Invasive species are a significant threat to many native habitats and species of the United States and a significant cost to agriculture, forestry, and recreation. The term "invasive species" can refer to introduced or naturalized species, feral species, or introduced diseases. Some species, such as the dandelion, while non-native, do not cause significant economic or ecologic damage and are not widely considered as invasive. Overall, it is estimated that 50,000 non-native species have been introduced to the United States, including livestock, crops, pets, and other non-invasive species. Economic damages associated with invasive species' effects and control costs are estimated at $120 billion per year. ^[1]

To include:

• Definition
• Invasive vs naturalized, feral
• Extent - in terms of species, overall cost to economy

For a more complete list of invasive species, see List of invasive species in North America

Picture	Name	Species Name	Introduced	Control Measures	Notes
	Kudzu	Pueraria lobata	Southern U.S.	Mowing, herbicides	Known as "The vine that ate the south", forms dense monocultures that outcompete native ground cover and forest trees. Can grow by up to one foot a day
	Zebra Mussels	Dreissena polymorpha	Great Lakes, U.S. waterways & lakes	Ballast water transport bans, manual removal from clogged pipes	Initially spread by ballast tanks of oceangoing vessels on the Great Lakes, now spread lake-to-lake by trailer-drawn boats. May be a source of avian botulism in the Great Lakes region
	European Starlings	Sturnus vulgaris	Lower 48 states	Hunting, trapping	Introduced in 19th century as part of an effort to bring all species mentioned in Shakespeare's works to the United States
	Brown Tree Snake	Boiga irregularis	Guam	Dog-sniffing of incoming ships, Paracetamol as poison	Has reached densities on Guam of up to 100 snakes per hectare, caused extinction on Guam of at least 12 bird species
	Burmese Pythons	Python molarus	Everglades	Hunting season created	Introduced by releases of pet snakes
	Africanized bee	Apis hybrid	Southwestern U.S.	Cold weather has limited spread	Hybrid of African and European honeybees created in Brazil in the 1950's, described as "Killer bees" but no more poisonous than common honeybee
	Asian Carp	Multiple	Mississippi River and tributaries	Rotenone poison, electric barriers	Have the habit of jumping out of the water, which can injure boaters. Introduced to eat algae in fish ponds in Southern U.S., escaped during flood events
	Emerald Ash Borer	Agrilus planipennis	Eastern U.S.	Culling infected stands, bans on firewood transport	Threatens to severely reduce or eliminate the ash lumber industry of U.S., with an estimated value of $25.1 billion per year
	Multiflora Rose	Rosa multiflora	Eastern U.S.	Manual removal, herbicides [2]	Introduced for erosion control and promoted as a "living fence" to attract wildlife, now competes with native understory plants
	Spiny Water Flea	Byothrephes longimanus	Great Lakes	Ballast water transport bans	Competes with native fish for prey, spines prevent many native fish from eating it as prey

The economic impacts of invasive species can be difficult to estimate, especially when an invasive species does not effect economically important native species. This is due in part to the difficulty in determining the non-use value of native habitats damaged by invasive species, and in part to incomplete knowledge of the effects of all of the invasive species present in the U.S. Moreover, little is known about the estimated 750,000 species in the United States. ^[3] Estimates for the damages caused by well-known species can vary as well. The OTA has estimated zebra mussel economic effects at $300,000 a year, while an ACoE study put the number at $1 billion. Estimates of total yearly costs due to invasive species range from $1.1 billion per year to $137 billion per year ^[4]
According to David Pimentel's paper in 2004, some of the most costly invasive species are rats, cats, crop weeds, crop pests, crop plants, since they were estimated high on environmental losses and damages with a relative low control costs. ^[5] The total damage to U.S. bird population is approximately $17 billion/year. In 1993, OTA estimated that a total of $100 million is invested annually in invasive species aquatic weed control in the US. ^[6] The total cost of destruction by introduced rats in the United States is more than $19 billion per year according USDA's data. ^[7] Based on Pimentel's argument that the conservative economic losses due to exotic fish is $5.4 billion annually, and the total costs of introduced weeds to the U.S. economy is about $27 billion annually. ^[8] In addition, approximately $2.1 billion in forest products are lost each year to invasive plant pathogens in the United States, and a conservative estimate of the losses to U.S. livestock from exotic microbes and parasites was approximately $9 billion/year in 2001. ^[9]

The federal government has historically promoted the introduction and widespread distribution of species that would become invasive, including Multiflora rose, Kudzu, and others for numerous reasons. Before the 20th century, numerous species were imported and released without government oversight, such as the Gypsy moth and House Sparrow. Over 50% of flora recognized as invasive or noxious weeds were deliberately introduced to the United States, by either government policy or individuals. ^[10]

Government regulations designed to prevent potentially damaging plants, animals, and pests began in the early 20th century, at first focused on preventing damage to agriculture and forestry.

-- i could stand to retitle this section!

The Lacey Act of 1900, originally designed to protect game wildlife, its role has increased to prohibit parties from bringing non-native species that have the potential to become invasive into the United States. The Lacey Act gives the FWS the power to list a species as "injurious" and regulate or prohibit its entry into the U.S. ^[11] The Alien Species Prevention and Enforcement Act of 1992 makes it illegal to transport a plant or animal deemed injurious into the United States through the mail.

The USDA is also involved in preventing the introduction of invasive species, largely through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS. APHIS was originally tasked with preventing damage to agriculture and forestry from alien species, pests, or diseases, but has had its mission expanded to include preventing invasive species spread as well. ^[12] This includes identifying potential pests and diseases, assisting in international and domestic eradication efforts, and the Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance Program, designed initially to deal with illegally imported produce, but now tasked with preventing the entry of exotic pests, diseases, and potentially invasive species. ^[13] APHIS also enforces bans against interstate transport of pests, diseases, and species listed as injurious, noxious weeds, or nuisance species.

Many invasive species are spread inadvertently by human activities, such as seeds stuck to clothing or mud transporting firewood, or through ballast water. The government has instituted several different policies related to different pathways the invasive species may be spread. For example, quarantines on a federal and state level exist for firewood across the Eastern United States in an attempt to halt the spread of the Emerald ash borer, Gypsy moth, oak wilt, and others. Transporting firewood can result in a fine of up to $1,000,000 and 25 years in jail. ^[14]

Many of the policies used to contain invasive species, such as firewood transport bans or cleaning shoes and clothes after hiking are effective only when the general public knows of their existence and importance. Because of this numerous programs to inform the public about invasive species. This includes placing signs at boat ramps, campsites, state borders, hiking trails, and numerous other locations as reminders of policies and potential fines associated with breaking policies. There are also numerous government programs aimed at educating children ^[15], promoting volunteer efforts at removal, and the many ways citizens can prevent the spread of invasive species ^[16]

Invasive species control is not overseen by one government agency. Rather, different invasive species are controlled by different agencies. For example, policies aimed at controlling the Emerald Ash Borer are undertaken by the USDA, because the National Forests it effects are a section of the Department of Agriculture. ^[17] The National Invasive Species Council was created by executive order in 1999 and charged with promoting efficiency and coordination between the numerous federal invasive species prevention and control policies. The NISC is co-chaired by the secretaries of the three federal departments that are charged with invasive species control: Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce. ^[18]

Note: It might be interesting to put information about Cooperative Weed (or Invasive Species) Management Areas here. Though it could also be put in regional section.

• Great Lakes: Current efforts in the Great Lakes ecoregion focus on measures that prevent the introduction of invasive species. As a major transport area, a number of invasive species have already been established within the Great Lakes. In 1998, the United States Coast Guard, in accordance with the National Invasive Species Act of 1996, established a set of voluntary ballast water management program. In 2004 this voluntary program became mandatory for every ship entering US controlled waters. ^[19] Current measures are among the most stringent in the world and require ships entering from outside the Exclusive Economic Zone to flush ballast water in open seas or retain their ballast water for the length of their stay in the Great Lakes. ^{[20] [21]} Failure to comply with the US Coast Guards regulations can result in a class C felony. ^[22]

Another preventative measure in the Great Lakes region is the presence of an electrified barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The barrier is meant to keep Asian Carp from reaching Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes. On December 2, 2010, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were denied their request to force the closing the Canal by Judge Robert Dow of the United States District Court for Northern District of Illinois. ^{[23] [24]} The closing of the Canal would have once again permanently separated Lake Michigan and the Mississippi river system. States argued that the canal, and the Asian Carp in it, posed a risk to $7 billion worth of industry. ^[25] Currently the electric barrier is the only preventative measure and some question its effectiveness, particularly following the discovery of Asian Carp DNA past the barrier. ^[26]

• Hawaii: State measures within Hawaii to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species is coordinated by the Hawaii Invasive Species Council. ^[27] Currently the council is broken into five committees which focus on different areas of invasive species control. These focus areas are (1) prevention (2) management of established pests (3) increased public awareness (4) research and technology and (5) monetary resources. Preventative measures include inspections of all plant and animal transports from the mainland and between islands. ^[28] There is also a hotline for reporting sitings of known potential invaders like the brown tree snake. ^[29]

• Rocky Mountain Region: The USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) has a specific Invasive Species Working Group ^[30] to do the research about the invasive species in Rocky Mountain region. The Invasive Species Working Group focuses on four key areas: (1) prediction and prevention, (2) early detection and rapid response, (3) control and management, and (4) restoration and rehabilitation. ^[31] Invasive species of particular concern in Rocky Mountain region include: cheatgrass; leafy spurge; tansy ragwort; spotted knapweed; bufflegrass; saltcedar; white pine blister rust; Armillaria root rot; introduced trout species; golden algae; spruce aphid; and banded elm bark beetle. ^[32]

• California : California has created a policy system towards invasive species, including Invasive Species Council of California (ISCC), California Invasive Species Advisory Committee (CISAC) and California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC), a non-profit organization. The ISCC represents the highest level of leadership and authority in state government regarding invasive species. The ISCC is an inter-agency council that helps to coordinate and ensure complementary, cost-efficient, environmentally sound and effective state activities regarding invasive species. CISAC advises the ISCC, and created the California list of invasive species California has many diverse ecoregions, and numerous endemic species that are at risk from invasive species. ^[33]

• Florida Everglades: Invasive species in Florida currently make up more than 26% of the animal population and a full one third of the flora population ^[34]. In 1994, the Everglades Forever Act of 1994 was passed to help in controlling Florida's water supply, recreation areas, and diverse flora and fauna ^[35]. In addition to control and prevention measures the act also calls for efforts to monitor the distribution of known invasive species ^[36]

• Others TBD
  • California/West Coast, Everglades, Southern U.S., Rocky Mountains, Appalachia, etc

I know this article is still under construction, so I'm sure you're aware of much of what I'm going to write. You have a very thorough outline. Before you write too much about specific invasive species, I'd check the wikipedia entry on those species. They may already have a good blurb about the problems from invading new areas, so you may not have to write much in these sections at all.

Some kind of intro before the table of contents would be helpful. Regarding the article's structure - do you need as many headings as you have? It may make sense to have a more limited article than what you currently have. Generally I think the outline is very comprehensive, and where you have text, it is excellent. Sean.giambattista (talk) 16:37, 19 April 2011 (UTC)

Pretty much ditto with the previous peer review. I would like to add that in each of the sections titled "Bird", "Plants", "Mammals", "Aquatic Invasive Species", and "Others" that you try just making a list of species. Then you can link to other pages with each of the species listed. Also, be sure when you go back and update the page that the summary focuses on an overview and does not name too many specifics. To add to the previous comment about headings, maybe you could consolidate the sections. It'll make things seem less daunting in my opinion. Ztruidium (talk) 17:18, 19 April 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for the input guys. I'm working on streamlining the sections already posted. As for listing species, there's already a very thorough list of species, divided by type, on a separate page, so we thought that doing a table of a few more well-known species would be informative without being redundant. the goal is something similar to Invasive species in Australia, but much less bulky. Basically, the name, picture, where, and what's done to try to control it. Bkmertz (talk) 01:49, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

It looks good! Here are some points, mostly about formatting:

• Try this table style. It's sortable, plus you can monkey around with the column sizes and it will always span the width of any screen:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; height:100px;" cellpadding="5"
|-
! style="width:20%;"| Picture
! style="width:20%;"| Species name
! style="width:20%;"| Introduced
! style="width:20%;"| Control measures
! style="width:20%;"| Notes
|-

• First letter of section headings capitalized, others only when necessary
• Economic Impacts of Invasive Species --> Economic impact
• & --> and
• Regulations Designed to Prevent Entry of an Invasive Species --> Regulations to prevent entry
• Remove the term "Invasive Species" from section headings where possible
• Dig up related articles to add to a "See also" section and/or add:

Further information: Invasive species from Neptune

...beneath section headings where appropriate.
(A neat trick for finding strings of text in article titles or article names is:

At the left of the screen, click the "search" button without entering anything into the search box. This will bring you to a screen with a wider search box. Enter text there, and it will make a list of occurrences. This is a good way to find related information.)

• When placing a reference, no space is needed after the period or comma (...blah blah. <ref....). You can copy and paste the whole thing into Word and search and replace:

. <ref

with

.<ref

...Then paste the whole thing back to the article. This is a 20 second operation saving the time of doing each individually.

• When moving to the mainspace, of course, remove the heading "Summary", as this will become the lead. Bold the term Invasive species and United States.
• If possible, make the flow of the lead (first section) follow the sequence of the sections.
• In table: "Picture" --> "Image"
• Inter-Department --> Inter-departmental
• I agree with the other reviewers' comments above.
• Pick a nice lead image for the top right.
• I like the long image captions. Visitors will like them too.
• All section headings as short and sweet as possible.
• I like the content. It reads well and the sources are good.
• Just before you move it to the mainspace, run it through http://toolserver.org/~dispenser/view/Reflinks. This will automatically format the references. Don't do it until the last minute, or it will clutter the text and make it hard to edit.
• Nice job! Anna Frodesiak (talk) 21:16, 24 April 2011 (UTC)