Regional Invasives Database

Image of red imported fire ant, courtesy of April Noble, antweb.org, bugwood.orgRed imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) [Photo: April Noble, Antweb.org, Bugwood.org]

The CSWGCIN region includes many different introduction pathways for invasive species. It is also home to a diverse array of ecosystems ranging from humid, semi-tropical coastal habitats to bottomland forests, arid deserts and mountains. These combined factors lead to a large number of invasive species being found in the CSWGCIN region.

The CSWGCIN Regional Invasive Species Database provides information describing nearly 300 invasive species found in the CSWGCIN region, including introduction pathways, images, species fact sheets, taxonomic information provided by the USDA Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) and bibliographic citations.

Regional Themes

CSWGCIN's Regional Themes focus on content areas important in the region, such as Wetlands and Coastal Issues, Invasive Species and Biodiversity and Vital Habitat.

Shortcut URL to this page: http://www.nbii.gov/CSWGC/RegionalThemes


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WETLANDS & COASTAL ISSUES

The Gulf of Mexico coastal region is home to a number of habitats including but not limited to riparian forests, coastal prairies, salt marshes, seagrass beds, and mangroves. As is often the case when fragile ecosystems and wildlife communities reside alongside areas of human development, a number of stressors exist.

Bald Cypress, courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife

Bald Cypress [Photo: Texas Parks and Wildlife]

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Water Hyacinth

Common Water Hyacinth [Photo: Wilfredo Robles, Mississippi State University, www.forestryimages.org]

INVASIVE SPECIES

Because the region includes many different ecosystems, it contains a large number of invasive species, including species with a high economic impact. CSWGCIN is accumulating datasets that catalog or inventory the invasive species of the region to provide baseline occurrence data.

  
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BIODIVERSITY & VITAL HABITAT

Biodiversity is a measure of the variety of plant and animal life in a particular region or ecosystem. A vital habitat is an area considered essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species.

The Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides for a number of activities to protect endangered and threatened species. These activities include the protection of vital habitat and the creation of recovery plans for each listed species. Endangered species conservation initiatives and private property rights are often in conflict.

Armand Bayou Nature Preserve

Armand Bayou [Photo: Texas Department of Transportation]

 

 

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