Which statement describes how an invasive species can affect energy flow and nutrient cycling?

Which statement describes how an invasive species can affect energy flow and nutrient cycling?

• A. They always increase native biodiversity.
• B. They can outcompete native species and alter energy flow and nutrient cycling.
• C. They have no impact on ecosystem processes.
• D. They only affect abiotic factors like soil pH.

Answer: (B)

Invasive species can disrupt ecosystems by changing energy flow and nutrient cycling. When an invader outcompetes native species, the community’s structure shifts, altering who participates in capturing and transferring energy through the food web. This can change the amount of energy available to herbivores, predators, and decomposers, ultimately tweaking how energy moves from producers to higher trophic levels. At the same time, invaders can modify nutrient cycling by altering litter quality and decomposition rates, soil chemistry, and the timing of nutrient release. If the dominant species shift, the pathways and speed of nutrient recycling can change, affecting plant growth, microbial activity, and overall ecosystem productivity. So, the statement that invasives can outcompete natives and alter both energy flow and nutrient cycling best captures how they impact ecosystem processes.