Addressing drivers of ecological change in Lake Akrotiri SBA, Cyprus project completed in March 2021 (DPLUS088)Researching Invasive species of Kypros Ris-Ky funded by the Darwin Initiative (DPLUS056)The number of species introduced outside their native range (i.e. alien, non-native or exotic) has been exponentially rising around the world, due to globalisation and international trade. Up-to-date, approximately 14.000 alien species have been recorded in Europe! A proportion of established (i.e. holding reproductive, self-sustainable, viable populations) alien species has become invasive. That is, threatening towards native biodiversity, socioeconomic parameters as well as human-, animal- and plant-health. Early detection and rapid management of alien species is vital to mitigate their impacts (Hulme 2009; Simberloff et al. 2015; Seebens et al. 2017; Seebens 2019).
The Laboratory of Vector Ecology and Applied Entomology aims towards raising awareness of invasive alien species and their impacts, while providing guidance and updated information about their introduction and spread. In addition, our team is active in the field to detect new arrivals of introduced species and research their ecology, interactions with native biodiversity and spread.