This, a literature review, is one of the two biological studies that the task force initiated and funded in 1993. We concentrated on the nonindigenous aquatic species of Florida that were revealed by a literature review during September 1993-January 1994. Limited additional 1995 references were added to the text during the review and editoring stages.
Some information is on high-profile nonaquatic species.
When experts were available, unpublished information about some groups of species was also obtained. However, resources were not available to gather new or unpublished information on all species. We depended on the reviews and are indebted to W. R. Courtenay Jr., J. H. Frank, and D. C. Schmitz for assistance. Gathering and updating information on most of the other groups was impossible because of shortness of time and lack of sufficient resources. We hope that the updating of the information on the status of nonindigenous species in Florida will be continued and that similar documents will be prepared for other states.