Invasive Species:Invasive Species:a less obvious effect of climate change:a less obvious effect of climate change:
implications for biodiversity and livelihoodsimplications for biodiversity and livelihoods
Souad Boudjelas Jill KeyPacific Invasives Initiative Pacific Invasives Learning Network
Climate change projections for the Climate change projections for the Pacific regionPacific region
• Increased seasonal air temperature• Increased rainfall• Sea level rise• The number of cyclones is likely to
increase(IPCC, 2007)
Climate change impacts biodiversityClimate change impacts biodiversity
How?• Shifts in native species ranges• Changes in the timing of life cycles• Changes in the frequency of disturbance
events• Extinctions• Increase in the vulnerability of already
fragile ecosystems (e.g. islands, mangroves)
Invasive Species impact biodiversityInvasive Species impact biodiversity
How?• Predation on native animals• Damage to native plants (e.g. browsing)• Competition for resources• Habitat change• Disease (vectors or/and pathogens)• Hybridisation
Example of impacts on biodiversity: Example of impacts on biodiversity: PredationPredation
Example of impacts on biodiversity: Example of impacts on biodiversity: Habitat changeHabitat change
Example of impacts on biodiversity: Example of impacts on biodiversity: Disease vectorsDisease vectors
Example of impacts on biodiversity: Example of impacts on biodiversity: Damage to native plants and Damage to native plants and
competition for resources competition for resources
Climate Change increases Invasive Climate Change increases Invasive Species threatsSpecies threats
How?• Changes in invasive species ranges• Increased disturbance• Increased vulnerability of ecosystems• Triggers invasiveness of currently benign
species (including natives)• Reduced effectiveness of biological control
agents• Increased risk of new introductions (e.g. through
adaptation measures)
DisturbanceDisturbance
A case of a native? plant becoming A case of a native? plant becoming invasiveinvasive
Impact of climate change on Impact of climate change on biodiversity is amplified by invasive biodiversity is amplified by invasive
species effectsspecies effects
Climate Change Biodiversity
Climate change Invasive species Biodiversity
Increased vulnerability of communities
• What does it mean for your communities?• What are you going to do about?
Thank you!Thank you!
Top Related