invasives
Non-native harmful species
Invasives is shorthand for invasive species—plants, animals, or other organisms that spread aggressively in environments where they aren't native, often outcompeting or harming local ecosystems.
Conservationists and gardeners use the term frequently: We spent the weekend pulling invasives from the creek bed.
The noun form treats the adjective as a category unto itself.
Aggressive Asian climbing plant
- zebra musselsInvasive striped freshwater mollusks
- Asian carpInvasive freshwater fish species
- Burmese pythonLarge Asian constrictor snake
- cane toadLarge venomous tropical amphibian
water hyacinth · snakehead · lionfish · emerald ash borer · garlic mustard · spotted lanternfly · nutria · feral hogs
Total elimination of something
- removalAct of taking away
- controlAuthority to direct
- herbicideVegetation-destroying chemical
- trappingCatching with concealed devices
biocontrol · pulling · monitoring · prevention · quarantine · early detection · rapid response · containment
Reduction in species variety
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- economic damageLoss of monetary value
- crop lossDestroyed agricultural output
- infrastructure damageHarm to foundational structures
forest decline · native displacement · erosion · water quality · agricultural pest · disease transmission · wildfire risk · property damage
To distribute widely
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
- monocultureSingle-crop agricultural system
proliferation · reproduction · dispersal · predation · hybridization · adaptation · generalist · prolific
kudzu
Aggressive Asian climbing plant
- zebra musselsInvasive striped freshwater mollusks
- Asian carpInvasive freshwater fish species
- Burmese pythonLarge Asian constrictor snake
cane toad · water hyacinth · snakehead · lionfish · emerald ash borer · garlic mustard · spotted lanternfly · nutria · feral hogs · mile-a-minute
eradication
Total elimination of something
trapping · biocontrol · pulling · monitoring · prevention · quarantine · early detection · rapid response · containment · restoration
biodiversity loss
Reduction in species variety
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- economic damageLoss of monetary value
- crop lossDestroyed agricultural output
infrastructure damage · forest decline · native displacement · erosion · water quality · agricultural pest · disease transmission · wildfire risk · property damage
spread
To distribute widely
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
monoculture · proliferation · reproduction · dispersal · predation · hybridization · adaptation · generalist · prolific · aggressive
invasivesnatives
Original local population
native species · indigenous species · indigenous wildlife · endemic species · native flora
- invasive speciesHarmful non-native organism
- minimally invasiveLow-trauma procedural method
- invasive procedureOperation entering the body
- minimally invasive surgeryOperations using small cuts
- invasive weedHarmful spreading plant species
- non-invasive treatmentCare without penetrating body
invasive, minimally invasive, noninvasive, invasively, invasiveness