Invasive species threats to native aquatic biodiversity: A meta-analysis

Abstract

The paper includes a meta-analysis of the effect of invasive species on the native aquatic biodiversity in different ecosystems. The aim of the study was to measure the ecological imbalances caused by invasive species and to identify other factors that determine their success in different aquatic environments, such as freshwater lakes, river systems, coastal areas, and marine conditions. The study methodically examined and synthesized the information by examining the peer-reviewed publications over the past 20 years. The methodology entailed the determination of standardized effect sizes of single studies, and then meta-regression analysis was done to establish significant variables that influence ecological change. The findings showed great negative effects on the native species richness in all the aquatic environments, with a pooled mean effect size of -0.84 in freshwater ecosystems. Of them, freshwater lakes were the most strongly affected (mean effect size = -0.88). The effects were relatively low but also relatively significant in marine ecosystems (mean effect size = -0.38). Nutrient loading has been mentioned to be a major cause of the success of invasive species, and environments with high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen exhibit a stronger correlation between the abundance of invasive species and the loss of biodiversity. The use of early detection and rapid response systems (EDRR) showed greater accuracy in freshwater ecosystems (0.86) compared to the marine systems (0.60). The results highlight the importance of custom management schemes that can focus on ecosystem factors specific to individual ecosystems, such as nutrient content and connectivity of habitats. Future studies should involve long-term monitoring to trace the temporal impact of invasions, cross-regional studies to comprehend the impact of the environmental and policy variables, and the establishment of more efficient monitoring, especially when it comes to marine ecosystems. Also, the importance of climate change in promoting the propagation of invasive species is a vital issue to explore in order to increase the conservation process.