Invasive Species in Freshwater Ecosystems in the Americas
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Freshwater Biodiversity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: Lake management; Control of toxic cyanobacteria; Fish larvae-zooplankton interactions; Aquaculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear colleague,
Freshwater ecosystems in the Americas are under increasing pressure from invasive species, which disrupt native biodiversity, alter ecosystem functioning, and pose significant challenges for conservation. From the spread of invertebrates including zebra mussels in North American lakes to the proliferation of invasive fish like Tilapia and common carp in South American rivers, the biological invasions threaten aquatic habitats in complex and often unpredictable ways.
This Special Issue explores the ecological impacts, management strategies, and socio-economic dimensions of invasive species in freshwater environments across the Americas. We invite research works on
- Invasion pathways—How do non-native species establish themselves to spread?
- Ecological consequences—What are the long-term effects on native species and food webs?
- Human dimensions—How do invasive species affect fisheries, water quality, and local communities?
- Innovative solutions—Can biocontrol, policy changes, or community engagement mitigate invasions?
By bringing together case studies, reviews, and multidisciplinary perspectives, this collection aims to advance our understanding of freshwater invasions and support evidence-based conservation. We invite submissions that highlight both challenges and solutions—because protecting these vital ecosystems requires science, collaboration, and action.
Prof. Dr. Sarma Nandini
Prof. Dr. S.s.s. Sarma
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- freshwater invasive species
- aquatic biodiversity in the Americas
- invasion ecology
- biosecurity management
- socio-ecological impacts
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