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An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage.
- Overview
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An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area. Invasive species can cause great economic and environmental harm to the new area.
Not all non-native species are invasive. For example, most of the food crops grown in the United States, including popular varieties of wheat, tomatoes, and rice, are not native to the region.
Some species are brought to a new area on purpose. Often, these species are introduced as a form of pest control. Other times, introduced species are brought in as pets or decorative displays. People and businesses that import these species do not anticipate the consequences. Even scientists are not always sure how a species will adapt to a new env...
Invasive species sometimes thrive because there are no predators that hunt them in the new location. Brown tree snakes were accidentally brought to Guam, an island in the South Pacific, in the late 1940s or early 1950s. No animals on Guam hunted the snakes, but the island was filled with birds, rodents, and other small animals that the snakes hunt....
Many invasive species destroy habitat, the places where other plants and animals naturally live. Nutria are large rodents native to South America. Ranchers brought them to North America in the 1900s, hoping to raise them for their fur. Some nutria were released into the wild when the ranchers failed. Today, they are a major pest in the Gulf Coast a...
Some invasive species do great harm to the economy. Water hyacinth is a plant native to South America that has become an invasive species in many parts of the world. People often introduce the plant, which grows in the water, because of its pretty flowers. But the plant spreads quickly, often choking out native wildlife. In Lake Victoria, Uganda, w...
Invasive species can also damage property. Small zebra mussels clog the cooling systems in boat engines, while larger ones have damaged water pipes at power plants throughout the Great Lakes region.
Sometimes other species are introduced to help control an invasive species. In Australia, prickly pear cactus, which is native to the Americas, was growing out of control. The cactus was destroying rangeland, where ranchers raised livestock. The government brought in cactus moth caterpillars to eat the cactuses. The caterpillars are natural predato...
Introducing insects can be dangerous, however. Sometimes, the insects also damage other plant speciesthey can become invasive species themselves. Chemicals have also been used to control invasive species, but they can sometimes harm noninvasive plants and animals.
Governments are working to educate the public about invasive species. For example, in the United States, international fishing vessels are warned to wash their boats before returning home. This prevents them from accidentally transporting zebra mussels or other species from one body of water to another.
Sometimes, communities approach invasive species like an invading army. Nutria in Chesapeake Bay destroy the natural habitat, as well as cost local governments and businesses millions of dollars each year. Environmental groups, business leaders, and government officials are concerned about the harm done by this invasive species.
Learn what invasive species are, how they harm the environment and economy, and how they are controlled. Find out about examples of invasive species, such as zebra mussels, Burmese pythons, and water hyacinth.
Jul 7, 2024 · Learn what invasive species are, how they are introduced to new habitats, and why they cause ecological and economic problems. Explore the history and examples of invasive species in different regions of the world, such as Australia, Hawaii, and the Pacific islands.
- John P. Rafferty
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May 24, 2023 · Learn about invasive alien species, their impacts and how to prevent and manage them. Find news, events, data, guidelines and tools from IUCN and its partners.
Learn what invasive species are, how they spread, and why they are harmful to the environment and human health. Find official and standardized terminology, resource search, and species profiles on this website.
Jun 5, 2019 · Learn what invasive species are, how they harm native ecosystems, and how they are controlled. Explore examples of invasive plants, animals, and insects from different regions and habitats.
The world's most widespread invasive species. © DAVID FETTES/GETTY IMAGES. Issue: Summer 2024. With its six violet petals, yellow “eye,” and glossy leaves, the water hyacinth makes quite an impression. Also impressive: A cluster of these plants can double in size every two weeks.
