Habitat disruption, in the form of soil disturbance, landscape fragmentation, changes in water regimes, and changes in nutrient content of soil or water, enhances the capabilities of most invasive species to spread. Some species become invasive within a decade of their introduction, others can take centuries. Researchers are developing models to predict the potential invasiveness of introduced species, but such models will be intellectual exercises only if they are not used to make decisions about the plant and animal species that are deliberately brought into new areas. The flow of invasive species will never stop, but perhaps it can be slowed down. Early detection and eradication programs are crucial, as is the refinement of control techniques, especially those that minimize the quantity of pesticides used and the disturbance of habitats.
Public education is critical.
This serious issue affects health, water supplies, fisheries, agriculture, recreation, property values, ecosystem function, and how tax dollars are spent.