Evaluating Invasion Processes of Alien and Neonative Species via Impact Assessment Protocols.

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Background

Whether in terrestrial or freshwater and marine ecosystems, the management of invasive non-native species has continued to be a difficult challenge for scientists and public authorities. Invasive species may directly cause the extinction of other species while indirectly causing changes in ecosystem functioning. Invasive terrestrial species have historically been addressed more quickly due to human bias towards their own habitable space. However, this tendency hinders the development of management strategies against aquatic invasive species. Additionally, aquatic ecosystems (especially marine ecosystems) are more disadvantaged in implementing actions against biological invasions than terrestrial ecosystems due to the open nature of marine environments, the size of the recipient area, and the inherent ability of the invader. Consequently, determining and evaluating the ecological and socio-economical impacts of invasive aquatic species is of vital importance.



Range-expanded invasive species have been classified into two groups: Neonative and alien due to differences in processes of introduction or expansion. Neonates are defined as basic range expanding species that track human-induced environmental change and have established populations, not as a result of direct movement by human agency, intentional or unintentional, or to the creation of dispersal corridors such as canals, roads, pipelines, or tunnels. Contrary to this, alien species utilize human-induced environmental changes to expand their ranges.



Understanding and distinguishing ecological and socio-economical impacts of the alien/neonative species on novel environments and developing and using risk assessment adequate to their ecological requirements are essential for the success of management for invasive species.



The main purpose of this Research Topic is to collect high-standard papers that aim to understand all components and ecological and socio-economical impacts of alien and neonative species’ invasion. Papers can include all or a part of the different phases of the risk analysis process (risk identification, risk assessment and, impact assessment).

Keywords: Ecological Impact, Socio-economical Impact, Risk Assessment, Management Strategy, Invasive Species Approaches

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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