Orawing Conclusions About Brown Tree Ŝnakes The brown tree snake is native in areas such as Australia and eastern Indonesia. In those ecosystems, the brown tree snake is not causing the decline of bird or tree populations. So what makes this same species damaging in Guam? Identify some characteristics a species may possess that would fuel its ability to cause ecological damage, as the brown tree snake has in Guam. Provide some reasoning for why

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Orawing Conclusions About Brown Tree Ŝnakes The brown tree snake is native in areas such as Australia and eastern Indonesia. In those ecosystems, the brown tree snake is not causing the decline of bird or tree populations. So what makes this same species damaging in Guam? Identify some characteristics a species may possess that would fuel its ability to cause ecological damage, as the brown tree snake has in Guam. Provide some reasoning for why

Answer 1

The brown tree snake causes ecological damage in Guam due to its status as a non-native invasive species, lack of natural predators, ability to exploit resources in a less biodiverse ecosystem, and the absence of evolutionary history with native Guam species.

Answer 2

To understand why the brown tree snake causes ecological damage in Guam but not in its native habitats like Australia and eastern Indonesia, we need to consider several ecological and biological principles. 1. **Non-Native Species Impact**: When a species is introduced to a new environment where it is not native, it often lacks natural predators or controls that keep its population in check in its native habitat. This can lead to overpopulation and imbalance in the new ecosystem. 2. **Predator-Prey Dynamics**: In its native habitat, the brown tree snake's population is likely controlled by a balance of predator-prey relationships. In Guam, where these controlling factors are absent, the snake can prey on native species without significant threats to its own population. 3. **Ecological Niche**: In its native environment, the brown tree snake occupies a specific ecological niche with competition and natural barriers that limit its impact on the ecosystem. In a new environment like Guam, the absence of these factors allows the snake to exploit resources more freely, impacting other species. 4. **Biodiversity and Resilience**: Ecosystems with high biodiversity, like those in Australia and eastern Indonesia, are generally more resilient to the impacts of a single species due to the presence of multiple interacting species and complex food webs. Guam's ecosystem, with less biodiversity, is more vulnerable to disruption by an invasive species. 5. **Adaptation and Evolution**: Native species in Australia and eastern Indonesia may have evolved alongside the brown tree snake, developing defenses or behaviors to coexist with it. In Guam, native species have not had the same evolutionary history with the snake, making them more susceptible to predation. 6. **Human Impact and Environmental Changes**: Human activities can exacerbate the impact of invasive species. Habitat destruction, climate change, and other anthropogenic factors can weaken native ecosystems, making them more susceptible to invasive species like the brown tree snake. In summary, the brown tree snake's impact in Guam is a result of its status as a non-native invasive species, the absence of natural predators and competitors, the vulnerability of Guam's ecosystem, and possibly other factors related to human impact and environmental changes.

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