Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The 100th of the world’s worst invasive alien species

  • Invasion Note
  • Published:
Biological Invasions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biological invasions are among the greatest threats to global biodiversity, but in contrast to most other global threats, they suffer from specific communication issues. Our paper presents the first new addition to the widely cited IUCN list of “100 of the world’s worst invasive species”, a list created a decade ago in response to these communication issues. We briefly present this list, the recent removal of one species from that list, and the rationale to include a novel, 100th species to replace it. The new species of this list, giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta), was chosen by the community of invasion biologists (over 650 experts from over 60 countries). This new addition to the list will draw public attention to the damage caused by invasive alien species and it will help stimulate the necessary discussion of this critical issue in science and policy circles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bellard C, Thuiller W, Leroy B, Genovesi P, Bakkenes M, Courchamp F (2013) Will climate change promote future invasions? Glob Change Biol

  • Butchart SHM, Walpole M, Collen B, van Strien A, Scharlemann JPW, Almond REA, Baillie JEM, Bomhard B et al (2010) Global biodiversity: indicators of recent declines. Science 328:1164–1168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clavero M, Garcia-Berthou E (2005) Invasive species are a leading cause of animal extinctions. Trends Ecol Evol 20:110

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Courchamp F (2013) Internet survey for the selection of the 100th www.ese.u-psud.fr/epc/conservation/pages/the100th/index.html

  • Essl F, Dullinger S, Rabitsch W, Hulme PE, Huber K, Jarosık V, Kleinbauer I, Krausmann F et al (2011) Socioeconomic legacy yields an invasion debt. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108:203–207

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Genovesi P (2011) Are we turning the tide? Eradications in times of crisis: how the global community is responding to biological invasions. Island Invasive Erad Manag 5–8

  • Hulme PE et al (2009) Delivering alien invasive species inventories for Europe (DAISIE) Handbook of alien species in Europe. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Julien M, Center T, Tipping P (2002) Floating fern (Salvinia). In: van Driesche R, Blossey B, Hoddle M, Lyon S, Reardon R (eds) Biological control of invasive plants in the Eastern United States (FHTET-2002–2004). United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Washington, pp 17–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser BA, Burnett KM (2010) Spatial economic analysis of early detection and rapid response strategies for an invasive species. Resour Energy Econ 32:566–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe S, Browne M, Boudjelas S, De Poorter M (2004) 100 of the World’s worst invasive alien species. A selection from the Global Invasive Species Database. The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) a specialist group of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)

  • McGeoch MA, Butchart SHM, Spear D, Marais E, Kleynhans EJ, Symes A, Chanson J, Hoffmann M (2010) Global indicators of biological invasion: species numbers, biodiversity impact and policy responses. Divers Distrib 16:95–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pimentel LachL, Zuniga R, Morrison D (2000) Environmental and economic costs of nonindigenous species in the United States. Bioscience 50:53–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Room PM, Forno IW, Taylor MFJ (1984) Establishment in Australia of two insects for biological control of the floating weed Salvinia molesta. Bull Entomol Res 74:505–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simberloff D, Martin JL, Genovesi P, Maris V, Wardle DA, Aronson J, Courchamp F, Galil B et al (2013) Impacts of biological invasions: what’s what and the way forward. Trends Ecol Evol 28:58–66

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Streftaris N, Zenetos A (2006) Alien marine species in the mediterranean-the 100 ‘worst invasives’ and their impact. Mediterr Marine Sci 7:87–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vilà M, Basnou C, Gollasch S, Josefsson M, Pergl J, Scalera R (2009) One hundred of the most invasive alien species in Europe. In: Handbook of alien species in Europe. Springer, Netherlands, pp 265–268

  • Walther GR, Roques A, Hulme PE, Sykes MT, Pysek P, Kuhn I, Zobel M, Bacher S et al (2009) Alien species in a warmer world: risks and opportunities. Trends Ecol Evol 24:686–693

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Organisation for Animal Health (2011) Resolution no. 18. Declaration of global eradication of rinderpest and implementation of follow-up measures to maintain world freedom from rinderpest. The Organisation, Paris

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gloria M. Luque.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Luque, G.M., Bellard, C., Bertelsmeier, C. et al. The 100th of the world’s worst invasive alien species. Biol Invasions 16, 981–985 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-013-0561-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-013-0561-5

Keywords

Navigation