Invasive Plants

Invasive Species

-Invasive PlantsInvasive Aquatic PlantsInvasive Ferns, Herbs, and VinesInvasive GrassesInvasive Algae and Single-celled Photosynthetic OrganismsInvasive Trees and Shrubs

Global Invasive Species
Information Network

Words "Global Invasive Species Information Network" stacked above each other on the left side; globe on the right

The GISIN Mission
The Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) is a platform for sharing invasive species information at a global level. It's mission is to: provide a platform for sharing invasive species information at a global level, via the Internet and other digital means; offer a central place for the reporting and tracking of new alien species sightings via email listserv; develop and share electronic information management tools to better identify, map, and predict the spread of invasive species at regional and global levels; and to build the capacity of network members in the development and use of information tools to integrate IAS databases.

Join the GISIN-TECH list-serve to learn more <GISIN-TECH@lists.hawaii.edu >.

The "GISIN List"
With support from the NBII Invasive Species Information Node, the GISIN maintains a living List of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Online Information Systems. It contains Internet-accessible databases and information systems providing species, bibliographic, taxonomic, expertise, distributions, images and many other information types as they pertain to invasive, exotic, alien, introduced, non-native species and all other species of world flora and fauna.

Invasive Plants

Invasive photosynthetic organisms within the taxonomic kingdom Plantae common to the Southeastern U.S. are presented below:

Nonvascular Plants

Thumbnail image of didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) [Photo: United States Environmental Protection Agency ]

Invasive algae and single-celled photosynthetic organisms
Algae and photosynthetic microorganisms can cause toxic algae blooms that deprive water of oxygen and produce toxic byproducts.

Vascular Plants

	Invasive Aquatic Plants Invasive aquatic plants can severely disrupt aquatic ecosystems by blocking light and in extreme cases sometimes preventing animals from surfacing to breathe.
	Invasive Ferns, Herbs, and Vines Invasive Ferns of the region include the Japanese Climbing Fern, an invasive pest that can climb and smother native plants. An infamous vine is Kudzu, which can overtake even the tallest forests. An example of an invasive herb is Knapweed.
	Invasive Grasses Invasive grasses displace native grasses relied upon by many organisms for food and cover. Some grasses, such as Cogongrass, are highly flammable and make fires burn hotter than normal, increasing wildfire intensity to the point that native ecosystems are severely damaged.
	Invasive Trees and Shrubs Some notorious regional invasive trees include Mimosa, Tree-of-Heaven, and Privet.

Ecological Impacts of Invasive Plants
Invasive plants can disrupt native ecosystems by outcompeting native plants. This change in the structure of native ecosystems can result in loss of habitat and food for other organisms. Because some non-native plants are not as resistant to fire as native plants, many non-native plants can also alter the effects of fire. Highly flammable invasive plants such as Cogongrass and Cheatgrass change natural wildfire from low-intensity, beneficial fire to a high-intensity fire that is difficult to control, damages soil structure, and burns at temperatures higher than native plants can survive.

Invasive Plants in the Southeastern United States
As of 2008, The U.S. Department of Agriculture PLANTS database identifies nine state-listed noxious weed species in Kentucky [view records], three species in Tennessee [view records], 152 species in North Carolina [view records], 136 species in South Carolina [view records], 132 species in Alabama [view records], and nine species in Mississippi [view records]. A state noxious weed list for Georgia is not currently available.

Weed Information Management System (WIMS)

The Nature Conservancy's Weed Information Management System (WIMS) is a Microsoft Access-based relational database application that is designed to assist natural resource managers in managing their weed data. WIMS keeps track of three types of data records: weed occurrences (GPS point locations), assessments (size and status of the weed infestation to facilitate monitoring over time), and management treatments applied to those weed infestations. Data can be easily exchanged between multiple users, exported in NAWMA (North American Weed Management Association) standards, and written to shapefiles for mapping in any standard GIS program. A variety of reports can also be easily generated.

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PLANTS Database

The US Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) PLANTS database provides access to Federal Noxious Weed List, State Noxious Weed Reports, a State and Federal Composite List of All U.S. Noxious Weeds, an Invasive Plants of the U.S. list, and an Introduced Plants of the U.S. list.

* Remember that an introduced or alien plant is not necessarily an invasive plant, nor is an invasive plant necessarily introduced or alien.

Aquatic Plant Information System

APIS logo-composite of plant photos with letters APIS

Developed by the Army Corps of Engineers Aquatic Plant Control Research Program, the Aquatic Plant Information System is designed to help managers access pertinent and up-to-date information on ecology, biology, systematics, identification, and environmentally compatible management techniques.

The NBII Program is administered by the Biological Informatics Program of the U.S. Geological Survey

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