Publication
The ecological dimension of global trade: origin and recipient regions of biological invasion costs
Publisher:
Research Square Platform LLC
Date:
16-06-2022
DOI:
10.21203/RS.3.RS-1762292/V1
Abstract: Globalization challenges sustainability by intensifying the ecological and economic impacts of biological invasions. These impacts may be unevenly distributed worldwide, with costs disproportionately incurred by a few regions. Here, we identify how invasion economic costs are distributed among origin and recipient regions at country and continent levels, and determine socio-economic and bio ersity-related predictors of invasion cost dynamics. Flows of invasive alien species causing costs originated from several regions, most frequently flowing to Europe, whereas monetary costs predominantly flowed from Asia to North America. High cost flows between countries were related to various environmental and socio-economic factors, such as shared biomes, high GDP and a common language. This characterization of ‘sender’ and ‘receiver’ regions of invasive alien species and their associated cost can inform biosecurity planning and the prioritization of control efforts across invasion routes, to achieve more sustainable economies and societies, while protecting bio ersity.