Invasive alien species of policy concerns show widespread patterns of invasion and potential pressure across European ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: Animals, plants, and other organisms unintentionally or deliberately brought into a natural environment where they are not normally found, and where they cause harmful effects on that environment, are known also as invasive alien species (IAS). They represent a major threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and can affect negatively human health and the economy. We assessed the presence and potential pressure by IAS on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems across 27 European countries, for 66 IAS of policy concern. We computed a spatial indicator that accounts for the number of IAS present in an area and the extent of the ecosystems affected; for each ecosystem, we also looked at the pattern of invasions in the different biogeographical regions. We found disproportionally g

SUBMITTER: Polce C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10199087 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature