invasive species invasive species plant fungus animal species native specific location introduced species tendency spread degree believed cause damage environment human economy human health study pointed widely perceptions criteria invasive species researchers concerns term invasive alternate term term applies introduced species called non indigenous non native adversely affect habitats invade economically environmentally invasive species plants animals disrupt dominating region wilderness areas particular habitats urban interface land loss natural controls predators includes non native invasive plant species labeled exotic pest plants invasive growing native plant communities sense government organizations conservation groups european_union defines invasive alien species firstly outside natural distribution area secondly threaten biological diversity land managers researchers public vine grass yellow examples alternate usage term include indigenous native species non native species natural areas deer example considered native zones adjacent suburban gardens regions united_states term describe non native introduced species widespread introduced species adverse effects environment example common found united_states rarely high causes scientists include ecosystem factors mechanisms combined establish newly introduced species species based mechanisms species compete survive invasive species appear specific traits specific combinations traits allow native species cases competition rates growth reproduction cases species interact directly researchers disagree traits markers study found list invasive species invasive species identified traits study found invasive species tended small presumed traits similar traits found species requiring explanations common invasive species traits include following fast growth rapid reproduction high dispersal ability ability alter growth form suit current conditions tolerance wide range environmental conditions ecological ability live wide range food types association humans prior successful invasions typically introduced species survive low population invasive new location low population difficult introduced species reproduce maintain new location species reach location multiple times established repeated patterns human movement ships sailing ports cars driving highways offer repeated opportunities establishment known high pressure introduced species invasive native species resources nutrients light physical space water food species evolved great competition predation new environment host fewer able competitors allowing quickly ecosystems capacity native species modeled zero sum systems gain loss native competitive superiority extinction native species increased populations rule invasive species native species extended time gradually superior competitive ability invasive species apparent population grows larger new location invasive species able use resources previously unavailable native species deep water sources accessed long ability live previously soil types example barbed introduced california soils low water retention low nutrient levels high calcium ratio possible heavy metal plant populations soils tend low density form dense stands soils crowd native species adapted poorly soils invasive species environment releasing chemical compounds modifying factors affecting behaviour creating positive negative impact species species like produce compounds effect competing species species like recruitment species arid environments providing appropriate conditions preventing early stages development examples yellow eastern european spread western west_coast states experiments chemical produced root negative effect plants evolved evolved native plants evolved defenses appear native habitats overwhelmingly successful competitors success lack success habitat necessarily imply success conversely examining habitats species successful reveal novel weapons defeat changes fire form originally highly fire adapted spreads rapidly burning increases frequency intensity heat fires providing large amounts dry fire season western north_america areas widespread altered local fire native plants survive frequent fires allowing extend maintain dominance introduced range occurs species physically habitat ways species example increase habitat complexity lake floors providing invertebrates live increase complexity nutrition provided waste products filter feeding increases density diversity benthic communities ecosystem based mechanisms ecosystems available resources extent resources organisms determines effects additional species ecosystem stable ecosystems exists use available resources mechanisms describe situation ecosystem suffered disturbance changes fundamental nature ecosystem changes forest fire occur normal succession favors native grasses introduced species spread faster natives use resources available native species nitrogen limiting factors situations species occupies niche native ecosystem species fill large varied roles highly specialized invading species fill native species create new example type found species ecosystem changes alter species example edge effects describe happens ecosystem disturbed land cleared agriculture boundary remaining habitat newly cleared land forms distinct habitat creating new winners possibly hosting species thrive outside boundary habitat interesting finding studies invasive species shown introduced populations great potential rapid adaptation explain introduced species able establish invasive new environments founder effects cause great decrease population size individuals begin opposed conversion actually lead increased founding populations allows rapid evolution following invasion events selection initially act capacity disperse tolerance new environment adaptation proceeds respond selective pressures new environment responses likely temperature climate change presence native species predator prey adaptations include changes morphology physiology rapid evolution species leads offspring higher fitness better suited environment pre adaptation post introduction evolution major factors evolution populations allows room changes better suit individual environment key evolution main goal best suited ecosystem species introduced ability accomplish quickly possible lead population high fitness pre adaptations evolution initial introduction play role success introduced species species adapted similar ecosystem contains traits happen suited area introduced likely fare better new environment addition evolution takes place introduction determine species able established new ecosystem reproduce thrive ecology traits invaded ecosystems claimed ecosystems higher species diversity subject invasive species fewer available later pointed highly diverse heavily invaded ecosystems argued ecosystems high species diversity susceptible invasion debate spatial scale invasion studies performed issue diversity affects remained unresolved small scale studies tended negative relationship diversity invasion large scale studies tended reverse result effect ability capitalize increased resource availability weaker species interactions common larger samples considered invasion likely ecosystems similar potential evolved island ecosystems prone invasion species faced strong competitors predators distance species populations makes likely open example phenomenon native bird populations guam invasive brown tree snake conversely invaded ecosystems lack natural competitors predators check growth native ecosystems invaded ecosystems experienced disturbance typically human induced disturbance invasive species chance establish competition natives able adapt disturbed ecosystem non native species including invasions associated human activity natural range extensions common species rate magnitude human extensions species tend larger natural extensions humans typically carry specimens greater distances natural forces early human occurred prehistoric humans introduced pacific rat include plants seeds imported pet trade moves animals borders escape invasive organisms away transport vehicles ballast water taken sea released port vessels largest non native aquatic species invasions world average day different species aquatic life transported vessels example freshwater native black seas probably reached ballast water vessel invasion noted plan successfully implemented shortly plan continued flaw ships loaded cargo reach need tested transfer ballast ports arrival invasive new site function site species introduced intentionally example feel home american colonists formed societies repeatedly imported birds native europe north_america distant lands postal workers pennsylvania noticed noises coming inside box taiwan box contained dozen live beetles identified beetle hercules beetle king beetle species native threatened native ecosystems prevent exotic species problem special handling permits required living materials shipped foreign countries programs attempt prevent exotic species america economics plays major role exotic species introduction high demand valuable chinese crab explanation possible intentional release species foreign waters impacts invasive species exploit disturbances ecosystem roads foot trails area large soils adding variety nutrients resulting free entrenched species lose advantage leaving room circumstances plants roots advantage non natives ability benefit low intensity fire burns removes surface vegetation leaving natives rely seeds propagation find occupied seeds finally impact suppression spreading occur remote areas needing fire suppression crews travel forest reach site crews bring invasive seeds seeds established thriving colony weeks controlling outbreak need years continued attention prevent spread disturbing soil surface cutting destroys native cover soil accelerate invasions suburban urban interface areas vegetation clearance brush removal municipalities space result excessive removal native shrubs soil light competition invasive plant species fire suppression vehicles major vehicles driven roads invasive plant species vehicle prime vessel transport response large fires washing stations vehicles engaging suppression activities large attract firefighters remote places increasing potential seed transport effects ecological land clearing human significant pressure local species disturbed habitats prone invasions adverse effects local ecosystems changing ecosystem functions species wetland plant known hawaii indigenous regarded pest species artificially manipulated water bird quickly covers shallow established endangered hawaiian making undesirable feeding areas birds multiple successive introductions different non native species interactive effects introduction second non native species enable invasive species flourish examples introductions gem european green crab gem introduced california harbor east_coast united_states century ago found small quantities harbor displaced native species mid-1990s introduction european green crab found prey native resulted decline native increase introduced populations region south_africa cattle grazing past centuries allowed invasive small trees displace original grassland resulting massive reduction forage native 1970s large scale efforts underway reduce invasive species partial success led establishment species left region examples species blue white invasive species change functions ecosystems example invasive plants alter fire nutrient cycling smooth native ecosystems invasive species closely related rare native species potential native species harmful effects led decline extinction native species example introduced threatens existence california invasive species cause competition native species endangered species endangered species act risk primary effects invasive plants example montana vine native asia widely introduced southeastern usa early 20th century control soil erosion primary effects invasive animals example invasion chinese crab resulted higher rates economic benefits non native species benefits asian example filter water better native grow faster withstand disease better natives currently considering releasing chesapeake_bay help restore stocks remove pollution recent study found asian significantly benefit bay deteriorating water quality additionally species invaded area long ago found beneficial niche environment example shown population genetic analysis invasive species north_america important apple trees bushes costs economic costs invasive species separated direct costs production loss agriculture forestry management costs estimated damage control cost invasive species billion annually economic losses occur loss recreational tourism revenues economic costs invasions calculated production loss management costs low consider environmental damage monetary values assigned extinction species loss biodiversity loss ecosystem services costs impacts invasive species drastically increase following examples different sectors economy demonstrate impact biological invasions economic opportunities invasions offer potential commercial benefits instance silver common harvested human food exported markets familiar product processed pet foods feed water turned fuel invasive species flora fauna introduction habitat native system response movement explores idea eating invasive species order control reduce eliminate populations world begun seeking invasive species alternative ingredients connecticut created invasive species menu world point foreign species entrenched new place virtually taken waters caribbean gulf_of_mexico impossible critics argue encouraging consumption effect spreading harmful species widely proponents argue humans ability eat away species appetite pointing animals humans able hunt extinction bird caribbean monk seal passenger proponents point success jamaica significantly decreasing population encouraging consumption fish plant industry reduce yield agriculture provide essential nutrients deep rooted nutrients dynamic deposit provide habitat beneficial insects provide foods pest species species accidental introductions accompany seeds imported plant material introduced compete native forage plants threaten young cattle spines yellow forage loss invasive amounts nearly billion decline services loss fruit production caused honey bees infected invasive introduced rats farms destroying stored grains invasive plant insect plant diseases suppress agricultural yields nursery stock citrus disease invasive asian citrus impacts disease citrus crops citrus highly regulated areas found common species introductions mainly species economic potential forestry introduction forest pest species plant change forest ecology damage timber industry overall forest ecosystems widely invaded exotic plants asian long beetle introduced expected damage millions acres hardwood trees thirty million dollars spent attempts pest protect millions trees affected regions inflicted damage old growth spruce fir forests damages christmas tree industry chestnut fungus dutch disease plant impacts species forest health problematic invasive plant species eastern north american forests characteristics slightly different surrounding native plants results highly successful species altering composition function native communities forest affects growth rate tree likely alter forest regeneration impact forest composition future tourism recreation invasive species impact outdoor recreation fishing hunting hiking wildlife viewing water based activities damage wide array environmental services important recreation including limited water quality quantity plant animal diversity species abundance states little research performed estimate corresponding economic losses spatial scales regions states parts fill lakes plants fishing boating loud introduced common real estate values affected neighborhoods hawaii health humans previously remote ecosystems exposed exotic diseases hiv wider population introduced birds insects fly serve human introduced chinese crabs carriers asian lung recorded history human diseases malaria yellow fever plague spread recent example introduced disease spread virus killed humans birds mammals reptiles disease agents cholera bacteria agents harmful transported ballast water invasive species accompanying control efforts long term public health implications instance applied treat particular pest species soil surface water biodiversity invasion considered drivers global biodiversity loss increasing tourism particularly true regulated fresh water systems ballast water rules improved situation invasive species drive local native species extinction competitive exclusion niche displacement related native species economic alien invasions result extensive changes structure composition global distribution sites introduction leading ultimately world fauna flora loss biodiversity difficult attribute species invasion scientific studies animal taxa concern impacts invasive species biodiversity consider actual evidence ecological economic relation potential risk genetic pollution native species threatened extinction process genetic pollution genetic pollution leads replacement local result numerical fitness advantage introduced species genetic pollution operate introduction habitat modification bringing previously isolated species contact hybrids resulting rare species abundant species swamp species gene pool apparent morphological observations degree gene flow normal preserves genes example migrating red wolf areas eastern north_carolina red wolf reintroduced study study invasive species biology majority research invasive organisms field ecology geography issue biological invasions especially important study invasive species influenced book ecology invasion animals plants drew limited research disparate fields create picture biological invasions studies invasive species remained sparse 1990s research field experienced large growth continues day research largely consisted field studies concerned terrestrial plants rapid growth field driven need language describe invasive species events despite little standard terminology exists study invasive species lacks official designation commonly referred invasion ecology generally invasion biology lack standard terminology significant problem largely arisen nature field terms numerous disciplines agriculture studies invasive species commonly performed isolation attempt avoid ambiguous vocabulary accompanies discussion invasive species scientific papers proposed new nomenclature system based taxa taxonomy human health economic factors model focused ecological factors model evaluated individual populations entire species classified population based success environment model applied equally indigenous introduced species automatically successful introductions harmful
Invasive species