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Scientists' warning on invasive alien species.

  • Pyšek P Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, Průhonice, CZ-252 43, Czech Republic.
  • Hulme PE Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.
  • Simberloff D Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, U.S.A.
  • Bacher S Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
  • Blackburn TM Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
  • Carlton JT Maritime Studies Program, Williams College - Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville, Mystic, CT, 06355, U.S.A.
  • Dawson W Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, U.K.
  • Essl F Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
  • Foxcroft LC Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
  • Genovesi P Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
  • Jeschke JM Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany.
  • Kühn I Department Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, Halle, 06120, Germany.
  • Liebhold AM US Forest Service Northern Research Station, 180 Canfield St., Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.A.
  • Mandrak NE Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada.
  • Meyerson LA Department of Natural Resources Science, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, 02881, U.S.A.
  • Pauchard A Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
  • Pergl J Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, Průhonice, CZ-252 43, Czech Republic.
  • Roy HE U.K. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, U.K.
  • Seebens H Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany.
  • van Kleunen M Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Constance, 78457, Germany.
  • Vilà M Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avd. Américo Vespucio 26, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla, 41092, Spain.
  • Wingfield MJ Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Richardson DM Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
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  • 2020-06-27
Published in:
  • Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. - 2020
biological invasions
biosecurity
environmental impacts
global change
invasion dynamics
invasion hotspots
naturalization
policy
protected areas
socioeconomic impacts
English Biological invasions are a global consequence of an increasingly connected world and the rise in human population size. The numbers of invasive alien species - the subset of alien species that spread widely in areas where they are not native, affecting the environment or human livelihoods - are increasing. Synergies with other global changes are exacerbating current invasions and facilitating new ones, thereby escalating the extent and impacts of invaders. Invasions have complex and often immense long-term direct and indirect impacts. In many cases, such impacts become apparent or problematic only when invaders are well established and have large ranges. Invasive alien species break down biogeographic realms, affect native species richness and abundance, increase the risk of native species extinction, affect the genetic composition of native populations, change native animal behaviour, alter phylogenetic diversity across communities, and modify trophic networks. Many invasive alien species also change ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services by altering nutrient and contaminant cycling, hydrology, habitat structure, and disturbance regimes. These biodiversity and ecosystem impacts are accelerating and will increase further in the future. Scientific evidence has identified policy strategies to reduce future invasions, but these strategies are often insufficiently implemented. For some nations, notably Australia and New Zealand, biosecurity has become a national priority. There have been long-term successes, such as eradication of rats and cats on increasingly large islands and biological control of weeds across continental areas. However, in many countries, invasions receive little attention. Improved international cooperation is crucial to reduce the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human livelihoods. Countries can strengthen their biosecurity regulations to implement and enforce more effective management strategies that should also address other global changes that interact with invasions.
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  • English
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hybrid
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https://sonar.ch/global/documents/23533
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