Invasive Alien Species of India S. Sandilyan Authors S. Sandilyan Citation Sandilyan, S, Meenakumari, B, Babu, C.R,and Mandal, R.2019.Invasive Alien Species ofIndia. National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai. Corresponding Authors B. Meenakumari, C.R.Babu,and R. Mandal Copyright © National Biodiversity Authority 2018 Published by Centre for Biodiversity Policy and Law (CEBPOL) National Biodiversity Authority 5th Floor, TICEL Biopark, CSIR Road, Taramani Chennai – 600 113, Tamil Nadu, India Website: http://nbaindia.org/cebpol/ Layout and Design: N. Singaram IT Executive, CEBPOL Disclaimer: This publications is prepared as an initiative under CEBPOL programme. All the views expressed in this publication are based on established legal principles. Any error or lapse is purely unintended and inconsequential and shall not make either the NBA or the CEBPOL liable for the same. Some pictures and images included in this publication are sourced from public domain. This publications is purely for non- commercial purposes including awareness creation and capacity building. Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 2. Criteria adopted for designating an alien species as invasive ....................................................... 3 3. Terrestrial Invasive Alien Plant Species ......................................................................................... 8 4. Aquatic Invasive Alien Plant Species ............................................................................................. 15 5. Inland Invasive Alien Species of Fishes .......................................................................................... 18 6. Marine Invasive Alien Species ....................................................................................................... 21 7. Invasive Alien Species / Strains of Microbes in Fresh water and Brackish water Ecosystems ...... 26 8. Invasive Alien Spcies of Microboes / Strains (other than plants) in Agricultural Ecosystems ....... 29 9. Invasive Alien Insect species in Agricultural ecosystems .............................................................. 33 10. Invasive Alien Species of Major Islands ......................................................................................... 38 Contributors Dr. C. R. Babu, Dr. K. V. Sankaran Director of the Centre for Environmental Former Director Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), Kerala Forest Research Institute Department of Environmental Studies,University of Delhi Dr. AC. Anil Dr. Rm. Kathiresan Chief Scientist Professor, Department of Agronomy, Annamalai National Institute of Oceanography,Goa University Dr. Anzar A. Khuroo Dr. Biju Kumar Department of Botany HOD,Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kashmir, Srinagar University of Kerala Dr. Rajesh Singh Dr. TV. Sajeev Professor, Institute of Agriculture sciences Scientist- E1, Department of Forest Entomology Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi KFRI, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala Dr. T. T. Ajith Kumar Dr. A. N. Shylesha Senior Scientist & Scientist in Charge Principal Scientist NBFGR - ICAR - National Bureau of Fish Genetic National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources Resources, Lucknow (NBAIR), Banglore Dr. Suresh Kumar Dr. C. Sudhakar Reddy Central Arid Zone Research Institute Forestry and Ecology Division National Remote (ICAR), Jodhpur Sensing Agency, Balanagar, Hyderabad Dr. S. Sundaramoorthy Dr. Karthikeyan Vasudevan Assistant Director (Plant Pathology) CSIR – Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology National Plant Protection Organization (CCMB), Hyderabad Regional Plant Quarantine Station, Chennai. Sulagna Chattopadhyay Dr. B. Ramakrishnan Editor at IRIS Publication Pvt Ltd Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, Geography and You (G’nY), New Delhi. Government Arts College, Udhagamandalam Mita Banerjee, IFS Dr. Anwardeen, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Research), Chennai Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle Dr. A. K. Singh Dr. T. Selvamuthu Kumaran Former Director Asst. Prof. of Entomology ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, (DCFR), Anusandhan Bhawan, Industrial Area, Annamalainagar, Tamilnadu Bhimtal Dr. Prince prakash jeba kumar. J Dr. H. Abdual Jaffar Ali Scientist ‘D’, Assistant Professor Coastal Environmental Engineering Division National Department of Biotechonology Islamiah College Institute of Ocean Technology NIOT Campus, (Autonomous) New Town, Vaniyambadi- Chennai Dr. C. Raghunathan Mr. Swapan Mehrra Senior Scientist, Zoological Survey of India. CEO- IORA- Ecological Solutions, Delhi. Dr. Subhendu Kumar Otta. Dr. A. Rajasekaran Principal Scientist, CIBA, Chennai Scientist -E, National Project Coordinator - Invasive Alien Species, IFGTB,Coimbatore Dr. Gopi Ramasamy Dr. Goldin Quadros Director, CABI India, New Delhi Senior Scientist, SACON, Coimbatore Dr. Sampath Kumar Dr. S. Sandilyan Scientist, National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Fellow on IAS, CEBPOL, NBA, Chennai Resources (NBAIR), Banglore. Acknowledgements Recognizing the threat of invasive alien species to global biodiversity, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) asked the parties for urgent action through its Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011–2020). It also insisted the parties to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2020. Besides, the objectives of the strategic plan (Aichi Targets 9) clearly stated that, by 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment. Every parties needs certain additional effort to achieve Aichi Target 9. Considering the above facts NBA, has constituted an expert committee on invasive alien species to address the issues. The major objectives of the committee is to bring out a comprehensive list of invasive alien species of India and also develop and review the existing management strategies. The list of experts and the other contributors is placed in the annexure. CEBPOL and NBA acknowledges Dr. D. Narasimhan. Dr. Vidhyadhar Atkore, Mr. Nitya Prakash Mohanty and Mr. S. Vinothkumar for their comments. We specially thank our Norwegian partners and MoEF&CC for their support. Introduction Globally, invasive alien species have been considered as a grave threat to the biodiversity, ecosystem services and functions, human livelihoods and health and regional economy. Studies, in the recent past, have confirmed that the invasive species also have the potential to significantly alter the regional and global climate for example, several invasive plants accelerate the nitrogen and CO2 deposition, and thereby increase their levels in earth systems which in turn contribute to “global” warming, which changes the regional and global precipitation patterns (Michunas and Lauenroth1995; Dukes and Mooney, 1999; Asner et al., 2006; Field et al., 2007). Besides, researchers identified that one-sixth of the global land surface is highly vulnerable to bio-invasion (Early et al., 2016). On the other hand, increasing globalization facilitates more alien introductions in several parts of the world. Recen reports highlighted that international trade is a primary source of new introductions of invasive alien spices as stowaways or contaminants in goods and packing materials.. Especially, pet animals and ornamental plants trade through online is one of the major sources of exotic plant and animal introductions. This uncontrolled/unnoticed online trade leads to frequent escape or release of invasive alien species into wild (Early et al., 2016). Ironically, most of the countries, especially developing countries, have limited capacity to act against such alien introductions (Early et al., 2016). Ecological modelling studies on biological invasions have predicted that, in the coming days, developing countries will face more threats rather than the developed countries. Studies also highlighted that developing countries must prepare for a new suite of invasive species, as climate change disturbs resident ecosystems (Early et al., 2016). Besides, it is a fact that most of the countries do not have a comprehensive list of invasive alien species reported in their respective territories. Considering the large-scale negative impacts of invasive alien species on global biodiversity, Aichi Target 9 states ‘By the year 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment.’ Keeping this in view most of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) signatory countries initiated steps for identification and prioritization of some aggressive and wide spread invasive flora and fauna that are threatening the regional biodiversity, human health and agriculture (Early et al., 2016). Indian Scenario In India, many research organizations (government and non-government), state and central universities and colleges have initiated to document invasive alien species and their impacts on different ecosystems. Many studies have also been focusing on alien plants in different ecosystems. Indian researchers adopted numerous Invasive Alien Species of India 1 methodologies and approaches to study the alien flora during the last two decades. These include floristic and faunistic surveys and documentation, mapping,