invasive-species

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have caused significant ecosystem changes across North America since their introduction, yet their effects on fish populations remain poorly understood, particularly in Great Plains reservoirs. We quantified effects of zebra mussel invasions on water quality and fish assemblages across 25 reservoirs >5 km2 in Kansas, U.S., where invasions have occurred over th…

This study examines the spread and ecological impact of invasive Flowerhorn cichlids (Amphilophus spp.) in Lake Sampaloc, Philippines, driven by both accidental release and intentional aquaculture practices. Field observations and literature reveal that these highly adaptable and aggressive fish outcompete native species, contributing to biodiversity decline amid increasing pollution, eutrophicat…

Scientific Reports, Published online: 27 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-54379-2 Climatic and anthropogenic factors shape the Asian range expansion of the invasive slug Arion vulgaris

Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) are the most widespread invasive crayfish species, largely dispersed through human mediated activities. Given their ability to disrupt aquatic ecosystems and damage human infrastructure through burrowing, identifying areas of increased introduction risk is valuable for early detection and management. To assist managers, we developed a risk assessment model…

Invasive carp pose ecological and economic risks to North American freshwater systems. This study uses the Fluvial Egg Drift Simulator to model the drift of invasive silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) eggs and larvae after hypothetical spawning in Pools 1–10 of the Upper Mississippi River. Although adult invasive carps have been detected in this region, no reproduction has been confirmed …

Zebra mussels are a widespread invasive species, causing significant economic harm to structures and ecological harm to native species.1 They were discovered in the Great Lakes in 1988 and have spread[...] The post Research Brief: Identifying Texas Lakes Critical to Zebra Mussel Spread appeared first on Lake Scientist .

A tiny shellfish showed up uninvited in California and started spreading before anyone knew what it was. Now the federal government is paying to stop it.

As Alaska’s rivers warm, invasive northern pike are becoming noticeably more voracious. Scientists discovered that pike of all ages are eating more fish, with young pike increasing consumption by over 60%. Warmer water speeds up their metabolism, pushing them to hunt more. This growing appetite could spell trouble for struggling salmon populations.

April 23, 2026 Shellfish growers have long been stewards of Washington’s rich marine waters. After all, the industry as a whole relies on healthy marine ecosystems. So it probably comes as no surprise that shellfish growers have been partners in efforts to control invasive European green crab from the get-go. It has been routinely observed that green crab aggregate around aquaculture gear, partic…

A better understanding of what happens belowground when restoring coastal vegetation may be useful to better plan restoration. However, little is known about what happens belowground when invasive species are controlled in restoration settings. My students and I used a protected area of sandy coastal vegetation in an island in Southern Brazil as a model to investigate belowground dynamics in plan…

Alien species are giving freshwater ecosystems in Africa and beyond a mauling. But a new project, backed by funding from one of the continent’s premier prizes for young researchers, holds hope. The post From ponds to power plays: South African scientist tackles invasive plants with game-changing research appeared first on Research and Conservation .

The small but venomous needle ant's sting can lead to anaphylactic shock. The post Are Asian needle ants your backyard’s next invasive threat? appeared first on UGA Today .

Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Agostina Torres introduces us to her latest research which evaluated the dependence of community reassembly on inverse priority effects by experimentally removing the target invasives in field and mesocosm communities. About the research Overview The study emerged as part of my PhD doctorate. Along with my supervisors, Drs. Martin Nuñez and Mariano Rodrigu…

Author Sarah Kingsbury shares a new integrated management approach to better assess the effects and risks of aquatic invasive species on Atlantic salmon in Nova Scotia, Canada. Invasive species played key roles in the extinction of 60% of Earth’s plants and animals as reported by IPBES in 2023. While not all alien species introduced to new habitats become problematic (or even are able to establis…

PI: Joel Corush | PI Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | January 11, 2023 – January 10, 2025

PI: Rafael Tinoco | PI Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | December 15, 2021 – December 14, 2024

In this new post, Hao Liu—a postdoc from Fudan University, China—presents his work ‘Root plasticity benefits a global invasive species in eutrophic coastal wetlands’. Here he discusses the importance in plasticity for invasive species success, highlights the cohesion required to work in the mud, and shares his journey in ecology. About the paperInvasive species usually benefit more than native sp…

Trevor Caughlin and co-authors describe how the local impacts of an invasive plant motivated research to understand where it spreads. Biological invasions threaten global biodiversity, motivating studies to control invasive species’ spread. We studied outbreaks of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris), an invasive species in Western North America. While our team appreciates the global threats …

Cogongrass is an aggressive weed that is rapidly spreading across Alabama and the Southeast. Learn important steps you can take to slow the spread of this environmental invader. Cogongrass (Imperata....

This blog post is provided by Allan McDevitt and Samuel Browett and tells the #StoryBehindthePaper for the paper “Resource competition drives an invasion-replacement event among shrew species on an island”, which was recently published in Journal of Animal Ecology. In their paper they determine how a recently invading shrew is outcompeting a native shrew for prey resources, ultimately leading to …