Global effects of non-native tree species on multiple ecosystem services
Date
2019-04-19
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Abstract
Non-native tree (NNT) species have been transported worldwide to create or enhance services that are fundamental
for human well-being, such as timber provision, erosion control or ornamental value; yet NNTs can also produce
undesired effects, such as fire proneness or pollen allergenicity. Despite the variety of effects that NNTs have on multiple
ecosystem services, a global quantitative assessment of their costs and benefits is still lacking. Such information is critical
for decision-making, management and sustainable exploitation of NNTs. We present here a global assessment of NNT
effects on the three main categories of ecosystem services, including regulating (RES), provisioning (PES) and cultural
services (CES), and on an ecosystem disservice (EDS), i.e. pollen allergenicity. By searching the scientific literature,
country forestry reports, and social media, we compiled a global data set of 1683 case studies from over 125 NNT
species, covering 44 countries, all continents but Antarctica, and seven biomes. Using differentmeta-analysis techniques,
we found that, while NNTs increase most RES (e.g. climate regulation, soil erosion control, fertility and formation),
they decrease PES (e.g. NNTs contribute less than native trees to global timber provision). Also, they have different
effects on CES (e.g. increase aesthetic values but decrease scientific interest), and no effect on the EDS considered.
NNT effects on each ecosystem (dis)service showed a strong context dependency, varying across NNT types, biomes
and socio-economic conditions. For instance, some RES are increased more by NNTs able to fix atmospheric nitrogen,
and when the ecosystem is located in low-latitude biomes; some CES are increased more by NNTs in less-wealthy
countries or in countries with higher gross domestic products. The effects of NNTs on several ecosystem (dis)services
exhibited some synergies (e.g. among soil fertility, soil formation and climate regulation or between aesthetic values
and pollen allergenicity), but also trade-offs (e.g. between fire regulation and soil erosion control). Our analyses provide
a quantitative understanding of the complex synergies, trade-offs and context dependencies involved for the effects of
NNTs that is essential for attaining a sustained provision of ecosystem services.
Description
CITATION: Castro-Diez, P., et al. 2019. Global effects of non-native tree species on multiple ecosystem services. Biological Reviews, 94(4):1477-1501, doi:10.1111/brv.12511.
The original publication is available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The original publication is available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Keywords
Biological invasions -- Effect of global warming on, Non-native tree -- Economic aspects, Ecosystem services -- Economic aspects, Cultural ecosystem services -- Management, Introduced organisms -- Environmental aspects
Citation
Castro-Diez, P., et al. 2019. Global effects of non-native tree species on multiple ecosystem services. Biological Reviews, 94(4):1477-1501, doi:10.1111/brv.12511