How many alien species will there be in 2050?

Abstract

The introduction of non-native species into new regions is on the rise due to humanity's increasing global connectivity (Seebens et al., 2017). Many studies have identified the widespread ecological, economic, and social damage that these alien species can cause (Doherty et al., 2016; Hoffmann & Broadhurst, 2016). Advanced statistical analysis has recently been employed to predict ecological patterns of alien species, such as how alien species may be globally distributed in the future. Previous studies that have attempted to answer this question have been restricted to single species, taxa, or regions (Seebens et al., 2015, 2016).