What is the impact of invasive species?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: What is the impact of invasive species?
Position‹3 of 3: Invasive species help ecosystems
Argument‹2 of 2: Invasive species are a new food source

Invasive species can provide a new food source to the surrounding native animals and plants. For example, new types of pests could be eaten by predators if a native species starts to run out.

The argument

Invasive species can be a new source of food for their surrounding ecosystem. The dandelion can be fit for human consumption if prepared correctly. Even invasive pests can become food for predatory animals. The brown rat, which has invaded European countries and North America, is hunted by birds and snakes. An ecosystem will never die with an availability of different nutrition sources.

Premises

[P1]Invasive species can become a new food source within their surrounding ecosystem. [P2] Invasive plants like the dandelion can be eaten, and invasive pests such as the brown rat are hunted by birds and snakes. [P3] Additional nutrition sources help keep an ecosystem from collapsing. [C] Therefore, invasive species can help ecosystems by adding new food sources.

Counter-arguments

Invasive species could eat other animals or plants that need to exist within the ecosystem. The cane toad eats small native rodent species while killing native predators. With the cane toad as the top of the food chain, the ecosystem’s health will decline. Invasive species could potentially do more harm than good.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Invasive species could hurt the ecosystem.