A Safe Haven for Three Freshwater Invasive Alien Species in Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Invasive alien species are non-native species that have been introduced either through self-introduction or by man and which have subsequently become a threat to a country’s economy (e.g., agriculture and trade, infrastructure [e.g., water supplies], human health, etc.). They may also impact biodiversity, habitat quality, and ecosystem functions. Aquatic invasive alien species (IAS) have been documented in both Trinidad and Tobago but generally are regarded as established or naturalised exotics, as their potential negative impacts are not appreciated fully.