100 of the World's Worst Alien Invasive Species

Welcome to "One Hundred of the World�s Worst Invasive Alien Species", funded by La Fondation TOTAL, and part of the Global Invasive Species Database. Invasive species have been recognised globally as a major threat to biodiversity (the collected wealth of the world�s species of plants, animals and other organisms) as well as to agriculture and other human interests.

It is very difficult to identify 100 invasive species from around the world that really are "worse" than any others. Species and their interactions with ecosystems are very complex. Some species may have invaded only a restricted region, but have a high probability of expanding and causing further great damage (e.g. see Boiga irregularis: the brown tree snake). Other species may already be globally widespread, and causing cumulative but less visible damage. Many biological families or genera contain large numbers of invasive species, often with similar impacts.

Species were selected for the list according to two criteria: their serious impact on biological diversity and/or human activities, and their illustration of important issues surrounding biological invasion. To ensure the inclusion of a wide variety of examples, only one species from each genus was selected. Absence from the list does not imply that a species poses a lesser threat. 

100 of the World's Worst Alien Invasive Species