Invasions, aliens and global environmental change: What does it mean for insect herbivores?

Although climate change and invasive species are two of the most important ecological and environmental challenges globally, they are generally viewed independently. There is a need for a greater, more holistic understanding of invasion ecology in light of climate change, particularly given the large scale economic and environmental damage that can be caused through invasive alien species. Insect herbivores are important invasive species as they can change ecosystem structure and function, are often pest species and are used either as target or agent in biocontrol releases. Here, we focus on insect herbivores and link the invasive and climate change research arenas. Climate change will affect insect distribution, phenology, ecology and physiology. Life history traits can be used in estimating invasive potential. The consequences on an (agri) ecosystem when an alien herbivore arrives is examined, in terms of ecological consequences of climate induced arrival and local extinction of species. Through meta-analysis we examine whether there are any general patterns in determining niche availability through species re-distribution and through the invasion of alien species. De-coupling of species interactions and the formation of new associations is examined as being central to the success and failure of insect herbivores as invasive species.