Invasive Alien Plants: Issues and Perspectives
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 122
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biodiversity; habitat; flora; vegetation; plant communities; phytosociology conservation biology; species diversity
Interests: botany; flora; vegetation; habitat; landscape; forests; botanical garden; parks; green cities; mangrove; Quercus; Pinus; Juniperus; Dominican Republic; Cuba
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: botany; vegetation; plant communities; plant ecology; conservation biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Biological invasions of non-native, or alien, species are considered to be one of the most direct and significant causes of biodiversity loss and ecosystem alteration on a global scale. Invasive alien plants (IAPs) represent one of the most emblematic and obvious causes of landscape, biocenosis and ecosystem transformation. The spread of invasive species homogenizes the composition and structure of biological communities, reducing ecosystems’ functioning and resilience.
This phenomenon has increased over time and has grown exponentially, especially in recent decades, due to factors such as population growth, average temperatures, increased nitrogen deposition and, more generally, the intensification of trade and mass tourism on a global scale. The climate is an important controlling factor of the whole process, and climate change favours biological invasion phenomena.
Currently, the process of globalizing the market leads to a continuous increase in new introductions. Consequently, an increased risk of invasive alien plants can be expected.
This Special Issue provides an opportunity to present new research on PAHs. Topics of interest include factors influencing or determining their invasiveness, their distribution and threats to habitats and ecosystems and their impact on biodiversity depletion. Vegetation studies documenting transformations resulting from the spread of IAPs in plant communities and habitats are appreciated, provided that they are carried out in a broader context to interest a wider group of researchers. Review articles on the mentioned research topics are also welcome, especially if they provide or utilize new knowledge on the processes in which invasive alien plants are involved. Therefore, this Special Issue provides a platform to present new and concise research on these relevant topics, which will serve as a basis for innovative ideas and as a baseline for the future.
The contribution of scientific knowledge is crucial in order to monitor the invasive potential of naturalized alien plants, to understand dispersal patterns and invasion mechanisms and to help find solutions to counter the spread of IAPS.
Prof. Dr. Giovanni Spampinato
Dr. Carmelo Maria Musarella
Dr. Ricardo Quinto Canas
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- alien plants
- biological invasions
- biodiversity
- climate change
- biodiversity management
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