Invasive Species
Dealing with invasive species can be a real drag
There’s a silver lining – it’s invasive species scientists!
USGS Invasive Species Research
Improving Detection, Awareness, Decision Support, and Control
USGS Science Helps Managers Battle Invasive Carps
Environmental DNA Sheds Light on Invasive Species
Hurricanes Can Spread Invasive Species if They Survive the Ride
Invasive Zebra Mussels Found in Pet Stores in 21 States
Invasive species represent a major threat to wildlife and landscapes, while also having negative economic and human health impacts. Every year, harm caused by invasive species costs governments, industries, and private citizens substantial economic losses reaching into the billions of dollars.
What Are Invasive Species?
Every plant and animal species has a native range where it evolved. When a species exists in a location beyond its natural range, it is considered a “non-native” species in that area. When a non-native species establishes and begins to cause harm to its new environment or to humans in that area, it becomes “invasive”. Invasive species can be introduced either intentionally or accidentally, and increased global travel and trade provide pathways for their spread. Thousands of non-native species are now established in the United States, posing risks to human and wildlife health, native plants and animals, and our valued ecosystems.
“The cost of invasive species impacts everyone. Farmers, ranchers, businesses, and local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal governments are all working to control the economic, health, and environmental threats these invaders pose. USGS science is supporting their work with science that delivers reliable information about invasive species below the waterline and, increasingly, above ground.” - Cynthia Tam, USGS Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program Coordinator
The annual environmental, economic, and health-related costs of invasive species are substantial. Invasive species can drive native species onto the endangered species list, resulting in associated regulatory costs; exacerbate the threat of wildfires, which destroy property and threaten lives; increase the cost of delivering water and power; damage infrastructure; and degrade recreation opportunities and discourage tourism. The annual estimated economic and health-related costs of invasive species in the U.S. have been reported at more than $21 billion and adversely affect every state in the country.
Invasive Species We Study
The USGS works with federal, state, tribal, and territorial agencies to provide information and tools that help solve problems posed by invasive species across the country. Key components of USGS invasive species science include developing tools that improve prevention, forecasting, early detection, monitoring, and control of invasive species.
What’s Invasive Where You Live?
Every invasive species has a native range, a place where it evolved alongside other organisms in that area and is a natural part of the ecosystem. But when a non-native species gets introduced to a new area, it can harm the native wildlife, economies, ecosystems, and human communities. For example, brook trout, a popular sport fish, are native to the eastern U.S. and Canada. In the 1800s, brook trout were intentionally introduced to the western U.S. to expand fishing opportunities. The species thrived in the West, at the cost of native fish. Introduced brook trout were likely responsible for the collapse of Lahontan cutthroat trout in Lake Tahoe in the 1940s and are contributing to the decline of the native cutthroat trout and bull trout in the northern Rocky Mountains. Due to these harmful effects on native fish, brook trout are considered invasive outside of their native range.
Swipe through for examples of invasive species in different regions of the country. And remember, what’s invasive in one region may be native (and not harmful) in another! Also, some of these species are invasive in many regions. If you’re interested in learning about the current geographic range of the species featured below, check out this resource.
Invasive Species and Climate Change
Changing climate conditions have bearing on every aspect of biological invasions, in some cases worsening existing problems. Climate change is creating new pathways for invasive species to be introduced, such as new shipping routes that open up as sea ice retreats. Warmer temperatures can allow existing invasive species to expand their range into habitat that was once too cool for them. Similarly, impacts to native species and people may change if changing climate conditions affect invasive species abundance. Climate change may also make existing invasive species control tools less effective, such as aquatic barriers that require minimum water flows.
Our scientists are examining how climate change is affecting the spread of invasive species. USGS research is uncovering how the combination of invasive species and climate change threaten treefrogs in Florida and native trout in the northern Rocky Mountains; how warmer winters support the northward expansion of tropical invasive plants in the Southeast; and the role of warming temperatures on cheatgrass invasions on the Colorado Plateau.
USGS scientists are also helping natural resource managers integrate the latest climate science into invasive species prevention, early detection, control, and monitoring activities. These decision-support activities are carried out through the USGS co-founded Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network. Learn more about RISCC>>
Tools & Techniques
Learn about some of the tools and techniques that USGS scientists are implementing and developing to help managers detect, monitor, and control the spread of invasive species.
Science
Sources of Recurring Outbreaks of Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife) Near the Mouth of the Mississippi River
INHABIT: A web tool for invasive plant management across the contiguous United States
Assessing the Proliferation, Connectivity, and Consequences of Invasive Fine Fuels on the Sagebrush Biome
Impacts of Exotic Annual Grass Invasion, Wildfire, and Restoration on Carbon Storage in the Sagebrush Steppe
A citizen science program for brown treesnake removal and native species recovery at a National Historical Park in Guam
The science listed below is a sampling of USGS science on this topic and does not represent an exhaustive list.
Sources of Recurring Outbreaks of Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife) Near the Mouth of the Mississippi River
INHABIT: A web tool for invasive plant management across the contiguous United States
Assessing the Proliferation, Connectivity, and Consequences of Invasive Fine Fuels on the Sagebrush Biome
Impacts of Exotic Annual Grass Invasion, Wildfire, and Restoration on Carbon Storage in the Sagebrush Steppe
A citizen science program for brown treesnake removal and native species recovery at a National Historical Park in Guam
Assessing Risk Communication in the Pet and Aquarium Trade: An Analysis of Outreach and Engagement Efforts
Future Aquatic Invaders of the Northeast U.S.: How Climate Change, Human Vectors, and Natural History Could Bring Southern and Western Species North
Multi-year Burmese Python Vital Rate Research Collaborative in the Greater Everglades
Laboratory Investigations with Fish Species to Assist with Implementing Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program’s Ecological Management Action Plans
Invasive Species We Study: Invasive Carp
Invasive Species We Study: Sea Lamprey
Invasive Carp Control: Acoustic Deterrents
Invasive species represent a major threat to wildlife and landscapes, while also having negative economic and human health impacts. Every year, harm caused by invasive species costs governments, industries, and private citizens substantial economic losses reaching into the billions of dollars.
What Are Invasive Species?
Every plant and animal species has a native range where it evolved. When a species exists in a location beyond its natural range, it is considered a “non-native” species in that area. When a non-native species establishes and begins to cause harm to its new environment or to humans in that area, it becomes “invasive”. Invasive species can be introduced either intentionally or accidentally, and increased global travel and trade provide pathways for their spread. Thousands of non-native species are now established in the United States, posing risks to human and wildlife health, native plants and animals, and our valued ecosystems.
“The cost of invasive species impacts everyone. Farmers, ranchers, businesses, and local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal governments are all working to control the economic, health, and environmental threats these invaders pose. USGS science is supporting their work with science that delivers reliable information about invasive species below the waterline and, increasingly, above ground.” - Cynthia Tam, USGS Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program Coordinator
The annual environmental, economic, and health-related costs of invasive species are substantial. Invasive species can drive native species onto the endangered species list, resulting in associated regulatory costs; exacerbate the threat of wildfires, which destroy property and threaten lives; increase the cost of delivering water and power; damage infrastructure; and degrade recreation opportunities and discourage tourism. The annual estimated economic and health-related costs of invasive species in the U.S. have been reported at more than $21 billion and adversely affect every state in the country.
Invasive Species We Study
The USGS works with federal, state, tribal, and territorial agencies to provide information and tools that help solve problems posed by invasive species across the country. Key components of USGS invasive species science include developing tools that improve prevention, forecasting, early detection, monitoring, and control of invasive species.
What’s Invasive Where You Live?
Every invasive species has a native range, a place where it evolved alongside other organisms in that area and is a natural part of the ecosystem. But when a non-native species gets introduced to a new area, it can harm the native wildlife, economies, ecosystems, and human communities. For example, brook trout, a popular sport fish, are native to the eastern U.S. and Canada. In the 1800s, brook trout were intentionally introduced to the western U.S. to expand fishing opportunities. The species thrived in the West, at the cost of native fish. Introduced brook trout were likely responsible for the collapse of Lahontan cutthroat trout in Lake Tahoe in the 1940s and are contributing to the decline of the native cutthroat trout and bull trout in the northern Rocky Mountains. Due to these harmful effects on native fish, brook trout are considered invasive outside of their native range.
Swipe through for examples of invasive species in different regions of the country. And remember, what’s invasive in one region may be native (and not harmful) in another! Also, some of these species are invasive in many regions. If you’re interested in learning about the current geographic range of the species featured below, check out this resource.
Invasive Species and Climate Change
Changing climate conditions have bearing on every aspect of biological invasions, in some cases worsening existing problems. Climate change is creating new pathways for invasive species to be introduced, such as new shipping routes that open up as sea ice retreats. Warmer temperatures can allow existing invasive species to expand their range into habitat that was once too cool for them. Similarly, impacts to native species and people may change if changing climate conditions affect invasive species abundance. Climate change may also make existing invasive species control tools less effective, such as aquatic barriers that require minimum water flows.
Our scientists are examining how climate change is affecting the spread of invasive species. USGS research is uncovering how the combination of invasive species and climate change threaten treefrogs in Florida and native trout in the northern Rocky Mountains; how warmer winters support the northward expansion of tropical invasive plants in the Southeast; and the role of warming temperatures on cheatgrass invasions on the Colorado Plateau.
USGS scientists are also helping natural resource managers integrate the latest climate science into invasive species prevention, early detection, control, and monitoring activities. These decision-support activities are carried out through the USGS co-founded Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network. Learn more about RISCC>>
Tools & Techniques
Learn about some of the tools and techniques that USGS scientists are implementing and developing to help managers detect, monitor, and control the spread of invasive species.
Science
Sources of Recurring Outbreaks of Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife) Near the Mouth of the Mississippi River
INHABIT: A web tool for invasive plant management across the contiguous United States
Assessing the Proliferation, Connectivity, and Consequences of Invasive Fine Fuels on the Sagebrush Biome
Impacts of Exotic Annual Grass Invasion, Wildfire, and Restoration on Carbon Storage in the Sagebrush Steppe
A citizen science program for brown treesnake removal and native species recovery at a National Historical Park in Guam
The science listed below is a sampling of USGS science on this topic and does not represent an exhaustive list.