Nutria, Myocastor coypus, are large, semi-aquatic rodents native to South America. They were introduced to the United States in 1889 for fur. When the nutria fur market collapsed in the 1940's, nutria were released into the wild. Some people began selling the herbivores to control noxious weeds. Wildlife agencies further expanded the range of the nutria by introducing the species into new areas throughout the U.S.
What effects did the introduction of the nutria have on ecosystems throughout the U. S.?
Responses
A Nutria, in fact, do feed on noxious weeds.Nutria, in fact, do feed on noxious weeds.
B Nutria feed on native plants that hold wetland soil together.Nutria feed on native plants that hold wetland soil together.
C The largest nutria populations are located in freshwater rocky coastal areas of New England.The largest nutria populations are located in freshwater rocky coastal areas of New England.
D Another name we could give to nutria would be invasive species.Another name we could give to nutria would be invasive species .
E Nutria's digging, rooting, and swimming causes massive erosion, converting healthy marsh habitat for native species into open water habitat.Nutria's digging, rooting, and swimming causes massive erosion, converting healthy marsh habitat for native species into open water habitat.
F The nutria's relatively low reproductive rate help keep their numbers in check.
B Nutria feed on native plants that hold wetland soil together.
E Nutria's digging, rooting, and swimming causes massive erosion, converting healthy marsh habitat for native species into open water habitat.