Biological invasions in the 21st century: ecological impacts, predictions, and management across land and sea.

In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: Introduction Biological invasions in the 21st century: Ecological impacts, predictions, and management across land and sea In recent years, invasive species have been recognized as a major component of human-mediated impacts on natural systems (Pimentel et al., 2005). Along with global climate change and habitat destruction, the spread of invasive species are a chief signature and consequence of the Anthropocene. Biological invasions have been on the rise in modern times, however, due to enhanced human transport mechanisms, such as oceanic and continental shipping, which unintentionally transport hitchhiking species; while intentional movements of species for agriculture, aquaculture, pets, and ornamentals may also result in species' This anthropogenic spread across natural barriers homogenizes the world's biota, resulting in global (and often disjunct) distributions of many terrestrial and aquatic species (Carlton, 2009; Rilov and Crooks, 2009). Biological invasions have thus been the focus of theoretical and empirical research dating to Darwin's own observations in the nineteenth century (Darwin, 1859). It is clear that well-developed investigations of species invasions are needed urgently to fully understand how community composition, biodiversity, and habitat are affected by the addition of species to natural communities. However, many of these issues remain only partially understood; e.g., the mechanisms of how invasive species appear, the conditions under which they thrive, and the impacts of invaders on native environments. Moreover, the prediction, prevention, and management of biological invasions are challenges being addressed across the globe, from regions at the forefront of management strategies (e.g., the contribution here by Campbell from New Zealand), to regions in which exotic species management is in its infancy (e.g., the contribution here by Khuroo et al. from India). The aim of this special issue of Environmental Research is to feature the work of researchers investigating ecological, evolutionary , theoretical, and management aspects of invasive species in terrestrial and aquatic environments. By showcasing results from a diverse group of systems and approaches, we hope to promote understanding of the causes and impacts of invaders, as well as identify strategies to mitigate their effects on natural systems. The 13 papers included here represent cutting-edge research on new invasions, older invasions, and proposed management frameworks for controlling the spread …