A new advanced framework to assess the impact of invasive plants on ecosystems

Researchers from the University of Freiburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen have developed a framework to better assess the impact of invasive plant species on ecosystems.

Outlined in a study published in the open-access journal NeoBiota, the framework combines new technologies and techniques to learn and predict how invasive plants alter ecosystems over time and in different environments.

Invasive plant species threaten biodiversity and ecosystem health worldwide. However, predicting the exact impact of these invasions is challenging due to the complexity of interactions between invading species, native communities, and impacted ecosystems.

The new framework addresses this challenge by integrating several advancements:

Environmental mapping: Progress in remote sensing and ecological monitoring allow researchers to capture detailed information about the environmental conditions of invaded areas. Drones, satellites, and advanced sensory networks can be used to create detailed ecosystem maps, which show how invasive species interact with their environment.

Functional tracers: These are specific indicators that reflect changes in ecosystem functions caused by invasive species. For example, nitrogen isotopes can be used to track the impact of nitrogen-fixing invasive plants on ecosystems.

Spatio-temporal modelling: By combining environmental data with new modelling techniques, such as AI, researchers can create detailed models showing the spread and impact of invasive species on ecosystems over time. Such models can predict how changes in environmental conditions, such as climate change, might influence an invasive species’ success.

Beyond scientific analysis, novel technologies also facilitate communication of ecological impacts, as the authors demonstrate in an animated 3D-video visualisation.

"The framework we've introduced offers researchers deeper insights into how invasive plant species interact with their environments, enabling more targeted management to lessen their ecological impact. We advocate for stronger collaboration between ecologists and technical experts to refine and expand these methods,” the authors emphasise.

“Going forward, further research and integration of the wide range of recent methods and tools are needed to enhance the framework's effectiveness,” they conclude.

Original source

Werner C, Hellmann C, Große-Stoltenberg A (2024) An integrative framework to assess the spatio-temporal impact of plant invasion on ecosystem functioning. NeoBiota 94: 225-242. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.94.126714 \

Researcher profiles

Prof. Dr. Christiane Werner: https://www.cep.uni-freiburg.de/mitarbeiter/christiane-werner/cwerner_main

Dr. André Große-Stoltenberg: https://www.uni-giessen.de/en/faculties/f09/institutes/landscape/ecology/team/grosse_stoltenberg_andre?set_language=en