Nature Education - Publications Exotic Conundrums Exotics are species that have been introduced into a new ecosystem, either intentionally or accidentally. Let's look at some of the facts about exotics. To understand the impact exotic species can have on their adopted ecosystems, one has to understand the time scale of evolution.
Evolution is a slow process involving random mutations.
This process, known as co-evolution, occurs over time scales that typically far exceed human time scales. The dynamic equilibrium of co-evolving organisms in an ecosystem produces checks and balances on species populations. When a species is placed into a new ecosystem, many things can happen. In some cases, it may meet a predator or disease it has no defense against, or be unfit to compete for basic needs in the new environment, and quickly perish. When an introduced species benefits from ecological release, there is frequently an exotic population explosion.