Biodiversity Objective BD-2.2

The impact of invasive species, pathogens and vectors of disease

Biodiversity Objective BD-2.2 contributes to CEH Science Strategy Challenge V (to determine the risks of chronic and extreme exposure of ecosystems and human beings to biological, hydrological and chemical threats) by quantifying the impact if invasive species, pathogens and vectors of disease on the population ecology of species, including humans, and ecosystems.

BD-2.2 aims to:

  • Develop models to predict and explain the arrival, establishment and spread of selected invasive species, pathogens and vectors of disease)
  • Investigate contrasting hypotheses (e.g. Enemy Release Hypothesis) for dynamics of relevant invasive species, pathogens and vectors at expanding range margins
  • Integrate statistical, conceptual and biological models into frameworks to assess risks and impacts of invasive and introduced species on humans and ecosystems
  • Develop models to evaluate control strategies for invasive species, pathogens and vectors of disease)

These activities are integrated with other research areas in the Biodiversity, Biogeochemistry and Water Programmes and the Environmental Information Data Centre. This will help us to understand how different environmental risk factors interact and the impacts that they have ecosystem functioning.

Areas of research

Examples of research projects relevant to BD-2.2 include:

Collaborative research projects

BD-2.2 participates in many collaborative projects. Examples include: