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The Invasion Of Western Waters By Non-Native Species: Threats To The West, Western Regional Panel On Aquatic Nuisance Species

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

The waters of western North America are being transformed by invasive aquatic plants, fish, and other animals from around the world. These plants and animals, which have been introduced both intentionally and accidentally by humans, can irrevocably alter our native ecosystems. While they may be harmless in their own waters, once brought into a new ecosystem where their native predators do not exist, they can harm native species by eating their food, preying on them, transmitting diseases to which the natives have no defenses, or (like many invasive aquatic plants) simply outgrowing them. Not all non-native species cause serious problems, …