Kudzu is a vine that is native to Japan, but in the United States it is an exotic invader. In many parts of the United States, kudzu is rapidly expanding and outcompeting native species

Explain why kudzu is such an aggressive invader in the United States, but not in its native Japan.


Because kudzu did not evolve in the United States, there are no native predators, parasites, or competitors that coevolved with it. Thus, kudzu found a niche that was unexplored, and other species are not keeping its population in check.

Biology & Microbiology

You might also like to view...

Which letter in the figure above corresponds to a large influx of Na+ ions into the cell?

A) A B) B C) C D) D E) E

Biology & Microbiology

All of the following are important roles of semen EXCEPT

a. to protect sperm. b. to nourish sperm. c. to fertilize sperm. d. to help with sperm transport

Biology & Microbiology

These molecules can directly convert extracellular signals into intracellular signals.

A. G proteins B. Adapter proteins C. Scaffolds D. Second messengers E. Membrane receptors

Biology & Microbiology

An embolus could block blood flow to the ________, resulting in a myocardial infarction, or it may block blood in the ________ and cause a stroke

A) brain; heart B) heart; kidney C) heart; brain D) brain; kidney E) liver; kidney

Biology & Microbiology