Alien species as counterpart of a megadiverse country as Mexico

Abstract

Improving the knowledge on the distribution and impacts of alien species in poorly studied regions is essential to raise national awareness as well as support effective management policies. Here we present a systematic review of the current state of knowledge regarding biological invasions in Mexico, providing a list of alien plant and animal species that can be considered either alien or invasive. Our search in scientific literature comprised a total of 2664 alien species recorded in Mexico, where approximately 36.2% of alien species were considered invasive, a much higher figure than previous estimates. Most alien species were introduced from the Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily for ornamental use, food, or livestock fodder. The current data demonstrate that alien and invasive species continue to enter and spread within Mexico, and it also emphasizes the necessity and responsibility to develop scientific strategies to minimize the impact of biological invasions and to raise public awareness of the problem. This review will help fill some gaps in the knowledge about biological invasions in Mexico, where the list of species can serve as a scientific basis for future studies.