Long Story Shorts: How Do Invasive Species Take Over?

Invasive species start as strangers in a strange land but over time come to dominate their new homes. The ocean has played host to some of the most prolific of these infiltrations of our time. So just how are these marine invaders able to adapt and thrive in new neighborhoods?
Hey, teachers! Here’s a cheat sheet of what’s included in this episode of Long Story Shorts:
- What is an invasive species?
- How does an invasive species get introduced to new areas?
- What effects do invasive species have on their adopted environments?
- What allows an invasive species to adapt and thrive in new environments?
- European green crab, lionfish
This episode is part of our series Long Story Shorts-fun, quick explainers about all things coastal science!
This video series is endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a Decade Activity. Find out more about the Ocean Decade here: oceandecade.org/
Created by the Hakai Institute
Series produced by Kristina Blanchflower and Katrina Pyne
Written, edited, and narrated by Katrina Pyne
Illustrations by Mercedes Minck
Science consultation provided by Kelly Fretwell