Clarke, C. (2016, August 21). The Up And Downsides of Invasive Species | KCET. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from https://www.kcet.org/redefine/the-up-and-downsides-of- invasive-species

This article talks about the ups and downs of invasive species, focusing specifically on the ones in California. Invasive species threaten 1/4 of endangered species, around 3,000 species. However, not every single type of invasive species is necessarily harmful. For example, the earth worm, while native to California, can thrive in most climates and is now found in South America, and pose little to no threat on native species. Each year, around 6 new invasive species are introduced to California, but even with that amount the damage is not severe. Even if an invasive species consumes a native species that no one species consumed in the first place, it can still take a toll on the environment. In the case of the red brome, an invasive plant species in the California Desert, even though no species consumes it, during the wet season the plant takes the major amounts of water that would otherwise go to native species, which directly effects the native species negatively.

The article relates to environmental science because, while most focus on the negatives of invasive species, this article discusses the potential upside and benefits that invasive species could have to the environment. It was interesting to read about the mutualistic and sometimes

positive effects that invasive species can have on the environment, like in the case of the earth worm; it is rare to ever hear a positive thing about invasive species. I especially thought it was interesting how an invasive plant that no other species consumed could still do harm to an ecosystem just by living there and not coming into contacts with other parts of an ecosystem.