Invasive aquatic, plant, animal & microbial species disrupt local ecological systems, causing negative impacts for local flora & fauna, posing economic threats, and destabilizing systems.
Benefits & Problems Addressed
Track climate change: Invasive species are an indicator of climate change as animal & plants invade new territory once unsuitable.
Forecast, prevent & manage impacts: Forecasting outbreaks & expanded ranges helps states & localities take proactive steps to limit the spread of plants, animals & microbes. Preventing outbreaks reduced the need for pesticides.
Reduce risk to humans: Impacts range from minor disruptions to threat to human health.
Tips & Techniques
Common threats: (1) Threats to crops from invasive weeds & insect damage, (2) Wildfire damage from destabilized soil & natural ground cover loss, (3) Disease from introduced species and expanded range with climate change, (4) Tourism losses
Management strategies:(1) Prevention by limiting entry at ports, airlines and shipments; (2) Early detection via monitoring, inspections & tracking; (3) Limiting vectors & vector habitat; (4) Outreach to engage the public.
Community actions: Members of the public can help with limiting invasive species by avoiding the planting of invasives. Many communities have weed removal days and enlist the public to report the spread of invasives with new apps.
Applying technology: The EDDMapS is a web-based/mobile app mapping system for documenting invasive species distribution created at the University of Georgia.
Resources
National Invasive Species Information Center
Global Invasive Species Team: The Nature Conservancy