Invasion biology and ecological theory. Insights from a continent in transformation

Many conservationists argue that invasive species form one of the most important threats to ecosystems the world over, often spreading quickly through their new environments and jeopardising the conservation of native species. As such, it is important that reliable predictions can be made regarding the effects of new species on particular habitats. This book provides a critical appraisal of ecosystem theory using case studies of biological invasions in Australasia. Each chapter is built around a set of eleven central hypotheses from community ecology, which were mainly developed in North American or European contexts. The authors examine the hypotheses in the light of evidence from their particular species, testing their power in explaining the success or failure of invasion and accepting or rejecting each hypothesis as appropriate. The conclusions have far-reaching consequences for the utility of community ecology, suggesting a rejection of its predictive powers and a positive reappraisal of natural history. Detailed descriptions of plant and animal invasions in Australasia give readers a valuable insight into how alien species can affect an entire continent Proposes a re-examination of ecology at the ecosystem level, emphasising the importance of natural history Provides a broad review of the processes underlying biological invasions that is relevant to ecosystems across the globe