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Invasive species in the Philippines

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The following is a list of invasive alien species (IAS) in the Philippines. These species are regarded to have a negative effect on the local ecosystem and the economy, although not all species introduced from outside the archipelago are considered as "invasive".{{cite news |last1=Fernandez |first1=Rudy |title=Imported 'invasive' species threaten Philippine fishery industry |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/16/1543458/imported-invasive-species-threaten-philippine-fishery-industry |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=The Philippine Star |date=16 January 2016}}

Notable species

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=Animals=

class="wikitable"
Picturewidth=10%| Common namewidth=10%| Species namewidth=8%| Introducedwidth=8%| Native toNotes
100pxCane toadRhinella marinaNationwideCentral AmericaOften erroneously referred to as "bullfrogs", cane toads are the most widely distributed invasive amphibian species. Sightings has been reported in at least 24 major islands across the Philippines, and is noted to have been recorded in the Palawan island group. The species was introduced in the Philippines in the 1930s, as a pest control method in sugar cane plantations.{{cite news |last1=Panela |first1=Shaina |title=Oops? QC barangay goofed in releasing cane toads to estero |url=https://www.rappler.com/environment/quezon-city-barangay-goofs-releasing-cane-toads-estero |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=Rappler |date=29 August 2019 |language=en}}
100pxChinese softshell turtlePelodiscus sinensisalign=center| —China{{cite news |last1=De Vera-Ruiz |first1=Ellalyn |title=Invasive species Chinese softshell turtle found in QC |url=https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/19/invasive-species-chinese-softshell-turtle-found-in-qc/ |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=19 October 2020}}
100pxClown knifefishChitala ornataLaguna de BayIndochinaRegarded as an ornamental fish in the Philippines, the clown knifefish is believed to have been introduced to Laguna de Bay in 2009 due to flooding caused by Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy). It is considered as an invasive species due to the knifefish preying on native fishes as well as introduced species cultivated for human consumption such as milkfish and tilapia.{{cite news |last1=Encelan |first1=Mirzi Angela |title=Eliminating 'pest' Knife Fish from Laguna Lake |url=https://lbtimes.ph/2017/04/29/eliminating-pest-knife-fish-from-laguna-lake/ |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=Los Baños Times |date=29 April 2017}}
100pxEastern mosquitofishGambusia holbrookialign=center| —Southeastern United StatesIntroduced in the Philippines in 1905 as a means to combat malaria.{{cite news |last1=Madarang |first1=Catalina Ricci |title=Ignoring warnings, government releases invasive frogs, fishes in hopes to fight dengue |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2019/08/27/154004/philippines-dengue-bullfrogs-mosquito-fish-invasive-species/ |access-date=2 June 2021 |work=Interaksyon |date=2019-08-27}}
100pxFinlayson's squirrelCallosciurus finlaysoniialign=center| –IndochinaFirst reported in gated subdivisions and golf courses in Metro Manila, the Finlayson's squirrel has also been sighted in Batangas and Nueva Ecija. The squirrels are considered as a threat to native bird species.{{cite news |last1=Mayuga |first1=Jonathan |title=Invasive squirrel species seen as threat to wildlife and farms |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/05/31/invasive-squirrel-species-seen-as-threat-to-wildlife-and-farms/ |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=BusinessMirror |date=31 May 2021}}
100pxGiant African land snailLissachatina fulicaNationwideEast AfricaIntroduced in the Philippines in 1942 during World War II by the Imperial Japanese military from Taiwan. A crop pest.{{cite journal |last1=Sosa |first1=Benjamin III |last2=Batomalaque |first2=Gizelle |last3=Fontanilla |first3=Ian Kendrich |title=An Updated Survey and Biodiversity Assessment of the Terrestrial Snail (Mollusca: Gastropoda) Species in Marinduque, Philippines |journal=Philippine Journal of Science |date=December 2014 |volume=143 |issue=2 |issn=0031-7683|page=202}}
100pxGolden apple snailPomacea canaliculataNationwideSouth AmericaIntroduced in the Philippines from Argentina via Taiwan in the 1980s. It was originally intended as a protein source for farmers' diet and was also kept as an aquarium pet. It is regarded as a crop pest in rice cultivation.{{cite book |title=Area-Wide Control of Insect Pests |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4020-6059-5_24 |chapter=Problems with the Management of the Golden Apple Snail Pomacea canaliculata: an Important Exotic Pest of Rice in Asia|year=2007 |doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-6059-5_24 |last1=Joshi |first1=R. C. |pages=257–264 |isbn=978-1-4020-6058-8 }}{{cite web |title=Pomacea canaliculata |url=http://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/archive/niaes/techdoc/apasd/Pomacea%20canaliculata%20(3)%20-B.html |website=Asian-Pacific Alien Species Database |publisher=National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences |access-date=1 June 2021}}
100pxRed-eared sliderTrachemys scripta elegansalign=center| –Southern United StatesPopularly kept as pets. The importation of turtles to the Philippines has been banned to manage the proliferation of the turtles in the country.{{cite news |last1=Teves |first1=Catherine |title=Surrender invasive turtles, DENR tells public |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136187 |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=8 April 2021 |language=en}}
100pxTilapiaVariousalign=center| –AfricaIntroduced in the Philippines in the 1970s. Although the fish has been made a staple of Filipino diet, it is noted to have displaced other native fishes fit for human consumption. Wild tilapia has been recorded in Lake Sebu, Agusan Marsh, and Liguasan Marsh.{{cite news |last1=Mayuga |first1=Jonathan |title=Plan vs janitor fish, other IAS completed|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/11/27/plan-vs-janitor-fish-other-ias-completed/ |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=BusinessMirror |date=27 November 2021}}

=Plants=

class="wikitable"
Picturewidth=10%| Common namewidth=10%| Species namewidth=8%| Introducedwidth=8%| Native toNotes
100pxHagonoyChromolaena odorataNationwideSouth AmericaNow a prevalent weed in the Philippines, the plant was introduced in the southern Philippines in the 1960s.{{cite journal |title=Primer on Biological Control of Hagonoy (Chromolaena odorata) |journal=CPD Technology Guide No. 8 |date=2008 |url=http://pca.da.gov.ph/coconutrde/images/icp8.pdf |publisher=Crop Protection Division Davao Research Center Agricultural Research & Development Branch - Philippine Coconut Authority}} It also easily spreads in agricultural land reducing space for edible plants consumed by livestock. Hagonoy itself is poisonous to livestock due to its allelopathic properties.{{cite journal |last1=Joshi |first1=Ravindra |title=Invasive alien species (IAS): Concerns and status in the Philippines |page=11-9 |url=https://www.fftc.org.tw/htmlarea_file/activities/20110826121346/paper-729213301.pdf |publisher=Philippine Rice Research Institute}}
100pxWater Hyacinth
(Water lily)		Eichornia crassipes{{cite journal |title=Framework for Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan |page=22 |url=https://bmb.gov.ph/index.php/e-library/publications/action-plans?download=138:philippine-plant-conservation-strategy-and-action-plan |publisher=Biodiversity Management Bureau}}NationwideSouth AmericaNoted to cover the Pasig River and affect Laguna de Bay during the rainy season. It competes with native plant species and covers wide swathes of surface causing low level of oxygen in the water. The plants however are recognized for their role in removing heavy metal in the Pasig River's polluted waters.{{cite news |last1=Mayuga |first1=Jonathan |title=Water hyacinth: Bane or boon? |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/06/23/water-hyacinth-bane-or-boon/ |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=BusinessMirror |date=23 June 2019}}{{cite news |title=Water hyacinth invades every empty surface of Pasig River in Manila |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/758420/water-hyacinth-invades-every-empty-surface-of-pasig-river-in-manila/story/ |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=GMA News |date=4 October 2020 |language=en}}

References

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{{Invasive species by country}}

Philippines

Philippines

Category:Biota of the Philippines

Category:Agriculture in the Philippines

Category:Environmental issues in the Philippines