IPM-030-25
Utah IPM Program and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
How Invasive Species Affect Ecosystems
June 2025
Marion Murray, Extension IPM Specialist • Meg Kast, Extension IPM Associate
Quick Facts
• Invasive species disrupt ecosystems by outcompeting or preying on native species. • Lack of natural predators allows invasive species to reproduce rapidly and dominate ecosystems. • Invasive species impose massive economic costs on agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, and ecosystem restoration. • Public awareness and conservation efforts are key to reducing the spread and impact of invasive species.
I
nvasive species can have profound impacts on ecosystems worldwide. In the absence of their natural enemies, invasive species thrive and reproduce quickly. In many cases, they outcompete or prey on native species, leading to changes in habitat structure (Fig. 1) and disrupting essential ecosystem services. As native species decline, ecosystem resilience is reduced, leaving ecological gaps that invasive species can exploit. This disruption in habitat structure and resource availability provides opportunities for other non-native species to establish as well. Additionally, invasive species often alter soil, water, and nutrient dynamics, creating environments that favor additional invasions, thus accelerating the cycle of ecosystem degradation.
Effects of Invasive Species on Ecosystems
Fig. 1. Ash trees damaged by emerald ash borer in Canada. Troy Kimoto, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, bugwood.org.
IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY Invasive species are a threat to biodiversity through mechanisms such as competition, predation, and vectors for disease. Studies have shown that invasive species are one of the leading threats to threatened and endangered species, behind habitat loss and overexploitation (Dueñas et al., 2021).
Competition
When invasive species are introduced into new ecosystems, they may outcompete native species for resources like food, space, and light. This competitive advantage is frequently due to their ability to grow faster, reproduce more quickly, or tolerate environmental conditions that native species cannot. The invasive spotted lanternfly (SLF) has a diverse diet and feeds on over 70 plant species in the U.S. In addition to its wide range of hosts, a female SLF can lay up to 100 eggs during her one-year lifespan. As a result, SLF consumes more resources each year away from native insects (Acosta, 2023). Page 1