Question

How did the exchange of plants and animals alter the environment?

Answer 1

The Columbian exchange which is also known as the Columbian interchange is named after Christopher Columbus. It was the widespread transfer of the plants, animals, culture and the human populations, Invasive species, including some communicable diseases, were also the byproduct of the exchange.

Complete answer:
When Christopher Columbus and his crew members arrived in the New World from the old world, two biologically distinct worlds came into contact. The animal, plant, and the bacterial life of these two worlds began to get mixed in a process which is called the Columbian Exchange. The results of this following exchange then recasts the biology of both of the regions & it then altered the history of the world.
About 120 million years ago, they believed that this landmass began to separate. As this happened, the Atlantic Ocean came to be formed, dividing the Americas from Africa and Eurasia. Over the time period of the next few million years in both the areas of Americas & in Afro-Eurasia, biological evolution was then followed by the individual paths, creating two primarily separate biological worlds. However, when Christopher Columbus & his crew made land in the Bahamas in theOctober of 1492, these two long-separated worlds were then reunited. Columbus’ voyage, to the new world along with the many voyages which were then followed, normally disrupted much of these existing biological segregation which was brought about by continental drift.
After Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, the animal, plants, and the bacterial life of these two worlds then began to mix. This process was first studied in a comprehensive manner by an American historian named Alfred Crosby, which was then named as the Columbian Exchange. By reuniting formerly biologically distinct land masses, the Columbian Exchange then had dramatic & lasting effects on the new world.

Note: New diseases were then introduced to American populations which had no prior experience of them. The results were very devastating. These populations also were then introduced to new weeds and pests, livestock, and pets.