Answer:
The Philippines consists of about 7,107 islands with a total land area of
approximately 30 million hectares, with human population estimate of more than 80
million. The country is characterized by an irregular shape and nearly all the islands
have rugged uplands in the interior. From the original forest of 30 million hectares only
6.16 million hectares of the land are now under forest with less than a million hectares of
virgin forest left. The ecosystem is characterized by a high degree of biological diversity.
However, population pressure, poverty and survival needs have resulted in rapid
destruction of the environment. In recent years, the increasing global trade, travel, and
transport had rapidly increased the rate of introduction and diversity of alien species.
Invasive alien species (IAS) includes exotic or non-native micro- and macro-species
introduced, accidentally or deliberately, to a place that is not part of their natural habitat
or distributional range, and have adverse ecological and economic impacts (Bruton and
Merron, 1985; De Silva 1989). Exotic species, especially those that were introduced to
an area with no natural predators or competitors, will flourish in their new habitats. Once
established, introduced species can become aggressive and dangerously invasive.
Studies have demonstrated that IAS could alter the evolution of native species by
competitive exclusion, niche displacement, predation, and ultimate extinction
(MacKinnon, 2002). In a few cases, the exotic species have hybridized with closely
related species and have transmitted diseases harmful to both animals and humans
(Vitousek et al. 1997). IAS are among the top drivers of environmental change globally,
and are known to threaten food security, human health, and economic development.
In the Philippines, data on the impact of IAS on native biota are scarce, and limited
to a number of anecdotal reports indicate that native species may be adversely affected
through competition, predation, habitat alteration, and parasitism. Impacts of IAS in the
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Answers & Comments
Answer:
The Philippines consists of about 7,107 islands with a total land area of
approximately 30 million hectares, with human population estimate of more than 80
million. The country is characterized by an irregular shape and nearly all the islands
have rugged uplands in the interior. From the original forest of 30 million hectares only
6.16 million hectares of the land are now under forest with less than a million hectares of
virgin forest left. The ecosystem is characterized by a high degree of biological diversity.
However, population pressure, poverty and survival needs have resulted in rapid
destruction of the environment. In recent years, the increasing global trade, travel, and
transport had rapidly increased the rate of introduction and diversity of alien species.
Invasive alien species (IAS) includes exotic or non-native micro- and macro-species
introduced, accidentally or deliberately, to a place that is not part of their natural habitat
or distributional range, and have adverse ecological and economic impacts (Bruton and
Merron, 1985; De Silva 1989). Exotic species, especially those that were introduced to
an area with no natural predators or competitors, will flourish in their new habitats. Once
established, introduced species can become aggressive and dangerously invasive.
Studies have demonstrated that IAS could alter the evolution of native species by
competitive exclusion, niche displacement, predation, and ultimate extinction
(MacKinnon, 2002). In a few cases, the exotic species have hybridized with closely
related species and have transmitted diseases harmful to both animals and humans
(Vitousek et al. 1997). IAS are among the top drivers of environmental change globally,
and are known to threaten food security, human health, and economic development.
In the Philippines, data on the impact of IAS on native biota are scarce, and limited
to a number of anecdotal reports indicate that native species may be adversely affected
through competition, predation, habitat alteration, and parasitism. Impacts of IAS in the