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- Invasive Species
Invasive species comprise microorganisms, plants, and vertebrate and invertebrate animals that are not native to an ecosystem and that often cause harm when they establish in the introduced range. Invasive species can exact heavy tolls from economic, environmental, and ecological perspectives. The lower Mississippi Delta region of the United States, with its warm climate, diversity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and importance as a center for global agricultural trade, is particularly vulnerable to threats from invasive species. Many invasive species are already affecting this region, including giant salvinia, feral hogs, Chinese tallow trees, air potatoes, apple snails, Mexican rice borers, Asian carp, citrus greening, guava root knot nematodes and emerald ash borers. The LSU AgCenter’s Center of Research Excellence for the Study of Invasive Species will provide pioneering and transformational solutions to problems associated with invasive species in this region and will thereby mitigate the harm caused by these organisms.
The Center has a primary focus on research initiatives but also incorporates education and outreach efforts. The Center will support the development of innovative and collaborative research, promote translation of research into management practices or changes in policies, foster the training of students or practitioners with a holistic approach to address invasive species issues, and provide opportunities to increase collaborations among research teams. The Center will involve LSU AgCenter, LSU A&M, and other Louisiana institutions of higher education as dictated by appropriate faculty expertise. It is the intention of this Center seek cooperation with appropriate governmental and non-governmental agencies or organizations whose missions or mandates align with those of the Center.
