Call for papers

Biological invasions occur when species of animals, plants and other organisms are intentionally or accidentally introduced to regions of the world where they do not naturally occur. These species, often referred to as alien species, can become invasive in the regions they have been introduced to, by having damaging impacts on native biodiversity. Indeed, invasive alien species have contributed to 60% of recorded native species extinctions, and they are the sole cause of 16% of recorded native animal and plant species extinctions (IPBES, 2023).

Much progress has been made to better understand and manage the impacts of biological invasions on biodiversity. Nevertheless, understanding of these impacts varies across different regions and alien taxa, and can be limited. For example, there have been no documented global extinctions in the marine realm that have been caused by biological invasions; some alien taxa with the potential to be amongst the most damaging to biodiversity are not well studied (e.g., invertebrates and microbes); and the impacts of biological invasions have yet to be identified in many regions of the world, particularly low-income regions high in biodiversity (IPBES, 2023).

The number of invasive alien species continues to rise globally. Furthermore, whilst strategies have been identified to reduce future biological invasions, they are not implemented in many regions, where biological invasions receive little attention (Pyšek et al., 2020). Thus, documenting the damage biological invasions cause, and conveying messages about their continued risk to biodiversity, is an ongoing conservation priority.

With this themed collection we aim to improve understanding of the links between biological invasions and extinction risk. We call for manuscripts (empirical and theoretical studies, reviews and opinions) which focus on the biodiversity impacts of biological invasions that cause species extinctions (local or global) or that increase extinction risk for native species. We are particularly interested in manuscripts that focus on understudied alien taxa, realms or regions. These manuscripts must fit the scope of the journal by directly focussing on extinction – please refer to this editorial for guidance.

For further information, or to discuss the suitability of a research proposal, please contact Thomas Evans (thomas.evans@fu-berlin.de).

Submission deadline: 1st March 2027

Guest Editors

Thomas Evans, Free University of Berlin, Germany, Editor of Cambridge Prisms: Extinction.

Guy Midgley, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, Editor of Cambridge Prisms: Extinction.

Ivan Jaric, Université Paris-Saclay, France, Editor of Cambridge Prisms: Extinction.

Alice Hughes, University of Hong Kong, China, Editor of Cambridge Prisms: Extinction.

Arman Pili, University of Cambridge, UK.

Xuan Liu, Beijing Normal University, China.

Maryna Golivets, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Germany.

Tatenda Dalu, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Arvin Diesmos, Philippines National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines.

Cilla Wehi, University of Otago, New Zealand.

References

IPBES (2023). Thematic Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Roy, H. E., Pauchard, A., Stoett, P., and Renard Truong, T. (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7430682

Pyšek, P., Hulme, P.E., Simberloff, D. et al. (2020). Scientists' warning on invasive alien species. Biological Reviews, 95: 1511-1534. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12627