Invasive non-native species

(38) Climate Change and the Threat of Species Extinction

Why is it important?

Climate change makes it easier for invasive species to spread into new regions. One example is the water hyacinth, originally from South America. It grows quickly in warmer waters, reduces oxygen levels in rivers, and causes fish die-offs, which affects biodiversity and local communities (IUCN, 2021).

^{Figure 1. water hyacinth (Euchhorina crassipes). Source: Aquatic Biologist Inc.}