Non-Native Invasive Species as Ecosystem Service Providers

Abstract

Non-native or alien species present a range of threats to native ecosystems and human well-being. Many such species have selective advantages over native species, such as faster growth and reproduction rates, higher ecological tolerance, or more effective dispersal mechanisms. However, these species are often inadvertently demonised without sufficient awareness of the ecological principles-disturbance, niche and competitionthat contribute to species dominance in an ecosystem. Non-native species can provide services useful to humans, particularly in facilitating many contemporary needs of modern civilisation. In the present paper, the available records on the influence of non-native invasive species and the relationship between services lost and new services acquired due to their presence will be discussed.

You Can’t See the Woods for the Trees: Invasive Acer negundo L. in Urban Riparian Forests Harms Biodiversity and Limits Recreation Activity

“…Should they be protected as remnants of natural vegetation or a rather more flexible approach should be used, not removing invasive species, despite them posing a threat to biodiversity and to make it available to the public because of their contribution to recreation. Invasive species impede biodiversity, but also offer a multitude of other services to the residents [29,86], therefore their removal in cities, where they were introduced in the first place as ornamental plants, requires understanding of both the ecological process and taking into account the preferences of the public.…”

“…From the point of the biodiversity preservation the ash-leaved maples should be removed [83], but considering the costs and constantly occurring disturbances in the area, it is expected that the maple will become an inseparable component of the city's green spaces. The maple can be treated more gently and not be strongly controlled, the risk of invasion expansion should be taken into account, but so should its role in contributing to recreation and ecosystem services provisioning [29]. If removal of A. negundo is necessary, it should be carefully considered and if occurring should be spread over a longer period (over 30 years), allowing the indigenous plant communities to recover and regenerate and eliminate the invasive maple through natural biotic pressure [76].…”

Short Communication: Local perceptions about utilization of invasive alien species Opuntia ficus-indica in three Local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

“…Borokini and Babalola (2012) argued that economic exploitation of invasive alien species is usually labor intensive and menial jobs are usually created while providing additional means of income for local communities. Similarly, Sladonja et al (2018) argued that invasive alien plants can be used as catalysts for ecosystem restoration, source of bioenergy, honey, fiber, ornamental plants, and herbal medicines. Exotic plant species are now regarded as an important component of traditional pharmacopeia in many developing countries (Bennett and Prance 2000;Alencar et al 2010Alencar et al , 2014Borokini and Babalola 2012;Maroyi 2018;Semenya and Maroyi 2018;Sladonja et al 2018).…”

Invasive alien species as simultaneous benefits and burdens: trends, stakeholder perceptions and management

“…For example, in Colombia the invasive population of hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius), coming from the private zoo of famous drug cartel leader Pablo Escobar, is still growing and remains unregulated because of the charismatic nature of the species and its colorful historical context, which provide value in the public's eye (Jarić et al, 2020). Schlaepfer et al (2011 and Sladonja et al (2018) detail multiple examples of IAS that serve an important ecosystem role, including provision of habitat, shelter or food for native species, catalysts for restoration or substitutes for extinct taxa.…”