Global threats from invasive alien species in the twenty-first century and national response capacities

Dukes, Jeffrey S.

Thursday, August 10, 2017: 8:00 AM

D135, Oregon Convention Center

Regan Early, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, Cornwall, United Kingdom, Bethany A. Bradley, Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA, Jeffrey S. Dukes, Purdue Climate Change Research Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, Joshua J. Lawler, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Julian D. Olden, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Dana M. Blumenthal, USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, CO, Patrick Gonzalez, National Park Service, Washington, DC, Edwin D. Grosholz, Environmental Science and Policy, Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, Inés Ibáñez, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Luke P. Miller, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, Cascade J. B. Sorte, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA and Andrew J. Tatem, University of Southampton

Background/Question/Methods

A wide variety of invasive alien species (IAS) threaten human livelihoods and biodiversity around the world. Increasing globalization facilitates IAS arrival, and environmental changes, including climate change, facilitate IAS establishment. Here, we provide the first global spatial analysis of the terrestrial threat from IAS in light of 21^st century globalization and environmental change, and evaluate national capacities to prevent and manage species invasions.

Results/Conclusions

We find that one-sixth of the global land surface is highly vulnerable to invasion, including substantial areas in developing economies and biodiversity hotspots. The dominant invasion vectors differ between high-income countries (imports, particularly of plants and pets) and low-income countries (air travel). Most countries have limited capacity to prevent or mitigate invasions. Uniting data on introduction and establishment factors locally can improve early-warning and eradication schemes. In particular, we identify a clear need for proactive invasion strategies in areas with high poverty levels, high biodiversity, and low historical levels of invasion.

OOS 38-1 - Global threats from invasive alien species in the twenty-first century and national response capacities