Biological Invasion Theories: Merging Perspectives from Population, Community and Ecosystem Scales

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints201910.0327.v1
• Publication Date: 2019-10-30T02:23:16Z
• Authors: Olivier Chabrerie; François Massol; Benoit Facon; Romain Thevenoux; Manon Hess; Romain Ulmer; Jelena H Pantel; Julie Braschi; Laurent Amsellem; Sylvie Baltora-Ro...; Aurélie Tasiemski; Frédéric Grandjean; Patricia Gibert; Matthieu Chauvat; Laurence Affre; Gabrielle Thiébaut; Frédérique Viard; Estelle Forey; Laurent Folcher; Thomas Boivin; Elise Buisson; David M. Richardson; David Renault
• Keywords: historical ecosystem; 0106 biological sciences; 570; invasiveness; 500; 15. Life on land; geographic expansion; phenotypic plasticity; 01 natural sciences; 13. Climate action; evolution; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; hybrid ecosystem; novel ecosystem; 14. Life underwater; ecology; dispersal; non-native populations; invasibility

Biological invasions have reached an unprecedented level and the number of introduced species is still increasing worldwide. Despite major advances in invasion science, the determinants of success of introduced species, the magnitude and dimensions of their impact, and the mechanisms sustaining successful invasions are still debated. Empirical studies show divergent impacts of non-native populations on ecosystems and contrasting effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the dynamics of non-native populations; this is hindering the emergence of a unified theory of biological invasions. We propose a synthesis that merges perspectives from population, community, and ecosystem levels. Along a timeline of ecosystem transformation driven by non-native species, from historical to human-modified ecosystems, we order invasion concepts and theories to clarify their chaining and relevance during each step of the invasion process. This temporal sorting of invasion concepts shows that each concept is relevant at a specific stage of the invasion. Concepts and empirical findings on non-native species may appear contradictory. However, we suggest that, when mapped onto an invasion timeline, they may be combined in a complementary way. An overall scheme is proposed to summarise the theoretical dynamics of ecosystems subjected to invasions. For any given case study, this framework provides a guide through the maze of theories and should help choose the appropriate concepts according to the stage of invasion.