Editing Ecosystem engineer (section)

==Introduced species as ecosystem engineers==
Species are able to be transported across all parts of the world by humans or human-made vessels at boundless rates resulting in foreign ecosystem engineers changing the dynamics of species interactions and the possibility for engineering to occur in locations that would not have been accessible by engineers without the mediation by humans.

[[Introduced species]], which may be [[invasive species]], are often ecosystem engineers. [[Kudzu]], a leguminous plant introduced to the southeast U.S., changes the distribution and number of animal and bird species in the areas it invades. It also crowds out native plant species. The [[zebra mussel]] is an ecosystem engineer in North America. By providing refuge from [[predator]]s, it encourages the growth of freshwater [[invertebrate]]s through increasing microhabitats. Light penetration into infected lakes also improves the ecosystem, resulting in an increase in [[algae]]. In contrast to the benefits some ecosystem engineers can cause, invasive species often have the reverse effect.

[[File:Gordon Dam.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Gordon Dam]] in [[Tasmania]]]]