GundxChange: Invasive Species: Impacts on Ecosystems and Human Well-being

Noelia Barrios-Garcia, Lecturer, Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont
January 31, 2025 from 12-1 p.m.
Farrell Hall, room 006

Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. With an estimated global annual cost of $423 billions, invasive species impact the ecology, the economy and health. This talk examines two case studies: wild boar invasion in Patagonia, Argentina and Japanese knotweed in Vermont. I will explore their impacts on native ecosystems and discuss the socioeconomic consequences that affect human livelihoods. Finally, I will address effective management strategies and the need of interdisciplinary cooperation to mitigate the long-term consequences of invasions on native ecosystems and human well-being. 

Dr. M. Noelia Barrios-Garcia is a lecturer at the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont. With a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee, her research investigates the impacts of invasive species and climate change on ecosystem structure and function. She employs observational studies, experiments, and literature reviews to explore community and ecosystem responses to invasive species, such as wild boar and wasps in Patagonia and jumping worms and Japanese knotweed in Vermont. Recently, her focus has expanded to include the socio-economic impacts of invasions, emphasizing their influence on human well-being.