About this Research Topic
The spread of alien species and climate change are two of the main key processes affecting biodiversity at all levels. Besides biodiversity loss and biotic homogenization of ecosystems, invasive alien species (IAS) have negative impacts on ecosystem functioning and services and human well-being, ultimately causing serious economic problems, also through habitat alterations, introduction of diseases, predation activity on commercial species, and outcompeting native species.
Marine and transitional water systems face increased invasion rates, which are related to increased trade and aquaculture activities, facilitating the transport and thereby arrival of non-indigenous species into new environment. Such spread of alien species is also enhanced by climate change through expansion of the biogeographical range of marine species. In addition to this, lagoon and coastal marine ecosystems are certainly heading towards a climate-induced changes in their functioning, affecting their resilience to disturbances (biotic and abiotic) which combine and interact.
The extreme globalization achieved in the 21st century, acts as a facilitator for the arrival of IAS. At the same time, the changing climate can facilitate the establishment of IAS in different ways, such as increasing the probability of introduction, modifying the geographical distribution, altering the habitats, and thus resulting in a huge increase in the economic costs for managing IAS
Climate is also among the main factors that influence the distribution and dynamics of lagoon communities, may alter food-web structure and function of such ecosystems, thus enhancing their vulnerability to introductions of alien species. Effective management of IAS relies on accessible, accurate data to inform decision-making.
Understanding the factors that influence the spread of IAS and identifying their potential distribution becomes fundamental to control their further spread, and, why not, where possible transform the risk into an opportunity. It should not be forgotten that disturbance also promotes the establishment of IAS, and climate change, by creating disturbance events in habitats, can favor previously quiescent IAS, providing greater possibilities for surviving, reproducing and competing with native species. Climate change and the spread of IAS therefore have a synergistic impact, as climate change continues to create new habitats suitable for the establishment of IAS, thus strengthening the invasion process.
This Research Topic aims to collect new and original research articles or reviews focusing on different aspects of the spread and related treats of marine IAS, mainly addressed to fill the gaps of knowledge and provide an insight into the management of alien species also reconstructing the invasion history, recognizing areas most susceptible the spread dynamics and forecasting future trends of spread to provide a framework for managing addressing future threats:
• new tools for monitoring the IAS presence and early warning systems through innovative technologies
• documented impacts of invasive species on socio-economy, biodiversity and human health
• cumulative impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of IAS
• new records to fill the gaps of knowledge on alien species distribution, as a prerequisite for mitigation actions
• identification of the most vulnerable areas and habitat types in face of the climate change
• predictions of spread in face of the climate change also through the use of a species modelling approach
• prioritization of vectors and pathways of introduction for the different sub basins also in face of the climate change
• possible exploitation of alien species to obtain new resources (ecosystem services, molecules, extracts)
• effectiveness of biosecurity measures and management tools for shared application on a large geographical scale
• deploying smart eco-engineering solutions (such as saltwater-freshwater barriers).
Marine and transitional water systems face increased invasion rates, which are related to increased trade and aquaculture activities, facilitating the transport and thereby arrival of non-indigenous species into new environment. Such spread of alien species is also enhanced by climate change through expansion of the biogeographical range of marine species. In addition to this, lagoon and coastal marine ecosystems are certainly heading towards a climate-induced changes in their functioning, affecting their resilience to disturbances (biotic and abiotic) which combine and interact.
The extreme globalization achieved in the 21st century, acts as a facilitator for the arrival of IAS. At the same time, the changing climate can facilitate the establishment of IAS in different ways, such as increasing the probability of introduction, modifying the geographical distribution, altering the habitats, and thus resulting in a huge increase in the economic costs for managing IAS
Climate is also among the main factors that influence the distribution and dynamics of lagoon communities, may alter food-web structure and function of such ecosystems, thus enhancing their vulnerability to introductions of alien species. Effective management of IAS relies on accessible, accurate data to inform decision-making.
Understanding the factors that influence the spread of IAS and identifying their potential distribution becomes fundamental to control their further spread, and, why not, where possible transform the risk into an opportunity. It should not be forgotten that disturbance also promotes the establishment of IAS, and climate change, by creating disturbance events in habitats, can favor previously quiescent IAS, providing greater possibilities for surviving, reproducing and competing with native species. Climate change and the spread of IAS therefore have a synergistic impact, as climate change continues to create new habitats suitable for the establishment of IAS, thus strengthening the invasion process.
This Research Topic aims to collect new and original research articles or reviews focusing on different aspects of the spread and related treats of marine IAS, mainly addressed to fill the gaps of knowledge and provide an insight into the management of alien species also reconstructing the invasion history, recognizing areas most susceptible the spread dynamics and forecasting future trends of spread to provide a framework for managing addressing future threats:
• new tools for monitoring the IAS presence and early warning systems through innovative technologies
• documented impacts of invasive species on socio-economy, biodiversity and human health
• cumulative impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of IAS
• new records to fill the gaps of knowledge on alien species distribution, as a prerequisite for mitigation actions
• identification of the most vulnerable areas and habitat types in face of the climate change
• predictions of spread in face of the climate change also through the use of a species modelling approach
• prioritization of vectors and pathways of introduction for the different sub basins also in face of the climate change
• possible exploitation of alien species to obtain new resources (ecosystem services, molecules, extracts)
• effectiveness of biosecurity measures and management tools for shared application on a large geographical scale
• deploying smart eco-engineering solutions (such as saltwater-freshwater barriers).
Keywords: invasive alien species, vectors and pathways, climate change, prioritization, management and prevention
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