Impacts of Nonnative Species on the Health of Natural and Planted Forests

Dear Colleagues,

Despite conservation efforts, most forest ecosystems worldwide are greatly affected by global change including through biotic invasions, but the impacts are uneven across different regions and forest types around the globe. The relative contribution of the main causes of biotic invasions such as propagule pressure (e.g., due to human population, travel/trade), climate and land use, and habitat invasibility remain uncertain. This Special Issue aims to examine the following: (1) the impacts of nonnative species (measured as level of invasions) in various forest ecosystems (e.g., natural vs. planted) of the world; and (2) the contributions of management (harvesting, fire, and grazing), biotic factors (diversity and invasibility), human activity, and climate change to invasion. Additionally, we will focus on nonnative plant and animal (e.g., pests and mammals) co-invasions (i.e., cross-trophic levels) in forest systems. The findings will help identify invasion hotspots and causes, and inform policy makers to develop adaptive strategies to effectively practice prevention, early detection/eradication, and better management. The goal of this Special Issue is to facilitate timely communications among scientists and managers in different regions to make future invasion control more effective and ultimately to improve forest health and maintain long-term sustainability.

Dr. Qinfeng Guo
Dr. Kevin Potter
Dr. Kurt Riitters
Dr. Frank H. Koch
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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