Invasive Plant Species in the Southern Appalachian Region

What is an invasive species? According to InvasiveSpecies.gov, an invasive species is a species which is not native to a particular geographic area or ecosystem, and causes a disruption to the ecosystem of the native organisms. There are a number of sites with information related to invasive species. In addition to NBII Invasive Species Information Node, the website InvasiveSpecies.gov provides a wealth of information, as does the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The SAIN Invasive Plant Pests Definitions and Criteria provides a list of key published definitions of invasive and criteria to determine invasiveness. The "Invasive Pest Plants in the Southern Appalachian Mountain Region" Bibliography Database provides access to the collection by both Scientific and Common name.

Explore environments in the Southern Appalachians by touring some North Carolina areas, and see a sample of how "invasives" have become threats to native species and native habitats. Follow the path starting with the About Invasive Plant Species, then to Invasive Plant Species of the Southeast for information about specific species, and next to the Taking Action Against Invasive Plants module, or just experience the modules individually. This site uses iPIX technology to immerse the user into a 360-degree panoramic view of these environments. Within each picture, several "hotspots" are linked to further information about invasive species and the issues surround them in the Southern Appalachians.

You need the iPIX viewer installed to view these scenes. The viewer is available free from iPIX™.

About Invasive Plant Species Location 1: Near Del Rio, TN A further introduction to invasive plants	Invasive Plant Species of the Southeast Location 2: Near Hot Springs, NC Information on specific invasive plant species	Taking Action Against Invasive Plants Location 3: Asheville, NC Current issues in management and control of invasive plants
GPS Data Latitude Longitude 35 55.598 83 0.995	GPS Data Latitude Longitude 35 55.255 82 52.501	GPS Data Latitude Longitude 35 37.986 82 33.453

You can find out more on about invasive plants and animals at the NBII Invasive Species Information Node. Just click on their logo below: