Traits that differ between invasive alien and native plant species are frequently interpreted as traits conferring invasiveness. However. such dilferences could reHect an introduction bias of alien species, particularly clllLivated ones, 01' hllman-medialed selection of cultivars of these species with certain traits. We tested whether this is the case for germination characteristics that are fr...

© The Ecological Society of America www.frontiersinecology.org S zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) first appeared in North America in 1988 (Hebert et al. 1989; see Carlton [in press] for a precise chronology), the mollusk has become the iconic alien species. The appearance of zebra mussels, together with many other invaders, highlighted the absence of effective controls on alien species in N...

A bird species is regarded as alien invasive if it has been introduced, intentionally or accidentally, to a location where it did not previously occur naturally, becomes capable of establishing a breeding population without further intervention by humans, spreads and becomes a pest affecting the environment, the local biodiversity, the economy and/or society, including human health. European St...

—Fish larvae were sampled at multiple fixed sites from late winter to early summer over 6 years (1990–1995) in the southern Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. A total of 394,797 fish larvae representing 15 species or taxonomic groups was collected. The assemblage was numerically dominated by three species that represented 98% of the total catch: alien shimofuri goby Tridentiger bifasciatus (71%), th...

The aim of this study was to assess the invasion risk of freshwater habitats and determine the environmental variables that are most favorable for the establishment of alien amphipods, isopods, gastropods, and bivalves. A total of 981 sites located in streams and rivers in Germany. Therefore we analyzed presence-absence data of alien and indigenous amphipods, isopods, gastropods, and bivalves f...

Herbert Baker arguably initiated the search for species characteristics determining alien plant invasion success, with his formulation of the 'ideal weed'. Today, a profusion of studies has tested a myriad of traits for their importance in explaining success of alien plants, but the multiple, not always appropriate, approaches used have led to some confusion and criticism. We argue that a great...

Definition An invasive, non-native, alien or exotic species is one that has been intentionally or accidentally released into an environment outside its native geographical range of habitat (Olenin et al., 2002). In the UK, according to Eno et al. (1997) the term ‘nonnative’ is used to indicate a species that has been established in UK waters, whilst ‘alien’ species are those that have been intr...

The 2004 Japanese 'Invasive Alien Species Act' was enacted to control invasive alien species and prevent the damage that they cause to ecosystems. The Act defines invasive alien species as those recognised as, or suspected of, causing damage to ecosystems, human safety, agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Invasive alien species are carefully regulated: raising, planting, keeping or transportin...

Enemy release is frequently posed as a main driver of invasiveness of alien species. However, an experimental multi-species test examining performance and herbivory of invasive alien, non-invasive alien and native plant species in the presence and absence of natural enemies is lacking. In a common garden experiment in Switzerland, we manipulated exposure of seven alien invasive, eight alien non...

Biological invasions of freshwater habitats are due to the accidental or deliberate introduction of organisms associated to aquaculture, sports fishing, passive transport by vessels, ornamental uses and man-made canals and corridors. In European freshwater habitats, about 296 species of alien invertebrate, mostly crustaceans, and 136 species of alien fish have been introduced (Gherardi et al. 2...