Invasive Species

The spread of exotic or non-native species through intentional or inadvertent transport by man has become an extremely serious threat to native plants and animals worldwide. Negative economic effects of invasions or introductions of non-native species in the US alone were estimated at 97 billion dollars in 1991. That figure continues to rise as our understanding of the crisis is more fully understood. An effective, coordinated response to address the effects of such invasions is urgently needed and must be based on detailed knowledge of the biology and behavior of these species. This web site is intended to address this urgent need.

The puropose include:

To provide a Gulf-wide inventory of biological data on non-native species, including fishes and invertebrates.

To address microorganisms with disease potential within the Gulf of Mexico and near-coastal habitats.