Human activities like moving people and things from place to place and cultivating plants and animals result in the accidental or purposeful introduction of species outside their native range. Many of these nonnative organisms cause no harm in the invaded ecosystem. The subset of nonnative organisms that cause undesirable changes in the invaded ecosystem, spread widely, become overly abundant, or reduce native organisms are termed invasive species. Considered "biological pollutants," invasive species are a major cause of biological diversity loss throughout the world. Invasive species are the focus of a new research initiative at the UMESC.

Scientists at the UMESC are conducting research that increases our understanding of these species. Their research is aimed at finding possible tools for controlling these pests, predicting the identity and effect of potential invaders, understanding the life history and biology of invasive species, and developing strategies for reestablishing native plant and animal communities.

	Invasive Species Research Highlights
	UMESC Research on Invasive Species in the Mississippi and Great Lakes Basins

Completion Reports

• Proceedings of the Invasive Species Research Strategic Planning Workshop of the UMESC (2.6 MB .pdf)
  
  
• Boogaard, M.A., C.S. Kolar, and D.L. Waller. 2004. Acute toxicity of 3-triflouromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and a TFM-1% niclosamide mixture to the giant floater (Pyganodon grandis), fragile papershell (Leptodea fragilis), and pink heelsplitter (Potamilus alatus) unionid mussels and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) larvae. Completion report submitted to the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. 21 pp.
  
  
• Dawson, V. K. and C. S. Kolar, editors. 2004. Integrated management techniques to control nonnative fishes. Completion report submitted to the Bureau of Reclamation. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin, December 2003. 146pp. Appendixes A-F.