu vine grows about 30 cm a day, choking out any plants that it grows over.[1] Without native plants, the organisms that rely on them will starve, harming the ecosystem.

Counter arguments

Some invasive plant species benefit an ecosystem. In California, California butterflies lay eggs on an invasive eucalyptus tree because of the deforestation of native trees.[2] Some invasive species are useful and help animals to thrive among depleting habitats.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Invasive plants kill native plants. [P2] If native plants die, the ecosystem starts to die.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Not all invasive plants kill native plants.

References

  1. https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2018/05/top-10-invasive-species-when-pest-control-goes-wrong/
  2. https://listverse.com/2015/05/04/10-invasive-species-that-helped-the-ecosystems-they-inhabit/
This page was last edited on Friday, 24 Apr 2020 at 08:43 UTC

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