A comprehensive study, involving 17 national and international institutions, has cataloged 1,260 non-native plant taxa in continental Ecuador. This research, led by Ecuador's National Institute of Biodiversity (INABIO) and the Universidad Espíritu Santo, significantly expands previous inventories, more than doubling the number of recorded introduced flora.
The findings indicate that out of the 1,260 documented non-native plant taxa, 770 are cultivated species, and 486 have established wild populations. Of these wild populations, 255 species have been identified as naturalized, meaning they can reproduce and sustain themselves independently. These introduced plants now constitute approximately 2.6% of Ecuador's continental flora, which is estimated to comprise about 18,600 native taxa.
A substantial 79% of these non-native species are utilized locally, with ornamental purposes accounting for 42% and medicinal uses for 38%. Other uses include food crops, fodder, forestry, and traditional applications. This integration highlights the significant role of human activity in the introduction of new plant life.
Globally, biological invasions are a critical threat to biodiversity, human health, and economies, with invasive non-native species contributing to 60% of all documented global extinctions. The ongoing increase in new introductions worldwide underscores the importance of cataloging and monitoring efforts. Previous research on the economic costs of biological invasions in Ecuador, particularly in the Galapagos Islands, estimated costs between $86.17 million and $626 million from 1983 to 2017, with management expenditures reaching approximately $84 million.
The study also revealed that over 60% of the non-native taxa originated from Asia and/or Africa, with herbs being the predominant life form (67%). The Andean region shows the highest concentration of wild non-native species, accounting for 93% of the total. Families such as Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae are the most represented. The introduction history indicates that 87% of these plants have been in Ecuador for less than 125 years, with a notable increase observed since 1915.