https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Insects are often seen as invaders due to high-profile species like the yellow-legged (Asian) hornet, the harlequin ladybird and fire ant. But new research reveals insects are also major victims of invasive alien species—exacerbating population declines and reducing their ability to provide vital services for biodiversity and people, from pollination to pest control. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-insects-victims-invaders.html Plants & Animals Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:00:03 EST news687610501 Invasive species are reshaping ecosystems and local people's relationship with nature in the tropics, a study led by Danish researchers Ninad Avinash Mungi and Jens Christian Svenning from Aarhus University shows. The research is published in the journal Nature Reviews Biodiversity. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-invasive-rapidly-tropic-ecosystems-continents.html Plants & Animals Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:14:05 EDT news676804441 Southeast Asia's tropical forests are renowned for their biodiversity, but at the same time face significant threats from the expansion of oil palm plantations. With global demand for palm oil rising, the urgency for effective restoration strategies in these landscapes has become critical. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-tree-islands-nature-oil-palm.html Plants & Animals Mon, 18 Nov 2024 13:18:04 EST news651158281 Invasive alien plants are plant species that grow in an environment outside their native habitat. If they successfully establish self-sustaining populations in these new environments—an event called "naturalization"—they can have considerable negative impacts on local ecosystems, economies, and societies. But not all alien plant species are equally effective in invading new habitats. Therefore, an international team of scientists, headed by Konstanz-based biologist Professor Mark van Kleunen, investigated different types of "invasiveness" and possible factors that determine invasion success of alien plants in Europe. https://phys.org/news/2021-05-dimensions-invasive-success.html Plants & Animals Tue, 25 May 2021 14:53:38 EDT news541173214 Invasive alien plant species can pose a serious threat to native biodiversity and to human well-being. Identifying the factors that contribute to invasion success is therefore crucial. Previous studies on biological invasions have focused mainly on interactions between one alien and one native species, attributing invasion success to the superior competitive ability of the invading aliens. Very few experiments have examined them in multi-species plant communities. https://phys.org/news/2020-10-invasional-meltdown-multi-species.html Ecology Mon, 05 Oct 2020 11:00:02 EDT news521105076 Alien species are the main driver of recent extinctions in both animals and plants, according to a new study by UCL researchers. https://phys.org/news/2019-03-alien-species-primary-global-extinctions.html Ecology Mon, 04 Mar 2019 03:32:56 EST news470892767 With increasing species richness, due to more plant introductions than extinctions, plant communities of many European regions are becoming more homogeneous. The same species are occurring more frequently, whereas rare species are becoming extinct. It is not only the biological communities that are becoming increasingly similar, but also the phylogenetic relations between regions. These processes have led to a loss of uniqueness among European floras, scientists from the DAISIE research project have published their findings in the current online edition of the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). https://phys.org/news/2009-12-europe-flora-impoverished.html Ecology Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:36:46 EST news179757376