2024/08/02 by Luke J. Potgieter, Daijiang Li, Benjamin Baiser +12 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Plant and animal studies #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies #Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
paper · doi:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102722-012749
openalex publication_date 2024/08/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The globalization of trade and increased human mobility have facilitated the introduction and spread of nonnative species, posing significant threats to biodiversity and human well-being. As centers of global trade and human populations, cities are foci for the introduction, establishment, and spread of nonnative species. We present a global synthesis of urban characteristics that drive biological invasions within and across cities, focusing on four axes: ( a ) connectivity, ( b ) physical properties, ( c ) culture and socioeconomics, and ( d ) biogeography and climate. Urban characteristics such as increased connectivity within and among cities, city size and age, and wealth emerged as important drivers of nonnative species diversity and spread, while the relative importance of biogeographic and climate drivers varied considerably. Elaborating how these characteristics shape biological invasions in cities is crucial for designing and implementing strategies to mitigate the impacts of invasions on ecological systems and human well-being.