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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
06:48
Assessing Intertidal Populations of the Invasive European Green Crab
Published on: September 16, 2020
The evolutionary consequences of biological invasions
Andrew V Suarez1, Neil D Tsutsui
1Department of Animal Biology, University of Illinois, 320 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. avsuarez@life.uiuc.edu
Molecular Ecology
|January 5, 2008
Summary
Preventing new biological invasions requires understanding unique traits at each stage. Multiple introductions can be crucial for invasive species
Area of Science:
- Invasion Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Ecology
Background:
- Predicting and preventing new biological invasions remains a significant challenge.
- Invasion stages (transport, establishment, spread) involve distinct biological characteristics.
- Human-dominated landscapes exert novel selection pressures on introduced species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the evolutionary causes and consequences of biological invasions.
- To explore the role of multiple introductions in invasive species success.
- To highlight the utility of molecular techniques in understanding invasions.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent research across various taxa.
- Analysis of evolutionary factors driving invasion success.
- Application of modern molecular and genomic techniques.
Main Results:
- Introduction processes favor species adapted to disturbed, human-altered environments.
- Multiple introductions enhance genetic variation and facilitate adaptation.
- Molecular tools can trace origins, vectors, and genetic underpinnings of invasions.
Conclusions:
- Preventing initial introductions is crucial.
- Preventing secondary introductions and intra-species movement is also vital.
- Genomic tools offer powerful insights into the genetic basis of invasive success.
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