The disconnect between research and practice is an issue in many fields of inquiry, but is particularly critical with invasive species where effective management decisions are highly dependent on information generated by research. We propose Translational Invasion Ecology to increase outcomes and improve results as climate change and globalization exacerbate this global threat. Expanding on Translational Ecology, a new term for an old idea that resource managers and scientists need to work together to solve pressing ecological problems, TIE is an intentional process in which researchers, stakeholders, and decision makers work collaboratively to develop research on invasive species via joint consideration of the sociological, ecological, and political contexts of invasives management that ideally results in improved decision making.
Results/Conclusions
We will delineate the steps of TIE and show examples of how it is being successfully carried out across the globe, including by the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) network. RISCC addresses the question that was asked by invasive species managers “How can we manage for upcoming biological invasions in the light of climate change?” by identifying stakeholder needs, synthesizing existing research, developing new research and tools, and supporting increased collaboration among scientists and managers. Invasive species management is in need of new strategies, both for research and application, and the TIE framework provides a new path for success.