An overview of biological invasions at the landscape scale

Abstract

Biological invasions and human landscape alteration are greatly increasing biodiversity loss. Furthermore, these factors might interact, as landscape characteristics affect the level of invasion of ecosystems and consequently its impact. We review the importance of human landscape alteration on invasion patterns of non-native plant species.. In comparison with climate and habitat type, landscape characteristics exerts its major influence at intermediate or landscape scales (<200 km) and mainly mediated by the amount of urban area. The effect of landscape characteristics on invasions can be highly variable as it greatly depends on the ecological context. We also highlight the importance of landscape dynamics and its delayed effect on invasion patterns (i.e. invasion credit) as it might produce an underestimation of the future impact of invasions. Finally, we suggest management strategies for invasive species at the landscape scale, which incorporates the control of invasions both in natural areas and at the propagule source area.