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The Effects Of Non Native Invasive Species Essay

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1. Introduction
The biodiversity effects of non-native invasive species have been described as “immense, insidious and usually irreversible” (Veitch and Clout, 2002). There is significant evidence proving that invasive species can cause severe economic, environmental and ecological damage (Mack et al., 2000). A lot of time and research has been devoted to dividing the world into regions with distinctive habitats and species. Numerous pathways, mostly anthropogenic, are breaking down these realms and facilitating the ecological and biological invasion of non-native species.
One of the most striking dividing lines between realms is the Wallace Line between Australia and Asia. Because Australia is isolated from the Asian land mass its biodiversity is rich with different species and ecosystems. However, due to trade and human transport methods the highly adaptable and dispersive Aedes albopictus (typically native to Asia) has been located in the Torres Strait (between Papua New Guinea and Australia) with invasion to mainland Australia imminent. This r-strategist has adapted to different environments to promote egg fecundity and viability enabling it to spread further as well as being epidemiologically important threatening global health. This report aims to provide an insight into the species and aims to assess the current damage caused by the invasive Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) in the Torres Strait.
2. Species description and native ecology
The Asian

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