Studying invasion: have we missed the boat?

Abstract

Invasive species, and the ensuing homogenization of the world's biota, form a global problem with consequences ranging from the decline and extirpation of native species to threats to human health. The magnitude of this issue demands a thorough understanding of the invasion process, which consists of three main stages: initial dispersal, establishment of self-sustaining populations, and spread. To assess the relative distribution of research effort among these stages, we conducted a literature review using 873 articles published in 23 major journals over the past 10 years. Of the 873 papers, only 96 (11.0%) studied initial dispersal, and only half of these (6.2% of the total) were empirical. As the first stage in a contingent process, we argue that initial dispersal is the best stage during which to direct management efforts. In addition, initial dispersal has direct relevance for fundamental ecological questions regarding community assembly and metacommunity dynamics. In so far that answering these questions and preventing invasion are goals of ecologists, the disparity in research effort noted here suggests that ecologists need to expand their efforts to include more research on initial dispersal.

Modelling ecosystem structure and trophic interactions in a typical cyanobacterial bloom-dominated shallow Lake Dianchi, China

“…The ecosystem structure in YunnanGuizhou plateau was different from most lakes in the Yangtze River basin where the ecosystem showed more diversity of fish community (almost 40-70 species) and a large proportion of piscivorous fish (Liu, 1984). In addition, the historical loss of biodiversity in Lake Dianchi was attributed to the effect from deterioration of the ecosystem triggered by eutrophication (Jeppesen et al, 2000) and introduction of exotic fish (Didham et al, 2005;Puth and Post, 2005).…”

Conceptual Frameworks and Methods for Advancing Invasion Ecology

“…Similarly, researchers preferentially use those research methods that are easier to put into practice. Finally, initial introduction seems to be much less studied than other phases of the invasion process (Puth and Post 2005). These difficulties could be overcome, at least partly, if review studies that summarize existing data and identify research gaps and biases, such as the one by Pyšek et al (2008), would be undertaken more frequently.…”

“…It should be expected, thus, that knowledge has increased considerably since the beginning of invasion research. Nevertheless, progress towards satisfactory explanation and prediction of invasions as well as management of invasive species is rather slow (Puth and Post 2005;Lockwood et al 2007;Blackburn et al 2009;Davis 2009;Richardson 2011b;Moles et al 2012).…”

Understanding and managing the introduction pathways of alien taxa: South Africa as a case study

“…Preventing the introduction of alien taxa is often more cost-effective than managing these taxa after introduction (Leung et al 2002;Puth and Post 2005;Wittenberg and Cock 2005;Simberloff 2006;Simberloff et al 2013). Most efforts to prevent the introduction of alien taxa into a new region focus on species-or pathway-centred approaches (Hulme 2006).…”