Crossing Frontiers in Tackling Pathways of Biological Invasions

Author
Essl Franz
Bacher S.
Blackburn T.M.
Booy Olaf
Brundu G.
Brunel Sarah
Cardoso A C
Eschen René
Gallardo Belinda
Galil Bella
García-Berthou Emili
Genovesi Piero
Groom Quentin
Harrower Colin A
Hulme Philip E
Katsanevakis S
Kenis Marc
Kühn Ingolf
Kumschick Sabrina
Martinou Angeliki F
Nentwig Wolfgang
O'Flynn Colette
Pagad Shyama
Pergl Jan
Pyšek Petr
Rabitsch W.
Richardson David M
Roques Alain
Roy Helen E.
Scalera Riccardo
Schindler Stefan
Seebens Hanno
Vanderhoeven S
Vilà Montserrat
Wilson J.
Zentos A
Jeschke Jonathan M
Abstract

<p>Substantial progress has been made in understanding how pathways underlie and mediate biological invasions. However, key features of their role in invasions remain poorly understood, available knowledge is widely scattered, and major frontiers in research and management are insufficiently characterized. We review the state of the art, highlight recent advances, identify pitfalls and constraints, and discuss major challenges in four broad fields of pathway research and management: pathway classification, application of pathway information, management response, and management impact. We present approaches to describe and quantify pathway attributes (e.g., spatiotemporal changes, proxies of introduction effort, environmental and socioeconomic contexts) and how they interact with species traits and regional characteristics. We also provide recommendations for a research agenda with particular focus on emerging (or neglected) research questions and present new analytical tools in the context of pathway research and management.</p>

Year of Publication
2015
Journal
BioScience
Volume
65
Start Page
769
Issue
8
Number of Pages
769-782
ISSN Number
0006-3568
URL
DOI
10.1093/biosci/biv082
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