Impacts of biological invasions: what's what and the way forward

• Published in: Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 58 - 66
• Main Authors: Simberloff, Daniel, Martin, Jean-Louis, Genovesi, Piero, Maris, Virginie, Wardle, David A., Aronson, James, Courchamp, Franck, Galil, Bella, García-Berthou, Emili, Pascal, Michel, Pyšek, Petr, Sousa, Ronaldo, Tabacchi, Eric, Vilà, Montserrat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2013; Cell Press; Elsevier; Elsevier (Cell Press)
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biodiversity and Ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological invasions; biosecurity; Communication; community and ecosystem impact; Conservation of Natural Resources; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; ecology; Ecology, environment; Ecosystems; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; Environmental Sciences; eradication; Espècies introduïdes; Forest Science; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; global change; Introduced organisms; Introduced Species; Invasions biològiques; Life Sciences; long-term management; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Public Opinion; resource management; Science & Technology; Skogsvetenskap; societal perception; society; Uncertainty; biosecurity; community and ecosystem impact; eradication; long-term management; societal perception; Environmental monitoring; Biological invasion; Environmental protection; Community and ecosystem impact; Societal perception; Long-term management; Biosecurity; Eradication
• ISSN: 0169-5347; 1872-8383; 1872-8383
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2012.07.013

Study of the impacts of biological invasions, a pervasive component of global change, has generated remarkable understanding of the mechanisms and consequences of the spread of introduced populations. The growing field of invasion science, poised at a crossroads where ecology, social sciences, resource management, and public perception meet, is increasingly exposed to critical scrutiny from several perspectives. Although the rate of biological invasions, elucidation of their consequences, and knowledge about mitigation are growing rapidly, the very need for invasion science is disputed. Here, we highlight recent progress in understanding invasion impacts and management, and discuss the challenges that the discipline faces in its science and interactions with society.