nonIndigenous

Nonindigenous refers to organisms that are not native to a particular geographic area. The term is used in biology, ecology, and environmental policy to describe species whose natural distribution does not include the area in question. Nonindigenous species may have arrived through human activities such as trade, travel, agriculture, or through natural range expansion, and may establish populations outside their historical ranges. It is often used as an umbrella term that encompasses introduced, exotic, or non-native species, while avoiding some connotations associated with terms like alien or invasive.

In practice, nonindigenous species are not inherently harmful. Many never establish viable populations, spread slowly, or coexist with little impact. Others can become invasive, outcompeting native species, altering habitats, and causing economic or ecological damage. Management and policy responses typically distinguish nonindigenous from indigenous species and assess risks, pathways of introduction, and potential for harm.

The term is also used in contexts beyond ecology, but it is most common in biodiversity, conservation, and environmental law. While similar to non-native or introduced, nonindigenous emphasizes the absence of native status rather than the mode of introduction, and it may be preferred in formal or international reporting to maintain neutral language.

Overall, nonindigenous is a descriptive, non-prescriptive term used to categorize species in relation to a defined ecosystem.