Invasive Species Defined in a Policy Context: Recommendations from the Federal Invasive Species Advisory Committee

Abstract

Preamble: Executive Order (EO) 13112—defines an invasive species as “an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” In the Executive Summary of the National Invasive Species Management Plan (NISMP) the term invasive species is further clarified and defined as “a species that is non-native to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” To provide guidance for the development and implementation of the NISMP, the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) and the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) adopted a set of principles outlined in Appendix 6 of the NISMP. Guiding Principle #1 provides additional context for defining the term invasive species and states “many alien species are non-invasive and support human livelihoods or a preferred quality of life.”

Competitive interactions between native and invasive exotic plant species are altered under elevated carbon dioxide

“…The invasion of ecosystems by exotic plants has been identified as a major threat to biodiversity (Mack et al 2000;van der Wal et al 2008;Roura-Pascual et al 2009) and is considered a significant management and economic concern (Pimentel et al 2005;Beck et al 2009). …”

Burrowing Owl Diet at a Migratory Stopover Site and Wintering Ground on Southeast Farallon Island, California

“…46 33 Environmental harm may also cause or be associated with economic losses and damage to 1 human, plant, and animal health. For example, invasions by fire-promoting grasses that alter 2 entire plant and animal species can also greatly increase fire-fighting costs (Beck et al 2008). 3 4 Here, the Service's management goal is the complete removal of non-native mice from the 5 Farallon Islands.…”

Seed Bank Depletion: The Key to Long-Term Downy Brome ( Bromus tectorum L.) Management

“…Downy brome changed the historic fire frequency in the Great Basin from once every 70 to 100 years to once every 3 to 5 years (Knapp 1966;Whisenant 1990). The decrease in interval between wildfires causes increased risk to human life and property, and also places desirable plant and animal communities at risk (Beck et al 2008). …”