Doesn the addition of a non-native species increase biodiversity (i.e. species diversity)?
No. Consider, for example, the rosy wolfsnail of the southeastern USA. This was introduced by humans to Hawai’i, Mauritius, and other islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Global biodiversity did not benefit by this introduction. The rosy wolfsnail began killing native snails. Ultimately, it was responsible for driving to extinction dozens of snail species. Both local and global biodiversity suffered. Invasive species are usually existing perfectly well in their native lands. Introducing them to new habitats does them no good, and risks the integrity of native ecosystems.
Related Questions
- How does evolution through natural selection result in changes in biodiversity through the increase or decrease genetic diversity within a population?
- Doesn the addition of a non-native species increase biodiversity (i.e. species diversity)?
- Doesn’t the addition of a non-native species increase biodiversity?
