What are the impacts of invasive plants on natural areas?
Invasive plants can rapidly degrade the quality of wildlands by altering natural processes and reducing biodiversity. The most common impact is a change in the biological structure of the site. Changes in the plant communities (groups of species) will generally drive changes in the populations of animal inhabitants. Because native insects seldom feed on non-native pest plants, insect numbers usually diminish. Native bird and reptile populations decline in turn, because insects were their main source of food. Invasive plants may be inedible or undesirable to native herbivores, both small and large. And birds may not be able to build nests in the non-native plants. Invasive plants can also change the physical environment. In riparian zones (streams and rivers), dense stands of invasive species such as giant reed and saltcedar can clog channels and increase the severity of flooding. Invasive plant species may not root as well as natives, resulting in stream embankments washing away easier
