Enhanced genetic diversity arising from interspecific hybridisation and from multiple introductions from different source populations has played a major role in the evolution of invasive traits in introduced populations. Across Europe, mitochondrial haplotypes associated with the Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica have been discovered in populations of the Chinese mitten...
To experimentally assess the ecological impact of non-native species, their presence or abundance is usually manipulated under simplified conditions. Yet, their impact may depend on interactions with native species, whose presence and abundance then also need to be considered. We examined whether the ecological impact of a recent invader in the Baltic Sea, the shrimp Palaemon...
Some populations of alien species, established by a small number of individuals, spread rapidly. This is the ‘genetic paradox of invasions’ as they must overcome the negative effects of the demographic bottleneck during the establishment phase, which reduces genetic diversity, fitness and evolutionary potential. Using a set of experimentally introduced populations of the Roesel’s...
The globally important plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi was first reported in South Africa in 1931, where it caused substantial damage to avocado orchards. Surprisingly, 40 years passed before the pathogen was recognised as a significant threat to South Africa’s natural ecosystems. This first became evident when P. cinnamomi caused a “quick decline” of the iconic silver...
Mutualisms are important determinants of the invasion success of alien plants. If alien plants are specialized in their mutualistic requirements, or need different types of mutualistic partners (e.g., pollinators and seed dispersers), invasion success may be hampered. Many studies only consider one type of mutualistic relationship when examining the interaction ecology of alien...
Addressing the challenge biological invasions pose to island biodiversity is pivotal to achieving Target 6 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Using a suite of 24 indicators, we evaluated the current status of biological invasions and their management on the Prince Edward Islands, South Africa’s sub-Antarctic territories, and provide recommendations for...
The ecological role, bloom extent and long-term dynamics of jellyfishes are mostly overlooked due to sampling limitations, leading to the lack of continuous long-term datasets. A rise in frequency and magnitude of jellyfish invasion around the world is shedding new light on these organisms. In this study, we estimate the current and future distribution of the introduced jellyfish...
Biological invasions driven by international trade heighten the urgency for development of invasion risk models, as the traits and parameters that consistently predict successful invasion remain unresolved. For four regions of North America that include parts of the United States and Canada (Sacramento-San Joaquin River Basins, Lower Colorado River Basin, Great Lakes Region, Mid...
Screening incoming plants for potentially invasive species is key to preventing new invasions on islands. Doing this effectively requires knowledge of plants already present and invasive in the country, and which pathways, donor regions and plant families have previously contributed the most invasives. As Bermuda previously lacked such a dataset, we compiled a comprehensive...
Predicting invasion risk to novel environments is essential for risk management and conservation decision making but the evolutionary lineage at which to make these predictions is often unclear. Here we predict the current suitability across the United Kingdom (UK) for the alpine newt Ichthyosaura alpestris, a species with a complex evolutionary history, a broad native range, a...
In 2007, the South African government commissioned a national-scale survey of invasive alien plants. The survey estimated the cover of 14 plant taxa on 47,830 plots of 100 × 100 m, using observers in low-flying aircraft. The survey was completed in 2008 and repeated between 2016 and 2023. An estimated 1.6% of the country was invaded at the end of the second survey, an increase of...
Soil plays a critical role in ecosystem functioning and on the provision of ecosystem services. The soil fauna, especially earthworms, contributes to these processes through their action on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. Recently, however, several regions of the world have been invaded by alien land flatworms, among which some species are predators...
Tetraclinis articulata, endangered in the western Mediterranean, is suspected to have become invasive in the eastern Mediterranean. This study assessed its naturalization/invasion status across Israel, where it was planted over 6000 ha in semi-arid and Mediterranean regions. We hypothesized that T. articulata colonizes undisturbed sites with low competition in combination with...
Non-indigenous Species (NIS) pose significant threats to marine biodiversity globally, especially in ecologically sensitive habitats such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This study uses data collected in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (North Atlantic), Portugal, to create a spatial model aiming to (1) develop a spatially explicit index of NIS dispersal from known hotspots...
The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB; Euwallacea fornicatus), is an invasive ambrosia beetle and poses a significant threat to a wide range of tree species globally. Despite its potential impact, research on the beetle's spread and impacts in natural ecosystems remains limited. This study examines the interactions between PSHB and native forest ecosystems in two regions in South...
The Western Indian Ocean biodiversity hotspot hosts a remarkable array of endemic species, but invasive alien species increasingly threaten its unique ecosystems. Lizards of the West African Agama agama species group are successful colonizers, with recent introductions to Grande Comore (Comoros Archipelago) and Reunion Island. Systematic revisions within the native range of the A...
Invaders can have devastating impacts on freshwater ecosystems, but these impacts can subside over time as ecosystems “adapt” to the invasion of new species. We analyzed changes in species composition and density of molluscs in Oneida Lake (New York, USA), one of the best studied North American lakes based on detailed surveys conducted in 1915–17, 1967–68, 1992–95, 2012, and 2022...
Recent increased interest in the role of invasive bivalve species in the translocation of non-native parasite and symbiont species prompted the re-examination of archived samples of zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha collected in 2012 and 2013 from Cardiff Bay, Wales and Grafham Water, England. Histopathological survey of parasites and pests identified the presence of...
The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi is native to the Atlantic coasts of the Americas and is considered a threat to biodiversity and food webs in recipient ecosystems. Most of these invasive ctenophores perish during the cold winter in temperate northern European waters (North and Baltic Seas) but spread again every summer/autumn. We collected ctenophores from the southern North Sea...
Along U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coast barrier islands, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are top predators that are thought to impact smaller mesopredators and depredate beach-nesting birds. Starting in 2015, sarcoptic mange epizootics among red foxes led to their eventual temporary extirpation from most of Fire Island, NY, USA. We monitored the subsequent changes to the mammalian predator...
The increasing prevalence of non-indigenous species (NIS) in marine ecosystems poses significant challenges for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. Advances in molecular techniques enable early detection and long-term monitoring of such taxa, especially when coupled with spatio-temporally wide sampling by networks such as the European ARMS Marine Biodiversity...
Non-indigenous species (NIS) are on a rise globally. They can pose strong impacts on ecosystems in their non-native range and can therefore be a serious threat to biodiversity. Here, we compile the existing information available regarding the extent to which commercially and recreationally used fish stocks (exploited fish species) are affected by NIS. To do so, we conducted a...