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Invasive Species Issues

Related Links

The Nature Conservancy's Invasive Species Initiative USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species program   Global Invasive Species Database   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Invasive Species Program   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force   National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), Invasive Species   Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Aquatic Invasions Research Directory   Institute for Biological Invasions   IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group   Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Site (SGNIS)

Nonindigenous invasive fish and plants threaten native species through predation, over competition for limited resources, and habitat degradation. Often such invasive species gain a foothold through intentional introductions to limited areas (e.g., lakes, aquaculture ponds, etc.) by wildlife management agencies and private citizens (e.g., rainbow trout, striped bass, tilapia, etc.). Other times, introductions are unintentional (e.g., the use of tamarisk and Russian olive in landscaping and sale at local lawn and garden stores across the western United States). The end result, however, often is the same. Invasive species will outcompete native species allowing them to replace native stock in rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

Choose a link to the right to learn more about freshwater invasive species issues.