Biological invasion, biodiversity and people

Biological invasion is one among the major forces of change, influencing many dimensions of life on earth. Invasion results when species cut off from existing populations and inhabit novel geographical areas via outcompeting the native flora and fauna. Humans are solely responsible for the rapid spread of invasive species all over the world as globalization and intercontinental transportation have dramatically altered invasion dynamics. There are compelling evidences that invasive species pose remarkable harm to native biodiversity all over the world. The magnitude of these threats is increasing day by day as the other factors which are also responsible for biodiversity loss including global warming, habitat loss, environmental pollution etc. are promoting biological invasion. It is believed that climate warming could exacerbate the invasion risks as invasive species are reported to perform better and adapt to the rising temperature conditions as compared to native species. However, invasion by exotic species is the most challenging conservation riddle of our time. Invasive species have the potential to rapidly proliferate and spread in the novel environmental conditions of the recipient areas. These species expand and grow explosively and alter ecological characteristics such as fire regimes, nutrient cycling, hydrology, energy budgets, and evolutionary trajectory in a native ecosystem, making places less habitable for native species.