Climate change is making it easier for invasive species to succeed
In 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico with maximum sustained winds of 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph). It devastated communities and infrastructure, was associated with nearly 3,000 deaths and caused tens of billions of dollars in losses.
Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in 2017 with devastating force, caused widespread destruction and loss of life. In the aftermath, invasive species appeared to take advantage of the disruption to their native habitats. One such invader, Halophila stipulacea, a seagrass originating in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, rapidly rebounded and spread throughout the Caribbean following the hurricane.
This example demonstrates how extreme weather events caused by climate change can create conditions that favor invasive species.
Recent research has investigated how climate change may enhance the success of marine invasive species. A meta-analysis of 67 studies examining 30 marine invasive species revealed that climate change generally increases the abundance or establishment of these species. However, the relationship varies depending on the species, environmental conditions, and study design.
Invasive species, which are organisms that have been introduced to a new region by humans and have no prior history there, often possess traits that enable them to thrive in unfamiliar environments. They also tend to have broad tolerance to a range of environmental factors. Climate change can further bolster their invasion potential by altering ocean conditions and making it easier for them to survive and even thrive in new areas.
However, the impact of climate change on invasive species is not always straightforward. In some cases, invasive species may increase in abundance but fail to establish themselves due to suboptimal environmental conditions or lack of new colonizers. Alternatively, they may become established but struggle to spread due to dispersal limitations or environmental filtering, where their traits do not provide advantages beyond the initial introduction site.
Mitigating the success of invasive species requires early detection systems, such as environmental DNA surveillance and citizen science reporting apps, as well as increased investment in these areas. By targeting introduced, non-native species before they become abundant in new areas, managers can potentially limit their spread and protect native ecosystems.
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