Invasive Species
The global distribution ofplants and animals has evolved over many millions of years, having been influenced by oceanic and mountain barriers (Elton 1958). Although such geographic isolation led to major speciation, species still dispersed where geographical barriers permitted, either to avoid deteriorating home ranges or to take advantage of potentially new resources (Stenseth and Lidicker 1992). However, since early humans started to migrate, natural barriers to plant and animal dispersal have been broken down and species have been translocated (''introduced'') deliberately or accidentally to new ecosystems. The rate at which these introductions occur has increased significantly over recent decades as a result of increased globalization of travel and trade.
When released from their native predators, competitors, and diseases, some species become well established and abundant and have a significant impact on natural environments, agriculture, and human health and infrastructure. Often these invasive species or invasive alien species (IAS) have to be managed (i.e., killed), but in dealing with a sentient species conflict can arise between those wanting to protect the indigenous species and ecosystems threatened by the IAS and those wanting to protect individuals of the IAS.
Those conflicts have led to debate between proponents of individual-based ethics and proponents of ecocentric ethics.
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