Invasion Biology and Ecosystem Impacts
Summary
Invasion biology examines the processes by which species are moved, intentionally or unintentionally, beyond their native ranges and the consequences of their establishment in new environments. These biological invasions proceed through sequential stages—introduction, establishment, spread and impact—and are driven by global trade, travel and landscape modification. Non-native organisms can alter community composition, disrupt trophic interactions, modify habitat structure and compromise ecosystem services such as water purification, pollination and carbon sequestration. Impacts range from rapid declines of indigenous species through predation or competition to subtler shifts in nutrient cycling and soil properties. Recent work emphasises that some non-native taxa may confer benefits, for example by bolstering regional species richness or stabilising ecosystem function under disturbance. Effective management requires integration of ecological theory, standardised terminology, risk assessment and stakeholder engagement, alongside adaptive policy frameworks that recognise both negative and potentially positive outcomes. The global scale of biological invasions makes transboundary collaboration and evidence-based prioritisation essential for mitigating biodiversity loss and safeguarding human well-being.
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Invasion Biology and Ecosystem Impacts publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in invasion biology and ecosystem impacts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biological invasion: The process by which organisms are transported beyond their native range, establish, spread and interact with recipient ecosystems.
Non-native species: Organisms introduced by human activity outside their natural biogeographic distribution.
Established non-native: Non-native species that have formed self-sustaining populations in the wild.
Invasive non-native: Established non-native species that spread rapidly and cause measurable ecological or socio-economic impacts.
Ecological impact: Changes in ecosystem structure, function or service delivery resulting from species introductions.
References
- Taming the terminological tempest in invasion science. Biological Reviews (2024).
- The importance of assessing positive and beneficial impacts of alien species. NeoBiota (2020).
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