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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Frederick, Maryland » Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415271
Research Project: Integrative Genomic and Biological Approaches to Detect and Manage Emerging Foreign Fungal and Oomycete Plant Pathogens

Location: Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research

Title: Biological invasions: a global assessment of geographic distributions, long-term trends, and data gaps

Author
item SEEBO, HANNO - Justus-Liebig University
item MEYERSON, LAURA - University Of Rhode Island
item RICHARDSON, DAVID - Czech Academy Of Sciences
item PYŠEK, PETR - Czech Academy Of Sciences
item FRANCK, COURCHAMP - University Of Paris
item HUI, CANG - Stellenbosch University
item TRICARICO, ELENA - University Of Florence
item GARCIA-DIAZ, PABLO - University Of Florence
item THINES, MARCO - Goethe University
item Crouch, Joanne

Submitted to: Biological Reviews
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2025
Publication Date: 8/12/2025
Citation: Seebo, H., Meyerson, L., Richardson, D., Pyšek, P., Franck, C., Hui, C., Tricarico, E., Garcia-Diaz, P., Thines, M., Crouch, J. 2025. Biological invasions: a global assessment of geographic distributions, long-term trends, and data gaps. Biological Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.70058.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.70058

Interpretive Summary: The introduction of invasive alien species such as plants, insects and pathogens can have far-reaching consequences on the natural environment and agriculture. The rate of new invasive alien species introductions has risen continuously for centuries and is predicted to keep rising. Here, we present results of the most comprehensive assessment of the trends and distributions of invasive alien species across geographic regions worldwide. This work is important because it provides overviews of invasive alien species at the global scale, which allows us to assess information gaps, predict future trends and where future research efforts and resources should be directed.

Technical Abstract: The introduction of alien and invasive alien species can have far-reaching consequences for the distribution of life on Earth, biodiversity conservation and native species survival, ecosystem functioning, human and animal health, and the economy. The rate of new alien species introductions has risen continuously for centuries and is predicted to keep rising. This ongoing accumulation and spread of alien species around the world significantly challenges efforts to assess biological invasions in terms of their status and to identify future trends as inputs to strategic management plans. Comprehensive and regularly updated information about alien species distributions is essential for elucidating the underlying dynamics of biological invasions globally, for assessing current trends and data needs, and for informing and supporting managers and policy-makers. Here, we present results of the most comprehensive assessment of the trends and distributions of alien species across geographic regions worldwide. This effort assesses: (i) the levels of invasions by established (naturalized) alien plants, animals, and microorganisms across all continents, both in terms of overall quantitative patterns and individual remarkable examples; (ii) the trends in accumulations of established alien taxa and associated invasion dynamics that have resulted in their current distributions; and (iii) taxonomic and geographical data gaps, where future research efforts should be directed. We provide overviews of trends and status of established alien species at the global scale, including an assessment of gaps and future trends, followed by recommendations for improving the level of knowledge.