Intensifying global trade will result in increased numbers of plant pest and pathogen species inadvertently being transported along with cargo. This paper examines current mechanisms for prevention and management of potential introductions of forest insect pests and pathogens in the European Union (EU). Current European legislation has not been found sufficient in preventing invasion, establish...

Biological invasions are a global issue with far-reaching consequences for single species, communities and whole ecosystems. Our understanding of modes and mechanisms of biological invasions requires knowledge of the genetic processes associated with successful invasions. In many instances, this information is particularly difficult to obtain as the initial phases of the invasion process often ...

Abstract Context The cane toad ( Rhinella marina ) is one of the most globally significant and well-studied invasive alien species, detrimental impacts its invasions warrant design application decision support tools. While many models have been developed for guiding policies addressing invasions, none reliably predict species’ population dynamics at scales relevant to on-the-ground management. ...

Questions Islands harbour a disproportionate amount of global plant diversity, yet their unique native assemblages are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions. It is therefore critical identify the macroecological constraints that mediate spatial distributions alien species on islands. Here, we examined abundance–occupancy relationships and woody species, role niche properties functiona...

Understanding factors driving successful invasions is one of the cornerstones of invasion biology. Bird invasions have been frequently used as study models, and the foundation of current knowledge largely relies on species purposefully introduced during the 19th and early 20th centuries in countries colonized by Europeans. However, the profile of exotic bird species has changed radically in the...

Abstract Plant pest invasions cost billions of Euros each year in Europe. Prediction likely places introduction could greatly help focus efforts on prevention and control thus reduce societal costs invasions. Here, we test whether generic data-driven risk maps introduction, valid for multiple species produced by machine learning methods, supplement the costly species-specific analyses currently...

We envisage a future research environment where digital data on species interactions are easily accessible and comprehensively cover all species, life stages habitats. To achieve this goal, we need from many sources, including the largely untapped potential of citizen science for mobilising utilising existing information interactions. Traditionally volunteers contributing occurrence have focuse...

Invasive alien species can have a detrimental economic impact on human enterprises such as agriculture, grazing, forestry and tourist activities. Forest invasive species have been identified as one the major threats to ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as human well-being. In this Hot Issue I have tried to collect information from research groups working on different aspects of forest invasi...