GundxChange: Mariano Rodriguez-Cabal: Biological Invasions: Insights, Impacts, and Planning for the Future

Associate Professor, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, UVM
April 11, 2025 from 12-1 p.m.
Farrell Hall, room 006

Biological invasions are a key driver of global environmental change, with profound impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and species interactions. Recent research has advanced our understanding of how invasive species spread, the mechanisms behind their success, and the ecological consequences of their presence. This talk will explore the latest insights into the drivers of biological invasions, examining the effects on native ecosystems and biodiversity. While progress has been made in understanding these dynamics, the field continues to face challenges in predicting invasion outcomes and developing effective management strategies. The talk will focus on synthesizing recent research and identifying critical knowledge gaps to chart a path forward for the science and management of biological invasions. 

Mariano Rodriguez-Cabal is a field ecologist from Patagonia-Argentina. Mariano’s research focuses on understanding how species and ecosystems respond to the rampant loss of biodiversity, climate change, and the spread of invasive species. Mariano is the Editor-in-Chief of Biological Invasions and the Research Highlight Editor for the Journal of Animal Ecology. Mariano has published ~70 peer-reviewed articles on different questions and systems from slugs in British Columbia and ants in North Carolina to endemic marsupials and birds in Patagonia. He is a two-time winner of a Fulbright Scholarship.