Freshwater invaders: drivers and impacts of invasive non-native plants

Abstract: Biological invasions by non-native species are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide. Freshwater habitats in particular are highly susceptible to invasion as they are naturally dynamic and often highly connected.

Invasive non-native plant species are an additional stressor on an ecosystem already under increasing anthropogenic pressure. Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam) is one of the main riparian plant invaders in the UK and Europe. I will be discussing the drivers and impacts of I. glandulifera (Himalayan balsam) invasion in riparian zones.

The role of invasive non-native species in impacting biodiversity can be a hotly debated and often divisive topic, particularly in the UK. However, we still lack sufficient information on the impacts of riparian and aquatic invasive non-native plant species on freshwater habitats.

Freshwater habitats perform many key services including food production directly, eg through fisheries and aquaculture, but also indirectly, eg by supplying irrigation water, yet are often overlooked relative to terrestrial ecosystems due to constraints on data accessibility. With growing conflicts between the global population and resource availability, it is critical to understand all risks to food production and water security.

I would like to informally share some of my latest projects on freshwater invasions, which are just starting, to hopefully aid discussion of potential collaborations in the future.