Invasive species present enormous problems for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the United States, degrading biodiversity and impairing the ecosystem services they provide to our society. Invasive species are the second leading cause of species extinction, a significant factor in the degradation of natural areas, and reduce the quality of wildlife habitat. Invasive species cause direct economic loss to society, through infestations of agricultural crops, loss of timber, reduction in fish, damage and disease to livestock, and increase in risk from flood or fire.

The GeoResources Institute is developing a new program of research and outreach for invasive species. The GRI is uniquely poised to study this problem of agricultural and natural areas, with expertise for studies ranging from regional impacts through use of remote sensing and GIS to cellular and molecular studies of plant uptake or genetic composition. GRI has the capacity to bring together multidisciplinary research teams comprised of university and government researchers to address diverse questions on the management of invasive species.

Our approach is multidisciplinary, and involves biologists, ecologists, computer scientists, economists, engineers, and others acting collectively as a research team. All research projects include education, extension and outreach components to rapidly transmit new technologies or approaches to those in private and public sectors managing invasive species.

Student Participation
Graduate and summer student opportunities are available. Students interested in educational opportunities are incouraged to view the Invasive Species Program Poster to see where they can be a part of this ground-breaking research.

A very destructive exotic species is wreaking havoc in the SouthEast on entire plants and stands of cacti. The cactus moth, native to Argentina and accidentally introduced into Florida, is expected to have a catastrophic effect if it reaches the western states. Learn more about the cactus moth and its host, the pricklypear cactus, by visiting our fact sheets; or visit the National Cactus Moth Detection and Monitoring Network website.

According to Dr. John Madsen in a paper presented at the 2004 Mississippi Water Resources Conference, invasive aquatic plants are an ever-growing nuisance to water resources in Mississippi and the rest of the United States. These plants are generally introduced from other parts of the world, some for beneficial or horticultural uses. Once introduced, they can interfere with navigation, impede water flow, increase flood risk, reduce hydropower generation, and increase evapotranspirational losses from surface waters. Invasive species also pose direct threats to ecosystems processes and biodiversity.

Dr. Madsen's complete paper titled Invasive Aquatic Plants: A Threat to Mississippi Water Resources is available online and will soon be published in "The Proceedings" of the 2004 Mississippi Water Resources Conference. Dr. Madsen can be contacted by jmadsen@gri.msstate.edu.