A family released their pet fish family into a local pond. The fish had no known local population. The impact of the fish on the ecosystem is not yet known. Which term would best define the fish added to the pond?

A species moved by people to a place where it did not previously live is an introduced species. The fish were released into the pond and had no known local population, so “introduced species” best describes them. “Invasive species” would suggest they are causing harm or spreading in a damaging way, and their impact is not yet known.

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