Invasive species, ecosystem services and human well-being

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Environmental Science
• Conservation Biology
• Environmental Economics

Background:

• While the impact of invasive alien species (IAS) on native species is known, their effects on ecosystem services are less understood.
• Ecosystem services are vital for all life, encompassing provisioning, regulating, and cultural benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the costs and benefits of IAS on provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services.
• To identify understudied IAS impacts and knowledge gaps.
• To propose a framework for research and policy to integrate IAS impacts into decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing literature on IAS impacts on ecosystem services.
• Analysis of case studies from South Africa, the Great Lakes, and Hawaii.
• Integration of ecological and economic perspectives.

Main Results:

• IAS impose significant costs and offer some benefits across various ecosystem services.
• Synergies and trade-offs exist between different ecosystem services affected by IAS.
• Specific services and interactions require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Understanding and quantifying IAS impacts on ecosystem services is crucial for effective management.
• Integrating ecological and economic approaches is essential for informed decision-making.
• A coordinated research and policy framework is needed to address knowledge gaps and mitigate IAS threats.