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Research Paper | Ecology | Volume 15 Issue 5, May 2026 | Pages: 1032 - 1035 | India
Rethinking Biological Invasion as a Balance Between Ecological Risk and Adaptive Opportunity
Abstract: Biological invasion is regarded as the most challenging ecological problem of this present scenario. invasion whether accidental or intentional imposes a number of detrimental effects like destruction of biodiversity, homogenization of community, disruption of food web structure, economic loss and different health hazards. Example like Parthenium hysterophorus in India, zebra mussels in North America, and the Nile perch in Lake Victoria buttresses the ill-effects of invasive alien species. On the contrary, invasive species in several instances serves as source of food, fodder and different ecosystem services like removal of different heavy metals, purification of water, phytoremediation and cultural integration etc. For instances, Prosopis juliflora supporting rural livelihoods, water hyacinth helps in phytoremediation, and tilapia supporting fishery industry. Invasion causes phenotypic plasticity and accumulation of variation which ultimately causes species more resistant and adapted to the environment. So, the invasion can neither be addressed as curse nor boon completely as there is a trade off between these two types of roles. Whether it is boon or curse depends on the ecological context and management strategy. Acoordingly, invasion is a multifaceted eco-evolutionay phenomenon which needs to be understood thoroughly with respective to the current ecological context when framing conservation priorities and strategy.
Keywords: Biological invasion, Invasive species, Ecosystem disruption, Biodiversity loss, Ecological homogenization
How to Cite?: Barnali Sarkar, "Rethinking Biological Invasion as a Balance Between Ecological Risk and Adaptive Opportunity", Volume 15 Issue 5, May 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1032-1035, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26513101357, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26513101357