REVIEW ARTICLE

AN OUT-COME BASED APPROACH TO MANAGING PLANT AND ANIMAL INVASIONS IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

It is well established that invasive species are able to disrupt natural ecosystems and affect the ecosystem goods and services that they provide. Though invasion biology is mainly concerned with intentional or accidental species introductions; with increased interest in the effects of climate change, much debate has recently been focused on species’ range expansions. In this review we focus on the uncertainty in the responses of present and poten- tial invasive plant and animal species to global climatic change and propose an out-come based approach to the management of invasive species. Range expansions/contractions, due to global climatic change, are reviewed and we conclude that positive and negative impacts of invasives on ecosystems are likely as a result of the interactions between climate changes and other human disturbances. Recognising the need to manage invasives with scientifically informed approaches, an outcome focused management model is proposed which highlights the impor- tance of acquiring understanding, synthesising it at a system level and applying it to manage- ment.

Keywords: Containment, Global climate change, Invasives, Outcome based management, Plasticity

How to Cite: Jayakody,S,Grice,A.C,Gordon,I.J, (2014). AN OUT-COME BASED APPROACH TO MANAGING PLANT AND ANIMAL INVASIONS IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.WILDLANKA, 3(2):Pages 107-127

Published On:2014-06-30

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