Hello Thomas; Here's my list.
Above ground. Humans
Below ground. Linepithema humile, the Argentine Ant. Displaces native ants anywhere they occur in Mediterranean climates.
Under water. Dressena polymorpha, the Zebra Mussel. Rampant in fresh-water habitats to the point that it has clogged municipal water systems and displaces native filter-feeders. I'm sure that other folks will have other excellent candidates for "the worst".
Best regards, Jim Des Lauriers
Hello Thomas,
Have a look at the supplementary files of this recent paper, and the litterature associated :
Cuthbert, R.N., Diagne, C., Haubrock, P.J. et al. Are the “100 of the world’s worst” invasive species also the costliest?. Biol Invasions 24, 1895–1904 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02568-7
Best,
Alexandre
Hello Thomas.
I agree with James Des Lauriers that Humans top the list on land (and probably in the oceans too).
I checked the paper Alexandre Schickele suggested, and wonder if the figures for damage allow for the value of positive effects. Thus feral cats are by far the most costly; but cats keep down rats and mice, keeping their damage costs lower, and practically all cat "kills" measured do not allow for the road-kills and window-strikes brought back home.
All the best, John
Determining the most aggressive and expansionist pack and single species in the world is a difficult task, as aggression and expansionism can vary greatly depending on the context and environment. However, here are some examples of aggressive and expansionist pack and single species, both above and below water:
Above water:
- African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus): These pack animals are known for their aggressive hunting tactics and ability to take down prey much larger than themselves. They also have a large home range and can quickly expand their territory.
- Grey wolves (Canis lupus): Wolves are also pack animals and have been known to attack and kill livestock and even humans in some cases. They have a large territory range and have been able to adapt to various environments, allowing them to expand their range.
- Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus): These single species are invasive in Florida and have been known to expand their range by consuming a variety of native wildlife, including mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Below water:
- Killer whales (Orcinus orca): These pack animals are known for their aggressive hunting tactics, including attacking and killing other marine mammals such as seals and even other whales. They have a wide geographic range and are found in all of the world's oceans.
- Lionfish (Pterois spp.): These single species are invasive in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and have been known to outcompete and prey on native fish species, leading to significant ecological impacts.
It's important to note that aggression and expansionism are not necessarily positive traits and can have negative ecological impacts
However I will say no one can beat human above as well as below water
Thank you Sachin. Very interesting take. Especially the Lionfish.
Hi.
I fully agree with James Des Lauriers about the Argentine Ant, with a wide distribution across the world.
About plants, at least in some archipelagos and continental areas, one of the most dangerous species is Cenchrus setaceus (= C. orientalis), and also Ailanthus altissima. These two taxa are among the 100 Top invasive plant species established in the Macaronesian islands.
Best regards.
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