Common in disturbed and natural habitats. (Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA);
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Invasive. (Pagad, S. & Wong, L.J., 2020. Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species - Turks and Caicos Islands. Version 1.2. Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG). Checklist dataset. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15468/ytdnvt; Carey, E. et al (2014). Plant conservation challenges in the Bahama archipelago. The Botanical Review,80, pp.265-282););
Displaces native vegetation and changes the habitat. It poses a threat to the endemic rock iguana which occurs on the Ambergris Cays by displacing the native plant which it depends on for food. It will also affect nesting seabirds by altering the habitat and potentially breeding turtles. (Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention); It colonises sand dunes and outcompetes native coastal vegetation. It negatively impacts various critically endangered and vulnerable species. (Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA);
It is native to tropical and subtropical coasts along the Indian Ocean, in China, SE Asia, and in the Pacific Islands. (Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA);
Inkberry is a popular ornamental species and there is a risk that it could be deliberately planted on Big Ambergris Cay, which is a private island. Another pathway is via fruit and plant fragments dispersed on vegetation rafts by ocean currents. Fruit may float for up to one year.(Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention); Natural dispersal: fruits are adapted to be dispersed by ocean currents and may float for up to a year. Plant fragments and stems may be dispersed on vegetation rafts. Intentional dispersal: introduced as a salt-tolerant ornamental on many West Indian islands. Dispersed widely in plant trade. (Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA);
Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention.pdf; Carey, E. et al (2014). Plant conservation challenges in the Bahama archipelago. The Botanical Review,80, pp.265-282); Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA; Pagad, S. & Wong, L.J., 2020. Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species - Turks and Caicos Islands. Version 1.2. Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG). Checklist dataset. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15468/ytdnvt;