7 Species Invasions

Invasive species include plants and animals, both in water and on land. They are found in many places, including national parks. They threaten the park service mission to preserve unimpaired, natural and cultural resources. So what makes a plant or animal invasive? Does it have to do with a certain amount of damage or is it just a species that left its own habitat? Let’s learn about some other definitions before we dive further into the big question.

Native species – Organisms that have occurred, now occurred, or may occur without human intervention.

Non-native species – Organisms that do not occur naturally in an area, but are introduced as a result of a deliberate or accidental human activity. The species may even considered beneficial under certain circumstances.

Invasive species – Species that are non-native that cause harm to the environment, cultural resources, infrastructure, economy, human safety and health, as well as plant and animal health.

Now, you may be thinking, where do pests fit into all of this?

Pest – Any organisms that interferes with management objectives or threatens human health or safety. A pest can be native or non-native. All invasive species are pests, but not all pests are invasive species.

Let watch this interactive video to learn more.

To be invasive, a species must adapt  to the new area easily. It must reproduce quickly. It must harm property, the economy, or the native plants and animals of the region. Some species are brought to a new area on purpose. Often, these species are introduced as a form of pest control.

There are three main types of invasive species control methods. These are biological control, chemical control, and physical/mechanical control. Selecting the correct form of control will depend on the target species. Often invasive species are managed using a combination of different control and treatment types.

Click below to learn more one each different methods to control invasive species: