Water hyacinth
The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a beautiful but invasive aquatic plant native to tropical and subtropical South America.
It is known for its glossy green leaves, attractive purple flowers, and rapid growth rate.
Water hyacinths can reproduce vegetatively at a very fast rate, doubling their population size in as little as two weeks.
This rapid growth can quickly form dense mats that cover the water surface, blocking sunlight and hindering the growth of other aquatic plants.
When water hyacinths die and decompose, they use up oxygen in the water.
This can lead to oxygen depletion, which can harm fish and other aquatic life
What is Invasive Species?
An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area.
Invasive species can cause great economic and environmental harm to the new area
Many invasive species thrive because they outcompete native species for food
Many epidemics and pandemics have been driven by pathogens, hosts and vectors invading new areas (mosquitos, rats etc.)
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