Knowledge mapping of world's worst invasive alien species under changing climate

Citation

Azra MN, Soffa FB, Norazmi-Lokman NH, Segaran TC, Wei LS, Abdul Kari Z Z, Gao H, Ab Lah R & Moss A (2026) Knowledge mapping of world's worst invasive alien species under changing climate. Behavioural Processes, 237, Art. No.: 105361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2026.105361

Abstract
Climate change exerts severe impacts on aquatic ecosystems and is intrinsically linked to the behavioral expansion of alien species, potentially exacerbating existing invasion dynamics. Despite the critical role of behavioral plasticity in invasion success, there is a notable lack of comprehensive mapping studies assessing how these species adapt their physiological and behavioral responses to climatic shifts. To address these gaps, this study employs scientometric and comparative analysis to illuminate the current status and future research directions concerning the world’s most problematic invasive fish and shellfish. A systematic search of the Web of Science (1975–2023) identified 7087 documents focusing on the IUCN’s most harmful aquatic invaders. The findings reveal that research is increasingly focused on the mechanistic drivers of behavior, with "oxidative stress," "hypoxia," and "temperature effect" emerging as dominant research hotspots. Thematic analysis identified 38 clusters, highlighting "respiratory status" and "ocean acidification" as critical factors influencing the survival and activity patterns of invasive taxa. This analysis emphasizes that understanding the behavioral and physiological thresholds of these species is vital for strategic management, providing policymakers with a roadmap to anticipate how extreme climatic events will alter the behavior and spread of the world’s worst invasive species.

Keywords
SDG 13: Climate action; SDG 14: Life below water; Seasonal variation; Temperature rise; Low environmental pH

Journal
Behavioural Processes: Volume 237