Endemic species are native to a restricted geographic area. Invasive species can escape controls and compete with endemic species for niche resources. Use distribution and niche evidence to explain where this competition occurs.
The prickly pear cactus (Opuntia stricta) was first recorded in Kruger National Park, South Africa, in 1950 . It spread rapidly, mainly through seeds being dispersed by baboons and elephants.
In 1997, the cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) from South America was introduced into the area as a biological control. The larvae of the moth feed on the cactus. The graph shows the number of cladodes (flattened stem sections) of cactus found per in the years before and after the introduction of the cactus moth.
Outline how the prickly pear cactus may become an ecological problem in Kruger National Park.