article · Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics
Global trade and human mobility have accelerated the spread of nonnative species, threatening ecosystems and human populations. Urban areas serve as primary centres for the entry, establishment, and proliferation of these species. A global synthesis examines the city attributes driving these biological invasions along four axes: connectivity, physical properties, culture and socioeconomics, and biogeography and climate. Findings reveal that greater connectivity within and between cities, larger city size, older urban age, and higher economic wealth are key determinants increasing nonnative species diversity and movement. In contrast, the effects of biogeographical and climatic conditions vary considerably across different urban settings. Understanding these dynamics provides a necessary foundation for creating targeted interventions to lessen the negative impacts of invasive species in urban environments.
Invasive species disrupt native ecosystems and affect human living conditions. Because urban areas are focal points for international commerce and transit, identifying how specific city features, such as wealth, infrastructure links, and size, foster biological invasions allows municipal managers and environmental authorities to target biosecurity measures where threats are most concentrated.
This research provides early-stage conceptual insights that could inform urban biosecurity planning, municipal invasive species management programmes, and environmental policy design. Intended users include local governments, ecological consultants, and public land managers seeking to mitigate invasion risks. The work remains at the level of a global synthesis, so concrete tools or near-market applications are not directly detailed in the abstract.
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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.
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DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102722-012749
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