invasive species
Harmful foreign organism
An invasive species is a plant, animal, or other organism introduced to an environment where it didn't evolve, causing ecological or economic harm.
Invasive species typically spread aggressively, outcompeting native organisms for resources: Kudzu is an invasive species that smothers native vegetation across the American South.
The term implies damage—not all non-native species qualify, only those that disrupt ecosystems or threaten biodiversity.
Aggressive Asian climbing plant
- zebra musselInvasive striped freshwater mollusk
- cane toadLarge venomous tropical amphibian
- Asian carpInvasive freshwater fish species
- Burmese pythonLarge Asian constrictor snake
water hyacinth · emerald ash borer · lionfish · wild boar · rabbits · mongoose · snakehead · fire ant
Establish control over territory
- proliferateReproduce or spread swiftly
- encroachAdvance beyond proper limits
- infestOccupy harmfully en masse
- overrunSpread throughout uncontrollably
disperse · propagate · multiply · establish · naturalize · penetrate · infiltrate · expand
Reduction in species variety
- native displacementForcing indigenous people elsewhere
- ecological damageHarm to natural systems
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
- predationHunting and consuming prey
resource depletion · population decline · environmental harm · crop damage · disease transmission · soil erosion · water quality
Total elimination of something
- controlAuthority to direct
- removalAct of taking away
- herbicideVegetation-destroying chemical
- trappingCatching with concealed devices
biocontrol · monitoring · early detection · quarantine · prevention · containment · restoration · culling
kudzu
Aggressive Asian climbing plant
- zebra musselInvasive striped freshwater mollusk
- cane toadLarge venomous tropical amphibian
- Asian carpInvasive freshwater fish species
Burmese python · water hyacinth · emerald ash borer · lionfish · wild boar · rabbits · mongoose · snakehead · fire ant · nutria
colonize
Establish control over territory
- proliferateReproduce or spread swiftly
- encroachAdvance beyond proper limits
- infestOccupy harmfully en masse
overrun · disperse · propagate · multiply · establish · naturalize · penetrate · infiltrate · expand · reproduce
biodiversity loss
Reduction in species variety
- native displacementForcing indigenous people elsewhere
- ecological damageHarm to natural systems
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
predation · resource depletion · population decline · environmental harm · crop damage · disease transmission · soil erosion · water quality
eradication
Total elimination of something
trapping · biocontrol · monitoring · early detection · quarantine · prevention · containment · restoration · culling · sterilization
- environmentalismecology, conservationism, recycling bins, campaigner, environmentalism
- desert conservationwater management, habitat restoration, native plants, erosion control, groundwater
- biology termscell, DNA, genetics, genetic, evolution
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- environmental issuesair pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, global warming, habitat loss
- Environmental problemsair pollution, water pollution, climate change, global warming, habitat loss
invasive speciesnative species
Organisms originating in a region
indigenous species · endemic species · native flora and fauna · native flora · native fauna
invasive speciesendangered species
Organisms facing extinction risk
protected species · threatened species · rare species · vulnerable species
invade, species, invasion, invader, invasive, invading, invaded, invades, specie