Human activities are moving species around the world at an unprecedented rate. Most introduced species cause no harm, but a small proportion become invasive, spreading rapidly and damaging biodiversity, ecosystems, economies and human well-being. As a result, invasive species are now recognised as one of the main global drivers of biodiversity loss. Managing biological invasions is a major societal challenge, yet predicting which species will become invasive, and where, remains extremely difficult. Invasions are highly context-dependent, influenced by species traits, environmental conditions and humans. The InvaSyn project proposes a new approach to managing biological invasions based on identifying recurring ‘invasion syndromes’. By integrating ecological, social and economic information at a global scale, the project aims to develop practical, evidence-based strategies to support more effective responses to biological invasions.
