Invasive species drive cross-ecosystem effects worldwide

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Invasive species significantly impact invaded ecosystems.
• Their effects can extend beyond local boundaries by altering cross-ecosystem flows.
• Current understanding of these cross-ecosystem impacts is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize evidence on the cross-ecosystem impacts of invasive species.
• To demonstrate that these impacts are a ubiquitous global phenomenon.
• To identify mechanisms driving these cross-ecosystem effects.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis of emerging evidence on invasive species impacts.
• Analysis of how invasive species alter spatial flows across ecosystem boundaries.
• Categorization of cross-ecosystem effects into three primary modes.

Main Results:

• Invasive species ubiquitously influence global biodiversity and ecosystem functioning through cross-ecosystem effects.
• Three primary mechanisms identified: altering flow magnitude, altering flow quality, and introducing novel flows.
• These impacts extend beyond the directly invaded ecosystem.

Conclusions:

• Invasive species exert significant impacts across ecosystem boundaries.
• A paradigm shift is needed to study and manage invasive species from a cross-ecosystem perspective.
• Effective management requires considering broader ecological connections.