introduced species
Non-native life form
An introduced species is a plant, animal, or other organism living outside its native range, brought there by human activity rather than natural migration.
The term is neutral—some introduced species integrate harmlessly, while others become invasive, outcompeting native life: The brown tree snake, an introduced species in Guam, has devastated local bird populations.
Aggressive Asian climbing plant
- zebra musselInvasive striped freshwater mollusk
- cane toadLarge venomous tropical amphibian
- house sparrowSmall songbird near buildings
- Asian carpInvasive freshwater fish species
Burmese python · wild boar · water hyacinth · emerald ash borer · fire ant · grey squirrel · feral cat · feral pig
Not native to area
- non-nativeNot indigenous here
- escapeeOne who fled confinement
- stowawaySecret unpaid traveler
- biological invasionHarmful spread of introduced species
Spreading in many directions
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
- naturalizationLegal path to belonging
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
population explosion · seed dispersal · migration corridor · stepping stone · diffusion · exponential growth · carrying capacity
Total elimination of something
- biocontrolPest control via organisms
- biological controlPest suppression via natural enemies
- trappingCatching with concealed devices
- cullingSelective population reduction
early detection · rapid response · containment · population control · quarantine · biosecurity · risk assessment · restoration
Forcing indigenous people elsewhere
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
- disease transmissionSpread of illness
- hybridizationMixing distinct genetic lines
agricultural pest · crop damage · economic damage · monoculture · overgrazing
kudzu
Aggressive Asian climbing plant
- zebra musselInvasive striped freshwater mollusk
- cane toadLarge venomous tropical amphibian
- house sparrowSmall songbird near buildings
Asian carp · Burmese python · wild boar · water hyacinth · emerald ash borer · fire ant · grey squirrel · feral cat · feral pig · nutria
nonindigenous
Not native to area
- non-nativeNot indigenous here
- escapeeOne who fled confinement
- stowawaySecret unpaid traveler
biological invasion · establishment · colonization · biogeography · translocation
dispersal
Spreading in many directions
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
- naturalizationLegal path to belonging
colonization · population explosion · seed dispersal · migration corridor · stepping stone · diffusion · exponential growth · carrying capacity
eradication
Total elimination of something
- biocontrolPest control via organisms
- biological controlPest suppression via natural enemies
- trappingCatching with concealed devices
culling · early detection · rapid response · containment · population control · quarantine · biosecurity · risk assessment · restoration · control measures
native displacement
Forcing indigenous people elsewhere
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
- disease transmissionSpread of illness
hybridization · agricultural pest · crop damage · economic damage · monoculture · overgrazing
- invasive specieslionfish, emerald ash borer, noxious weeds, kudzu, spotted lanternfly
- tropical plantshibiscus, bougainvillea, frangipani, mahogany, palm trees
- wildlife rangeshabitat, breeding ground, native range, natural habitat, home range
- Belonging/Integrationintegration, assimilation, settling, embedding, acclimatization
- foreign thingsimport, export, international trade, international, external
- dispersal ecologyseed dispersal, colonization, establishment, recolonization, emigration
introduced speciesnative species
Organisms originating in a region
indigenous species · endemic species · native wildlife · native flora · native fauna
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