Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
10:23
A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
Published on: July 11, 2025
A proposed unified framework for biological invasions
Tim M Blackburn1, Petr Pyšek, Sven Bacher
1Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK. tim.blackburn@ioz.ac.uk
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|May 24, 2011
Summary
Biological invasion research has grown significantly, but lacks a unified framework. This review proposes a single conceptual model to integrate existing frameworks, standardizing terminology for human-mediated invasions.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Research on biological invasions has surged in the last two decades.
- Disparate model frameworks across taxa and environments hinder a cohesive understanding of invasion biology.
- Inconsistent concepts, terms, and definitions complicate the field.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a unified framework for biological invasions.
- To reconcile and integrate key features of commonly used invasion frameworks.
- To provide a single conceptual model applicable to all human-mediated invasions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on biological invasion frameworks.
- Synthesis of stage-based and barrier models.
- Development of a unified conceptual model with standardized terminology.
Main Results:
- A unified framework for biological invasions is proposed.
- The framework integrates previous stage-based and barrier models.
- A standardized terminology and categorization for invasion process stages is provided.
Conclusions:
- A unified framework enhances understanding of biological invasions.
- Standardized terminology facilitates communication and research across disciplines.
- The proposed model offers a cohesive approach to studying human-mediated invasions.
Related Concept Videos
01:50Threats to Biodiversity
There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
01:17Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers
A species is a group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Typically, individuals of the same species appear similar and share common characteristics due to their highly similar genomes. However, not all organisms that look alike are members of the same species. Various mechanisms keep most species discrete. While some mechanisms prevent reproductive behavior and fertilization (pre-zygotic isolation), others prevent the production of fertile offspring after mating has...
01:28Biological Methods for Microbial Control
Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
01:19What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity describes the variety of living things at multiple organizational levels: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Species diversity includes all branches of the evolutionary tree from single-celled prokaryotic organisms, bacteria, and archaea, to the eukaryotic kingdoms: plants; animals; fungi; and protists. To date, there have been about 1.75 million species identified, and new species are discovered every week.
01:24Biodiversity and Human Values
Human civilization relies on biodiversity in many ways. Sudden changes in species biodiversity result in environmental changes that can modify weather patterns and therefore human civilizations.
01:22Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...