Environmental Assessment
When new species are introduced into an ecosystem, they pose several dangers to the existing community members. The introduction of new species brings substantial danger to the existing members, especially in terms of competition. The immediate danger brought about by the new species is augmented by interspecific competition. This competition for water, space, food and other components of the habitat or niche may bring elimination of the existing community members. The energy flow in the ecosystem is totally altered by these new species. The chemical cycling process changes to the extent that it may become poisonous, to not only the existing population but the new one, as well. In extreme cases, it can be a total nuisance and can result to extinctions. (Cunningham & Siago, 2005, p.301)
Animals and domestic ones to be specific are more likely to cause dangers than plants. Under rare circumstances, will the introduction of new species of plants poses dangers to the existing population. However, cases have been reported of the deep- rooted and fast transpiring tree causing desertification when introduced in an ecosystem. Animals cause considerable problems of deterioration in soil fertility levels because the ground is left bare and vulnerable to soil erosion. The chemical composition of the soil chemicals also changes because the new species introduces new chemicals, which alter the existing levels.
The new species must have access to the resources that were not available to the existing members. The new species introduced often has no predators to limit their population. Therefore, the fact that it effectively exploits the resources makes their numbers to tremendously increase. This can happen so fast until the original members disappear and become extinct. (Brown & Hogan, 2005, p.213)
The types of organisms that are most likely to survive and cause problems in the new habitat are those that exploit a wide variety of niches, and adapt to it effectively. Those that reproduce quickly are also likely to cause problems in the new habitat.
References
Brown, G. and Hogan, C. (2005). Ecosystems and human well-being. Washington D.C: Island
Press
Cunningham, A. M. and Cunningham, W. (2003). Principles of environmental science. New
York: NY, McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Cunningham, P. and Saigo, W. B. (2005). Environmental science: a global concern. New York:
NY, McGraw-Hill Higher Education
