Nonindigenous species

Nonindigenous species (also known as invasive species, alien species, or exotic species) are organisms that are not native to a specific location (an ecosystem), and which tend to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health.

Introduction

Nonindigenous species can be plants, animals, or microorganisms. They are often introduced to an area by humans, either intentionally or accidentally. Nonindigenous species can have various effects on the ecosystems they invade because they can change the structure and function of the invaded ecosystem.

Impact

The impact of nonindigenous species is immense, insidious, and usually irreversible. They may cause environmental harm, economic harm, or impact human health in various ways. Nonindigenous species can outcompete native species for resources, change the physical structure of an ecosystem, alter a community's fire regime, and even change the genetic pool of native species.

Control and Management

The control and management of nonindigenous species involves prevention, early detection, rapid response, containment, control, and long-term management. However, these efforts are often complicated by a lack of resources and the difficulty of eradicating species once they have established.

Examples

Some examples of nonindigenous species include the Brown Tree Snake in Guam, the Zebra Mussel in the Great Lakes, the European Starling in North America, and the Cane Toad in Australia.

See Also

• Invasive Species
• Alien Species
• Exotic Species
• Ecosystem
• Brown Tree Snake
• Zebra Mussel
• European Starling
• Cane Toad