Introduced species, as a biological process, refers to the human-mediated translocation and establishment of organisms outside their native geographic ranges, thereby altering biotic community composition and ecosystem dynamics. This process involves transport (intentional or accidental), release or escape, survival, and reproduction in the recipient environment, often bypassing natural dispersal barriers. Once established, introduced species may undergo rapid ecological and evolutionary responses, including niche shifts, adaptation to novel conditions, and altered interaction networks (e.g., predation, competition, mutualism). The process of species introduction can drive changes in community structure, energy flow, and biogeochemical cycles, and in some cases leads to biological invasions with significant impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
A new study reveals that human activities have fundamentally reshaped biodiversity patterns on islands across the globe, with important implications for how scientists understand ecology, evolution and conservation.
Evolution
23 hours ago
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9
New research from an international team of 24 marine scientists, led by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) and including the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), cautions that thousands ...
Ecology
Jul 22, 2026
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Visitors to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, located about 340 miles (545 kilometers) off the coast of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil, soon notice a small lizard. Seemingly ubiquitous, it roams among rocks, trails ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 7, 2026
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A hardy aquarium fish prized for its golden hue, the ornamental Flowerhorn cichlid (Amphilophus spp.) has become a problem for the residents of San Pablo City, Laguna: It is increasingly taking on an outsized role in both ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 3, 2026
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A study published in the journal Biological Invasions indicates that Brazil currently has at least 82 non-native mollusk species, in addition to 13 whose origin cannot be determined. This represents a 215% increase compared ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 1, 2026
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A biocontainment facility designed to protect Earth from potentially hazardous biotic contaminants from space should be part of a planned NASA base on the moon, a policy paper maintains.
Space Exploration
Jun 19, 2026
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An international research team, which included University of Tartu visiting doctoral student Wen-Gang Zhang and Professor of Botany Meelis Pärtel, has found a new solution to one of ecology's long-standing controversies—Darwin's ...
Evolution
Jun 16, 2026
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On his fishing boat moored in the Greek port of Ierapetra in southwestern Crete, Alexis Charlambakis pries open the mouth of a freshly caught pufferfish to reveal two massive teeth on each jaw.
Ecology
Jun 15, 2026
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White storks (Ciconia ciconia) are a majestic bird with a two-meter wingspan and an enormous circular nest.
Plants & Animals
Jun 5, 2026
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Non-native wall lizards living in Cincinnati, Ohio, have thrived against the odds thanks to an ability to expand their population more quickly than any inbreeding-amplified harmful genes could weaken their chances for survival, ...
Ecology
May 30, 2026
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