The deliberate or involuntary introduction of species by humans is currently one of the most serious threats to natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Exotic species are, after habitat destruction, the biggest cause of species extinction all over the world. Moreover, invasive species are the cause of serious economic and health problems for many human societies. It is very likely that the problem of invasive species will get worse in the future due to climate change and the globalization of markets. If this problem is not taken seriously, it will be difficult to conserve the integrity of ecosystems in the future.
One of CREAF's aims is to find out why some species are able to establish themselves in environments which are very different from their original habitat. By discovering what factors intervene in the invasion process we may be able to predict and prevent new introductions. Furthermore, the study of invasive species offers unique opportunities for investigating important ecological and evolutionary processes. These include organisms' responses to environmental change; processes of natural colonization; how communities organize themselves and the role of natural selection in evolutionary diversification. These aspects are analyzed through experiments, observations in the field and comparative studies of plants and animals.
Researchers: Daniel Sol, Montse Vilà