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.

With the ever-growing problem of invasive species, the need for state and regional coordination of management efforts equally grows. An important component to that coordination is an accessible and up-to-date database of invasive species locations, operated and managed at the regional level. GRI is actively mapping the locations of invasive aquatic and terrestrial plant species in the MidSouth, and entering them into our web-based database for invasive plant species. The Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth is in collaboration with national USGS and other agency databases and structures, and the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE), with mechanisms and procedures in place to ensure data transmission both upward (nationally) and downward to the local level for rapid assessment and response.