Welcome
Virginia Tech
Invasive Species Collaborative

Utilizing an adaptive framework and transdisciplinary science to confront the invasive species crisis

Buffelgrass
Brown Tree Snake
Asian Tiger Mosquito
Feral Swine
Buffelgrass
Invasive Species
Impacts to ecosystems

Invasive species cause dramatic changes to ecosystems, and can contribute solely or alongside other drivers to extinction events.

Populations of native species can be directly affected by invasive species through predation, herbivory, and disease, and indirectly affected through resource competition and habitat alteration. For instance, plant invasions can impact carbon and nitrogen cycles and alter fire regimes.

Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris)

Brown Tree Snake
Invasive Species
Impacts to the economy

Invasive species significantly impact local, national, and global economies.

The annual cost of biological invasions was estimated to exceed $423 billion globally and $21 billion in the United States. Spongy moth, zebra mussel, feral pig, citrus canker, red imported fire ant, brown tree snake, and leafy spurge are some of the most financially damaging invasive species in the U.S. and its territories.

Brown Tree Snake

Brown Tree Snake (Boiga Irregularis)

Asian Tiger Mosquito
Invasive Species
Impacts to human health

Invasive species negatively impact human health by infecting humans with new diseases, serving as vectors for existing diseases, or causing wounds through bites, stings, allergens, or other toxins.

The spread of novel diseases and pathogens is closely tied to the movement of human activities. People and goods now travel quickly around the world and can carry uninvited species and their distinct microbiomes with them.

Asian Tiger Mosquito

Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus)

Buffelgrass
Invasive Species
Impacts to food and fiber security

Invasive species adversely affect the production of food and fiber crops worldwide.

Vegetative invasive species can reduce crop and timber yields due to fast growth, high seed production and dispersal ability, and a broad tolerance of environmental conditions. Invasive insects and other animals commonly consume desirable food and fiber crops. Feral hogs, for instance, are one of the most damaging species in the U.S. and are estimated to be responsible for $2.5 billion in annual damage to the agricultural sector.

Feral Swine

Feral swine (Sus scrofa)

Join The Team
Collaborative
Join The Team

ISWG was awarded a Destination Area 2.0 Phase II grant enabling us to further our mission.

Invasive Species Collaborative was recently awarded a Destination Area 2.0 Phase II grant which will enable us further our mission to combat invasive species.

This funding will enable ISC to further their mission to combat invasive species, a global threat that jeopardizes health, economic stability, and environmental security.

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Invasive Species Working Group team photo
Virginia Tech

Meet The Team

The Invasive Species Collaborative was awarded a competitive university-wide investment to address the complex global problem of invasive species through transdisciplinary science, engagement, and education. This multi-year investment includes the hiring of several new tenure-track faculty across campus and a range of transdisciplinary activities.

We're Hiring!

Join the Invasive Species Collaborative and tackle the global challenge of understanding invasive species.

Featured news from Virginia Tech

Chris Fields-Johnson stands next to the invasive autumn olive. Photo by Sara Klopf for Virginia Tech.

October 22, 2024

Virginia Tech researchers received a grant to find if a native fungus could be used as a biocontrol method on the autumn olive.
Photo by Harrison Miles for Virginia Tech.

October 18, 2024

Researchers in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech are examining if a natural fungus that kills the tree-of-heaven could be spread to other trees-of-heaven by the spotted lanternfly.
Haldre Rogers (standing at center) with her research team in Guam, which includes Zia Crytser and Christiana-Jo Quinata. Photo courtesy of Zia Crytser.

October 11, 2024

As an embedded community ecologist and conservation biologist, Haldre Rogers has been researching the impact of the invasive brown tree snake on the limestone forests of Guam for 22 years.

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