In ponds and lakes in the eastern United States, northern snakeheads are spreading. These fast-reproducing fish are native to Asia but have been accidentally introduced to ecosystems by humans on the East Coast. Adults grow up to a meter long. They feed on frogs and other fish, and they can survive out of water for hours, and even days, at a time. Scientists are now trying to figure out how to get rid of snakeheads, and in many areas it is illegal to own a live snakehead.

Question

In ponds and lakes in the eastern United States, northern snakeheads are spreading. These fast-reproducing fish are native to Asia but have been accidentally introduced to ecosystems by humans on the East Coast. Adults grow up to a meter long. They feed on frogs and other fish, and they can survive out of water for hours, and even days, at a time. Scientists are now trying to figure out how to get rid of snakeheads, and in many areas it is illegal to own a live snakehead.

Why are these fish a problem for the East Coast ecosystem?
They have no natural predators to control the population.
They have the potential to crowd out or kill native fish species.
They are poisonous to the local animal life.
They are not useful as a food source for humans.

Answer 1

The main issue with northern snakeheads in the East Coast ecosystem is that they have the potential to crowd out or kill native fish species. Without natural predators to control their population, snakeheads can rapidly reproduce and outcompete local fish for food and habitat. This disruption to the ecosystem can have negative impacts on the overall health and diversity of the aquatic environment. Additionally, because snakeheads are not native to the area, they can upset the balance of the ecosystem and threaten the survival of other species.