The most cost-effective method of dealing with invasive species is to stop their introduction (resettlement). For this to happen, you need to know exactly which plants are invasive. A team at the University of Massachusetts Amherst scoured a database of 5,893 studies dating back to 1959 to reveal the world’s most comprehensive picture of invasive species.
“Trade and climate change have contributed to the widespread worldwide distribution of the species,” says Brittany Laginas, co-author of the new study. “In some cases, these species establish and spread in new environments, causing devastating environmental and economic damage.” Basic information about invasive species, including where and when they entered, is critical to developing strategies to prevent their spread and subsequent damage.
Perhaps the most “shocking” result of the study is that the number of invasive species appears to be increasing exponentially, with no signs that the situation is starting to improve. While the team found 3,008 invasive species reported in 5,893 papers, statistical modeling suggested there should be 4,721 species.
Source: Ferra
