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Invasive SpeciesInvasive species are organisms not native to a region that are introduced and harm the local ecosystem. Their populations in new environments often grow exponentially due to a lack of natural predators. This allows them to outcompete native organisms for resources, disrupting food webs, altering natural habitats and nutrient cycles, and reducing biodiversity. While many species have naturally migrated to new regions over time due to various factors (e.g., droughts), invasive species only account for about 1% of non-native organisms. However, humans have deliberately and accidentally accelerated the rate of invasive species introductions through trade and travel. This has led to invasive species causing $423B in damage globally each year and contributing to 60% of recorded plant and animal extinctions. Preventive measures, such as trade restrictions and border inspections, have helped lower the instances of invasive species. The National Invasive Species Council and its international counterparts also work to control the spread of invasive species and reverse their impacts.Explore Invasive Species

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Conservation officer dogs to detect invasive species CTV News Plastic debris across the ocean aids the spread of invasive speciesThe durable, long-lasting material can serve as a platform for living organisms to latch onto and ride over vast distances. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a large dock carrying 100 tons of living organisms native to Japan washed up on Oregon's coastline, confirming the ecological threat. VICE News Environmental DNA monitoring can help detect the presence of invasive speciesGenetic material that organisms deposit into water, soil, or air can be identified by analyzing samples from each environment, allowing land managers to more reliably detect and track organisms than visual surveys alone. eDNA has been used to develop early warning surveillance systems for various invasive marine species. USGS Invasivorism is a form of ethical eating focused on eating invasive speciesThe culinary approach helps combat the growth of invasive species populations by increasing demand for dishes made with them, but some suggest that creating a market for these species may help prolong their presence by moderating control. Some diners have expressed reluctance toward consuming more exotic species, such as nutria—raccoon-sized rodents. Popular Science Some invasive species can provide benefits to ecosystems over timeIn the 1990s, round gobies were introduced into the Great Lakes, rapidly spreading and competing with local sculpin and logperch. However, Lake Erie watersnakes, which were on the endangered species list, shifted their diet to be almost entirely made up of the plentiful round gobies, contributing to their loss of endangered status in 2011. WorldAtlas From 1970 to 2017, invasive species have caused $1.28T in damage globallyThe costliest species were the Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes ($149B), which arrived in the US from Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. The bulk of their damage came from their transmission of diseases such as Zika, chikungunya, and dengue. (Some readers may experience a paywall.) Science News Feral and free-ranging cats rank among the most harmful invasive speciesTransported across the planet by humans, cats can now be found in many environments and are estimated to kill about 2 billion birds each year in the US. Studies suggest cats have contributed to the extinction of at least 63 species worldwide. Kyle Hill View some of the most invasive species in US watersIntroduced in the late 1600s from Eastern Asia, the goldfish is considered the first invasive fish in North America. The venomous lionfish is safe to consume, but catching it is complicated by its reluctance to respond to hook-and-line-style fishing attempts. Fix.com Citizen scientist volunteers can help identify invasive species in wilderness areasLaunched in 2005 by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia, EDDMapS allows users can document invasive species sightings in the US and Canada in a web-based mapping system. As of February 2026, EDDMapS has over 8.6 million records, all freely available for querying. EDDMapS Invasive species are the third biggest threat to Earth's biodiversityAccording to the World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report 2020, changes in land and sea use account for about half of all recorded threats to the diversity of the planet's species. Species overexploitation is the second-largest proportional threat at 24%, while invasive species make up 13%. Visual Capitalist Climate change creates conditions for more invasive speciesIncreasing temperatures shift the conditions native organisms are accustomed to, allowing those from warmer climates to move in with a greater chance of survival. Drought stress can cause invasive plants to absorb less herbicide, limiting the effectiveness of the control method, while melting ice can open new Arctic shipping routes, expanding the transport of species. Columbia Climate School Turning some invasive species into cash crops has helped control their spreadIn Mexico, some companies are transforming sargassum seaweed blooms into paper, bricks, and shoes, while in Cambodia, water hyacinths are dried and woven into baskets, rugs, and other crafts. Lionfish and green crabs have been hunted for culinary dishes, with the latter also being used to make crab whiskey in New England. Business Insider The most effective method of managing invasive species is prevention educationControlling a spread after a species has become established in an area is much more costly and time-consuming than early detection and rapid response. Control methods include the purposeful introduction of predators, the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, and physical collection and removal. National Invasive Species Information Center View the steps you can take to stop invasive speciesIndividuals who are outside should make sure to wash any outdoor gear and equipment with appropriate tools to limit the spread of seeds and other microorganism-carrying debris across locations. Pets, horses, and other animals should be similarly brushed, and firewood should be burned where it is purchased. Mississippi Forestry Commission Invasive species may harm new ecosystems via the spread of diseaseBesides damaging native species through direct interactions such as competition for resources and predation, invasive species may come from environments with greater biodiversity than the new environment. This makes them more likely to carry pathogens unfamiliar to native species, increasing the risk of biodiversity loss. NOAA Invasive species can harm infrastructure and threaten human healthThe wildfires in Hawaii in 2022 were made worse by flammable invasive grasses introduced from Africa as livestock pasture, and Zebra mussels native to the Caspian and Black Seas have spread across Europe and the US, where they can clog power plant pipes. Invasive mosquitoes can carry diseases, such as dengue and malaria. World Economic Forum Most invasive species are spread accidentally by human activityIn the Florida Everglades, Burmese pythons were only found as pets in the 1980s, but their escapes and releases since then have led to a population of hundreds of thousands as of 2024. The spotted lanternfly—native to Asia—was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to about 20 states by hitchhiking. But Why?Humans may be the ultimate invasive speciesOriginating in East Africa, Homo sapiens migrated across the world beginning about 60,000 years ago and directly harmed countless species by consuming resources and modifying ecosystems to serve our needs. While meeting the definition of an invasive species, some ecologists argue the opposite, claiming that humans have helped preserve numerous species. Earth.org Particle accelerators have been used to reveal detailed ant anatomyUsing a synchrotron facility at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, a pair of X-ray beams swept across about 2,200 ant specimens to create over 200 terabytes of projection images from multiple angles. The images were compiled into micrometer-resolution 3D reconstructions of 792 species, which are freely accessible on the Antscan platform. IEEE Spectrum Canine inspectors can help detect potential carriers of invasive insectsAt ports of entry in the US, Customs and Border Protection agents use dogs to sniff for forbidden foods and other items that are known to harbor invasive pests. Agents also physically inspect items such as flowers to prevent entry by species that may harm US agriculture. WUSA9 Two invasive termite species are threatening Florida homesAsian subterranean and Formosan subterranean termites have been found in northern and coastal counties, respectively. About half of all structures in the urban South Florida metropolitan area could be at risk of infestation by one or both species by 2040. Phys.org An invasive, tree-killing beetle may threaten large swaths of AustraliaA Curtin University study warns that large parts of Australia, including major cities and farming regions, could be highly vulnerable to the fast-spreading polyphagous shot hole borer, which releases a fungus that can starve trees of nutrients. The tiny insect has already caused severe damage across the Perth metropolitan area. Phys.org Cane toads are an example of an intentional species introduction turned invasiveIn 1935, Australian scientists imported several hundred cane toads to hunt and eat beetles that were damaging sugar cane fields. However, the toads could not reach the bugs at the top of the plant or the grubs in the soil. Instead, they negatively affected native species populations as their numbers grew to over 2 billion. PBS Terra Nearly all species introduced into a new environment are not invasiveIntroduced by zoologist Charles Elton in 1958, the term "invasive species" refers to organisms that are not native to an environment but cause harm after their introduction. Some ecologists argue that terminology such as "native" and "non-native" may only serve to assist in extinction when legislation is limited to protecting "native" organisms. Earth.org Benign species can become invasive if introduced into predator-free habitatsMost ecosystems contain organisms that, over many generations, have evolved into a stable balance with one another and their surroundings. In a new environment, a species may no longer be restricted by the limiting factors it is used to, and the native organisms in the area may not adapt quickly enough to the invader to establish a new balance. TED-Ed Nearly 99% of the Smithsonian's specimens are hidden in high-securityAt the National Museum of Natural History, nearly 99% of its 147 million specimens are stored in secure research collections rather than on display, where they are actively used for scientific work ranging from tracking invasive species to improving aviation safety. Business Insider A scientist debunks theories for why aliens might invade EarthWhile TV and films offer common tropes for why aliens would invade Earth, many of those reasons aren't actually feasible. For example, a species with technology advanced enough to allow it to travel between planets likely doesn't need to enslave flawed humans to carry out its labor. Literary Hub There is a nature preserve in Korea's DMZIn almost every way, the Demilitarized Zone is a depressing place, a testament to humans' inability to make peace. There is one surprising upside: Keeping people away has allowed nature to thrive. Recently released images offer a 360-degree view of some of the hundreds of endangered species making a comeback in the DMZ, including white-naped cranes, mountain goats, musk deer, and golden eagles. Google Arts & Culture

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