The impacts of biological invasions
Journal article, 2025
The Anthropocene is characterised by a continuous human-mediated reshuffling of the distributions of species globally. Both intentional and unintentional introductions have resulted in numerous species being translocated beyond their native ranges, often leading to their establishment and subsequent spread – a process referred to as biological invasion. Biological invasions are associated with profound changes in the composition, structure, and functioning of recipient ecosystems, plus substantial financial losses and disruptions to society, culture, and human well-being. These ecological, economic, and socio-cultural impacts are interrelated, ubiquitous, and detrimental, yet they are often subjectively perceived or inaccurately quantified. Persistent knowledge gaps remain, however, which limit our understanding of the complex and multifaceted causes and mechanisms of invasion impacts. To overcome these gaps and comprehensively capture all related facets pertaining to the nature and diversity of invasion impact, this scoping review of academic studies, grey literature, and expert reports provides a conceptual model for interpreting invasion impacts, structured around three interrelated pillars: impact domains, challenges in the study of impacts, and available risk- and impact assessments. We initially explore the various mechanisms and consequences of ecological, economic, and socio-cultural invasion impacts and their temporal dynamics, substantiating these with relevant empirical examples. We then review common challenges and fallacies in studying invasion impacts, including context specificity and inter-comparability of impact magnitudes, challenges associated with quantifying non-ecological impacts, and research biases, before synthesising how risks are analysed and impacts assessed, and how these assessments ultimately inform management decisions. Our review underscores the multifaceted and complex nature of invasion impacts, and that effectively addressing biological invasions requires more than isolated, reactive interventions; it calls for globally coordinated, proactive action underpinned by reliable scientific knowledge, sincere political commitment, and broad public engagement. Drawing on nearly a century of literature and global expert contributions, this work offers a comprehensive, nuanced, and timely overview of the potential consequences of biological invasions, providing a valuable foundation for informing future research directions, management interventions, and policy development.
risk analysis
invasion impacts
impact assessment
ecological effects
biological invasions
Author
Phillip J. Haubrock
Bournemouth University
Jihoceska Univerzita v Ceskuch Budejovicich
Teun Everts
KU Leuven
Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels
Neil Angelo S. Abreo
Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao
Jihoceska Univerzita v Ceskuch Budejovicich
Jamie Bojko
Teesside University
Victor Deklerck
Meise Botanic Garden
James W.E. Dickey
Centre for Ecological Research
Ana Clara S. Franco
University of Girona
Emili García-Berthou
University of Girona
Stelios Katsanevakis
University of the Aegean
Natalia I. Kirichenko
Russian Academy of Sciences
Siberian Federal University
Slovenian Forestry Institute
Stefano Mammola
University of Helsinki
National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC)
Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, Italy
Martin A. Nuñez
University of Houston
Ben Parker
Bournemouth University
University of Exeter
Riccardo Scalera
Universita degli studi - Roma Tre
Ismael Soto
Jihoceska Univerzita v Ceskuch Budejovicich
Diederik Strubbe
Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels
Ghent university
Ali Serhan Tarkan
University of Lodz
Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi
Lorenzo Vilizzi
University of Lodz
Tim Adriaens
Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels
Paride Balzani
Jihoceska Univerzita v Ceskuch Budejovicich
Dagmara Błońska
University of Lodz
Elizabeta Briski
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
Rein Brys
Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels
Amy L. Burgess
Teesside University
James E. Byers
University of Georgia
Carlos Cano-Barbacil
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Giuseppe Castaldelli
University of Ferrara
Jaimie T.A. Dick
Queen's University Belfast
Victoria Dominguez Almela
University of Southampton
Romina D. Dimarco
University of Houston
Margarita Florencio
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Antonín Kouba
Jihoceska Univerzita v Ceskuch Budejovicich
Melina Kourantidou
University of Southern Denmark
Institut Univesitaire Europeen de la Mer
Irmak Kurtul
Bournemouth University
Ege University
Irene Martín-Forés
University of Adelaide
Olivier Morissette
University of Québec
Julian D. Olden
University of Washington
Bruno E. Soares
University of Regina
Jakub Truszkowski
Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory
Hugo Verreycken
Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels
Marc Kenis
Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI)
Ronaldo Sousa
University of Minho
J. Robert Britton
Bournemouth University
Biological Reviews
1464-7931 (ISSN) 1469185x (eISSN)
Vol. In PressSubject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Environmental Sciences
Ecology
DOI
10.1002/brv.70124
PubMed
41467425