Climate Change: Confronting Invasive Species - Where to from here?

Florentine Singarayer, Talia Humphries, Amali Welgama, Jason Roberts

Keywords:

Climate change; Weed science; Weeds; Invasive species; Crops; Weed management

Abstract:

For the last two decades or so, concerned workers have been investigating the effects of climate change on invasive species and related agronomic issues. As researchers working in this space, we emphasize the importance for current research findings to be translated into practical, real-world management strategies that can be actioned by the end-users. This opinion article is offered as a contribution to this area. It attempts to illustrate the general direction and intensity that research work has taken concerning climate change and its relationship to the problem of invasive species. In addition, we discuss the likely nature of future research in this field. To provide a balanced overview of this activity, we consulted six key scientific Journals, which have consistently offered core articles related to this question. Although we recognized that a considerable amount of laboratory work and field-based research is taking place across the globe on climate change and invasive species, we have settled on 113 articles, which are directly relevant to this discussion. We note that North American researchers have published most papers in this space since 1979. Several studies have indicated that under anticipated climate change conditions, many invasive species are more likely to grow faster and more extensive than agriculturally important crops, and their reproductive outputs may also significantly increase. If this finding reflects the general case for agronomic weeds of particular concern, then it is clear that extra caution will need to be taken with management strategies. Developmental work and an increased range of stakeholders will be required to reduce the burgeoning impacts of these species on economic, agricultural production. We encourage researchers to communicate more widely on the outcomes of their work and promote more collegiate engagement with the researchers in other parts of the world to share their knowledge and insights into efficient and effective management approaches.