Glossary
Argentine Ant
A highly invasive ant species native to South America, known for forming massive supercolonies that outcompete native ant species and disrupt local ecosystems.
Example:
In California, the Argentine ant has displaced native ant species, which in turn negatively impacts native horned lizards that rely on those native ants for food.
Asian Carp
Several species of carp introduced to North America, known for their rapid reproduction and consumption of large amounts of plankton, outcompeting native fish.
Example:
The prolific feeding of Asian carp can strip a waterway of the plankton that forms the base of the food web for many native fish species.
Biological Control
A method of invasive species management that involves introducing natural predators, pathogens, or competitors from the invasive species' native range to control its population.
Example:
The introduction of the Cactoblastis moth larvae to Australia was an attempt at biological control to manage the invasive prickly pear cactus.
Burmese Python
A large constrictor snake native to Southeast Asia, introduced to the Florida Everglades, where it has become a top predator severely impacting native mammal populations.
Example:
The Burmese python has decimated populations of raccoons, opossums, and even deer in the Everglades, leading to significant ecological imbalance.
Cane Toads
Large, toxic amphibians native to Central and South America, introduced to Australia as a biological control agent for sugarcane pests, but became a major invasive species.
Example:
The toxic skin of cane toads has led to significant declines in native Australian predators, like quolls and snakes, that attempt to eat them.
Chemical Control
The use of pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals to kill or inhibit the growth of invasive species.
Example:
Applying a targeted herbicide can help manage invasive Japanese knotweed populations, though care must be taken to avoid harming non-target native plants.
Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR)
A proactive strategy involving monitoring for new invasive species and taking swift action to eradicate them before they become widely established and cause significant harm.
Example:
When a new population of Asian carp is detected in a waterway, an EDRR team might quickly deploy nets or electrofishing to remove them before they can reproduce and spread further.
Ecological Impacts
The negative effects invasive species have on natural ecosystems, including reducing biodiversity, altering food webs, and changing ecosystem processes like nutrient cycling or water flow.
Example:
When zebra mussels invade a lake, their efficient filter-feeding can remove so much plankton that it starves native fish and other aquatic organisms, fundamentally changing the food web.
Economic Impacts
The financial costs incurred due to invasive species, such as damage to agriculture, forestry, and infrastructure, as well as expenses for control and eradication efforts.
Example:
Zebra mussels can cause millions of dollars in damage by clogging water intake pipes for power plants and municipal water systems, requiring costly maintenance and repairs.
European Starling
A bird species introduced to the United States from Europe, known for aggressively outcompeting native birds for nesting sites and food resources.
Example:
The aggressive nesting habits of the European starling can displace native cavity-nesting birds like bluebirds from their preferred habitats.
Giant Hogweed
A large, invasive plant introduced as an ornamental, known for outcompeting native vegetation and causing severe skin reactions in humans upon contact with its sap.
Example:
Public health warnings are often issued about Giant Hogweed due to its phototoxic sap, which can cause painful blisters and burns when exposed to sunlight.
Habitat Modification
Altering the environment to make it less suitable for invasive species and more favorable for native species.
Example:
Restoring native plant communities and removing disturbed areas can make a habitat less hospitable for invasive weeds like Giant Hogweed that thrive in disturbed soils.
Human Health Impacts
The direct or indirect negative effects of invasive species on human well-being, which can include increasing the risk of new diseases or causing allergic reactions.
Example:
Some invasive mosquito species, thriving in new environments, can introduce or amplify the spread of diseases like West Nile virus to human populations.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A comprehensive approach to pest control that combines various methods, including biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools, to minimize environmental impact and maximize effectiveness.
Example:
An IPM strategy for agricultural pests might involve planting pest-resistant crops, introducing beneficial insects, and only using targeted pesticides as a last resort.
Invasive Species
A non-native organism that establishes, spreads, and causes harm to the environment, economy, or human health in its new habitat. They often outcompete native species due to a lack of natural predators or diseases.
Example:
The introduction of the Burmese python to the Florida Everglades, likely from released pets, has led to a drastic decline in native mammal populations due to predation.
Japanese Knotweed
An invasive plant introduced as an ornamental, known for its aggressive growth, ability to outcompete native plants, and capacity to cause structural damage to infrastructure.
Example:
The strong root system of Japanese knotweed can penetrate concrete and asphalt, causing significant damage to roads, foundations, and drainage systems.
Kudzu
A fast-growing vine native to Asia, introduced to the southeastern U.S. for erosion control, but now known for smothering native vegetation and trees.
Example:
Often called 'the vine that ate the South,' kudzu can grow over a foot a day, completely covering and shading out entire forests.
Physical Removal
A direct control method for invasive species that involves manually or mechanically removing individuals or populations from an area.
Example:
Volunteer groups often organize 'kudzu busts' where they engage in hand-pulling or cutting back the rapidly growing kudzu vine to prevent it from smothering native trees.
Prevention
Strategies aimed at stopping invasive species from being introduced or establishing in new areas, often considered the most effective and cost-efficient approach.
Example:
Strict quarantine and inspection of imported goods at ports helps prevent the accidental introduction of pests or pathogens that could become invasive.
Zebra Mussels
Small freshwater bivalve mollusks native to Eastern Europe, accidentally introduced to North America, known for rapidly colonizing surfaces and disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
Example:
Boaters in the Great Lakes are encouraged to clean and drain their vessels to prevent the spread of zebra mussels to new bodies of water.