Invasive species
hideInvasive species is a phrase with several definitions. The first definition expresses the phrase in terms of non-indigenous species (e.g. plants or animals) that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally or ecologically. It has been used in this sense by government organizations as well as conservation groups such as the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
The second definition broadens the boundaries to include both native and non-native species that heavily colonize a particular habitat.
The third definition is an expansion of the first and defines an invasive species as a widespread non-indigenous species. This last definition is arguably too broad as not all non-indigenous species necessarily have an adverse effect on their adopted environment. An example of this broader use would include the claim that the common goldfish (Carassius auratus) is invasive. Although it is common outside its range globally, it almost never appears in harmful densities.
Because of the ambiguity of its definition, the phrase invasive species is often criticized as an imprecise term within the field of ecology. This article concerns the first two definitions; for the third, see introduced species.
For more information about Invasive species, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with invasive species
Report documents the risks of giant invasive snakes in the US
Oct 13, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (10) |
4
Five giant non-native snake species would pose high risks to the health of ecosystems in the United States should they become established here, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report released today.
Alien lionfish swarm N.C. coast
Apr 23, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (7) |
0
A handful of ravenous, venomous lionfish, a species native to the western Pacific, were spotted off North Carolina in 2000. Turns out they like it here. A lot.
Aussie meat ants may be invasive cane toad's Achilles' heel
Mar 30, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (6) |
0
Ecologists in Australia have discovered that cane toads are far more susceptible to being killed and eaten by meat ants than native frogs. Their research - published in the British Ecological Society's journal Functional Ec ...
Reservoirs promote spread of aquatic invasive species
Oct 15, 2008 |
3.3 / 5 (8) |
2
(PhysOrg.com) -- The latest "damming" evidence suggests that manmade reservoirs are facilitating the spread of invasive species in Wisconsin lakes.
When ants attack: Researchers recreate chemicals that trigger aggression
Oct 27, 2009 |
5 / 5 (5) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Experiments led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have demonstrated that normally friendly ants can turn against each other by exploiting the chemical cues they use ...
Native Lizards Evolve to Escape Attacks by Fire Ants
Biology /
Jan 20, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (5) |
4
(PhysOrg.com) -- Penn State Assistant Professor of Biology Tracy Langkilde has shown that native fence lizards in the southeastern United States are adapting to potentially fatal invasive fire-ant attacks ...
While the cat's away: How removing an invasive species devastated a World Heritage island
Biology /
Jan 12, 2009 |
5 / 5 (4) |
7
Removing an invasive species from sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, a World Heritage Site, has caused environmental devastation that will cost more than A$24 million to remedy, ecologists have revealed. Writing in the new issue ...
Environmental economist says invasive species is part of the price of doing business
Feb 14, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
0
When the sun rides low on the horizon and winter chills wrap us all in down and fleece, global trade brings blueberries from South America, oranges from Israel. But trade in exotic goods also comes with significant local ...
Beneficial plant 'spillover' effect seen from landscape corridors
May 20, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Research by a North Carolina State University biologist and colleagues shows that using landscape corridors, the "superhighways" that connect isolated patches of habitat, to protect certain plants has a large ...
From pythons to fungus, species invading US
Jul 08, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
0
(AP) -- A pet Burmese python broke out of a glass cage last week and killed a 2-year-old girl in her Florida bedroom. The tragedy became the latest and most graphic example of a problem that has plagued the ...
Seeing the tree from the forest: Predicting the future of plant communities
Aug 21, 2009 |
3.3 / 5 (4) |
0
The ability to envisage the future may be closer than you would think. A recent paper by Sean Hammond and Karl Niklas in the August 2009 issue of the American Journal of Botany presents an algorithm that m ...
Volcanic eruption takes toll on Galapagos wildlife
Apr 16, 2009 |
5 / 5 (2) |
0
A volcanic eruption over the weekend has taken a toll on the wildlife of the ecologically-fragile Galapagos Islands, causing the deaths of numerous fish and various sea lions, said officials on Thursday.
Establishing healthy shrubs not the water-consuming task many think, research shows
Sep 24, 2009 |
4 / 5 (2) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Good news for your utility bills and the environment: New University of Florida research shows that landscape shrubs need much less water to establish healthy roots than you might expect.
Study predicts when invasive species can travel more readily by air
Biology /
Feb 25, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
Global airlines be forewarned: June 2010 could be a busy month for invasive plants, insects and animals seeking free rides to distant lands.
UW-Madison undergraduates make unwelcome discovery in Lake Mendota
Sep 16, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- On Sept. 11, a standard cruise on Lake Mendota's University Bay began for students in University of Wisconsin-Madison's Zoology 315, a course that introduces them to the study of lakes. With the sampling ...
