Nonnative Species

Nonnative species are ones that have been introduced to an area by humans.They are also known as introduced species. They are sometimes introduced on purpose and sometimes by accident. Introduced plants can be classified into one of several categories: naturalized, exotic, or cultivated. Naturalized plants are ones that have been introduced by man, but have become established on their own. This means that they have become self-seeding. Exotic species are those that are strikingly different and unusual for that area. Cultivated species are ones that are intentionally raised and rely on humans to provide them with a suitable environment and for reproduction.

Some examples of organisms that have been introduced to Bermuda:

• Plants
• Poison Ivy-naturalized, Rhus radicans
• Tobacco-naturalized and cultivated, Nicotiana tabacum
• Buttonweed-naturalized, Borreria laevis
• Mexican or Brazilian Pepper Tree-naturalized, Schinus terebinthifolius
• Spanish Moss-naturalized, Tillandsia usneoides
• Morning Glory (Blue Dawn Flower)-naturalized (invasive), Ipomoea indica
• Screw Palm-exotic, Pandanus utilis
• Casuarina (Horsetail Tree)-naturalized, Casuarina equisetifolia
• Surinam Cherry-naturalized (invasive), Eugenia uniflora
• Royal Poinciana-exotic, Delonix regia
• Orange-cultivated, Citrus sinensis
• Poinsettia Joseph's Coat (Japanese Poinsettia)-naturalized, Euphorbia heterophylla
• Animals
• humans!
• hogs-for food
• cats and dogs-as pets
• Mediterranean fruit fly-by accident-ate citrus crops
• Jamaica Anole (a small lizard that can change colors like a chameleon)-to eat fruit flies-ate citrus instead, Anolis grahami
• Great Kiskadee (a loud, yellow-breasted bird)-to eat lizards-also preferred citrus, Pitangus sulphuratus
• Whistling Frog (very tiny tree frogs that serenade the island at night), Eleutherodactylus johnstonei
• Giant Toad, Bufo marinus
• Other birds
• Mallard Duck, Anas platyrhynchos
• Wild Canary (died out), Serinus canarius
• Cardinal (Redbird), Cardinalis cardinalis
• European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
• European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
• House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
• Common Crow (maybe), Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Ground Dove (maybe), Columbigallina passerina

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