According to a new study, the endangered species of tortoise called Galapagos have been eating invasive plants that are beneficial for their health.

Although the invasive species are known to be detrimental to the environment and often ruin good ecosystems, yet a study, which was conducted by the researchers from the Washington University, published in the journal Biophilia, has found invasive species of plants to be helping environment.

An honorary research scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, and the lead author of the study, Stephen Blake, said, "Biodiversity conservation is a huge problem confronting managers on the Galapagos Islands. Eradicating the more than 750 species of invasive plants is all but impossible and even control is difficult. Fortunately, tortoise conservation seems to be compatible with the presence of some introduced species".

To carry out the study, the researchers attached GPS devices on Galapagos tortoises in Santa Cruz, and followed the animals for 4 years. They also went through their dungs in order to get the seeds to precisely measure food intake.

As a part of the study, a veterinarian regularly weighed the animals and took their blood samples.

Researchers found that the animals regularly moved between highland meadows, offering food year-round, and lowlands, where food grows only during the wet season.

According to the researchers such a behavior of the Galapagos tortoises was unusual, as they can go a year between meals. They wondered that why the tortoises expend energy on moving between the two regions when they could easily wait out for the dry season.

Soon, they found that the Galapagos tortoises actually preferred the invasive plants as compared to the native foliage and thus, in turn, the invasive plants are a good source of nutrition for the reptiles.