Invasion syndromes: a systematic approach for predicting biological invasions and facilitating effective management

• Published in: Biological invasions Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 1801 - 1820
• Main Authors: Novoa, Ana, Richardson, David M., Pyšek, Petr, Meyerson, Laura A., Bacher, Sven, Canavan, Susan, Catford, Jane A., Čuda, Jan, Essl, Franz, Foxcroft, Llewellyn C., Genovesi, Piero, Hirsch, Heidi, Hui, Cang, Jackson, Michele C., Kueffer, Christoph, Le Roux, Johannes J., Measey, John, Mohanty, Nitya P., Moodley, Desika, Müller-Schärer, Heinz, Packer, Jasmin G., Pergl, Jan, Robinson, Tamara B., Saul, Wolf-Christian, Shackleton, Ross T., Visser, Vernon, Weyl, Olaf L. F., Yannelli, Florencia A., Wilson, John R. U.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.05.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic organisms; Aquatic plants; Aridity; ballast water; Biodiversity; Biological invasions; Biology; Cacti; Case studies; Comparative studies; Dependence; Developmental Biology; Disorders; Ecology; Ecosystem biology; Ecosystems; freshwater; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Freshwater ecosystems; Freshwater fish; Frogs; Harbors; Insects; Introduced species; issues and policy; Life Sciences; Management; Nonnative species; Original Paper; piscivores; Plant Sciences; Risk assessment; Science; Zoology; Biological invasions; Context dependency; Invasive species; Invasion science
• ISSN: 1387-3547; 1573-1464
• DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02220-w

Our ability to predict invasions has been hindered by the seemingly idiosyncratic context-dependency of individual invasions. However, we argue that robust and useful generalisations in invasion science can be made by considering “invasion syndromes” which we define as “a combination of pathways, alien species traits, and characteristics of the recipient ecosystem which collectively result in predictable dynamics and impacts, and that can be managed effectively using specific policy and management actions”. We describe this approach and outline examples that highlight its utility, including: cacti with clonal fragmentation in arid ecosystems; small aquatic organisms introduced through ballast water in harbours; large ranid frogs with frequent secondary transfers; piscivorous freshwater fishes in connected aquatic ecosystems; plant invasions in high-elevation areas; tall-statured grasses; and tree-feeding insects in forests with suitable hosts. We propose a systematic method for identifying and delimiting invasion syndromes. We argue that invasion syndromes can account for the context-dependency of biological invasions while incorporating insights from comparative studies. Adopting this approach will help to structure thinking, identify transferrable risk assessment and management lessons, and highlight similarities among events that were previously considered disparate invasion phenomena.