Chakravartty, A. (2024, January 23). No food in forests: Weeds like Mimosa, Siam are taking over Assam’s biodiversity. Down To Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/no-food-in-forests-weeds-like-mimosa-siam-are-taking-over-assam-s-biodiversity-94057 

In Assam, a state in India known for its wildlife and biodiversity, invasive plants are taking over forests and driving out native plants. The Mimosa species, with a pretty pink flower at its top, was introduced to Assam for the tea industry because of its nitrogen fixation abilities that help enrich soils. However, according to this article, the grasslands that allow rhinos and other native animals to migrate have become impenetrable because of the Mimosa species’ overpopulation. This affects the natural migration of many different species and can have devastating effects on the food web in Assam.

This article is related to environmental science because invasive species have a profound effect on the environments they are introduced to. In Assam, the Mimosa species has already spread to protected areas, meaning that ecological preserves with the best researchers and scientists cannot stop its spread. These invasive species can affect humans, too, by spreading on infrastructure like bridges, making it difficult to move locations in case of an emergency. This article made me wonder what invasive species are local to the Bay Area and what protective laws are in place to ensure our land isn’t overrun by them.