Integrating Urban Biodiversity Data on Non-native Plant Species with Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors in Cities Across the Globe

PI: Dr. Daijiang Li (University of Arizona)

Co-PIs: Dr. Myla Aronson (Rutgers University), Dr. Benjamin Baiser (University of Florida), Dr. Marc Cadotte (University of Toronto), Dr. Luke Potgieter (Stellenbosch University)

Urbanized landscapes increasingly dominate the Earth’s surface and represent concentrations of human activity and impact. Cities also have significantly altered physical and biological environments which, coupled with high rates of species introductions, result in novel ecosystems with new combinations of native and non-native species. Non-native species establishment and impacts on urban ecosystems require not only an understanding of ecological factors that are classically associated with invasion ecology, but also data on cultural, socioeconomic, and historical factors, as well as the urban structure that define cities. In the spirit of ESIIL, we will bring together ecologists, sociologists, economists, and urban planners to understand the patterns and mechanisms that underlie non-native plant species invasions in cities across the world, and how this can inform policy and management of urban ecosystems.