If left uncontrolled, invasive species can and will limit land use, cause billions of dollars in economic losses, threaten the state’s biodiversity, and become a financial burden to control. Because of the potential negative impacts that can result from invasive species, it has become an official public goal in Georgia to reduce the environmental and economic damage caused by harmful, nonnative species.
Federal Definition:
Any species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species, that is not native to that ecosystem; and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
Invasive species impact far more than just the landscapes we love—they threaten our environment, economy, and even our health. Their spread creates long-term consequences that affect daily life, local communities, and future generations.
Accidental introductions of aquatic invasive species can occur through the transportation and release of live bait by fishermen and anglers. When live bait or the bait’s packing material is discarded, invasive species may inadvertently be introduced into a new water body. By lodging in nets and other equipment used to harvest baitfish, species can unintentionally be transported into non-infested waters. Stocked fish are another source of invasive species. Though the fish stocks themselves might not be invasive, the water used to transport them could be contaminated with invasive plants, invertebrates, or viruses. Fish stocking by unqualified individuals increases the chance of biological contamination, especially as these individuals are less likely to adhere to regulations and standards regarding transport methods and equipment.
Environmentally:
Economically:
Human Health:
Understanding the mechanism, or pathway, by which invasive species enter Georgia is important in order to prevent or minimize additional introductions.
Intentional: Intentional introductions occur through deliberate human action. These species may become invasive when they are either intentionally released or escape into the wild and are able to establish viable populations.
Accidental: Accidental introductions occur unintentionally when species hitchhike on equipment, materials, or travel pathways. They can become invasive when they are unknowingly transported to new areas where they establish and spread.
This outline, adapted from the Invasive Species Pathways Report, lists, and groups the pathways of introduction for invasive species. The pathways identified fall into three categories: transportation, living industry, and miscellaneous. For the “Organisms Transported” entry in the outline, the organisms have been listed with the following letter codes to avoid repetition. Some organisms may have been missed and some of the organism categories may be lumped together.
| Key to Organisms Transported | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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ai = aquatic invertebrates (and larval stages) |
in = insects and similar invertebrates |
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adp = animal disease pathogens and parasites |
inv = other invertebrates (not insects) |
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ap = aquatic plants |
mbv = microbes, bacteria and viruses |
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av = aquatic plants |
pdp = plant disease pathogens |
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di = dinoflagellates |
ph = phytoplankton |
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dp = disease pathogens |
ps = plants and seeds |
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gm = gypsy moth |
si = snails and other invertebrates |
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hfo = hull fouling organisms |
tv = terrestrial invertebrates (insects and other arthropods) |
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v = vertebrates |
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(T) Transportation: All pathways related to the transportation of people and goods and the vehicles themselves. This category includes military travel. Subcategories include: modes of transportation, items used in the shipping process, travel/tourism/relocation, and amil/Intenet/ovenight shipping companies.
(L) Living Industry: All pathways associated with living plants and animals or their by-products. Subcategories within this broad category include food pathways (market ready, for immediate consumption), nonfood animal pathways (transporting animals for other reasons), and the plant trade (aquatic and terrestrial).
(M) Miscellaneous: Pathways that did not fit under the other two categories. Subcategories include other aquatic pathways, ecosystem disturbance, other nonliving animal- and plant-related pathways and natural spread of established populations of invasive species.
Photo Credits: Coral Honeysuckle – David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org, Greenhouse full of Begonia – Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org, Japanese Honeysuckle – Triston Hansford, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org, Japanese Honeysuckle – Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
