Question

Kudzu is a vine that was brought to the United States from Japan to prevent erosion. Once here, kudzu became invasive. What role does kudzu most likely play in the environment in the United States?

Answer 1

"Kudzu outcompetes native plants for sunlight and nutrients" is by far the best option from the list, but it should be noted that there are other factors as well.  

Answer 2

Answer:

Kudzu vine is considered as the fast-growing plant since the 30s and 40s. It was basically used to prevent soil erosion resulting due to deforestation, mainly in the south. However, the vine soon became invasive as it started to out-compete the local plants for nutrients and sunlight.  

It is an invasive species that is terrorizing the local plants all over the Southeastern United States and is paving its way towards Indiana. The Kudzu can overtake and grow over anything that comes in its path. The plant can spread through rhizomes, runners, and vines, which root at the nodes to produce novel plants.  

Its tendency to grow briskly, and thrive in the regions with low availability of nitrogen, and to attain resources briskly, permits them to out-compete the local species. In supplementation of possessing the tendencies to acquire nutrients and dispersing quickly, these plants also possess the tendency to move in response to the movement of the Sun so that they can enhance their photosynthetic efficiency.  

It acts as a structural parasite, that is, it grows on the top of the other plants to attain light. Its tendency to disperse briskly and reproduce permits it to quickly cover trees, shrubs, and forests, and thus, prevents the rays from reaching the plants underneath it. Hence, it completely eliminates or reduces their photosynthetic efficiency.