RESIPATH: Responses of European Forests and Society to Invasive Pathogens

This project has been selected in the Biodiversa call: “Invasive species and biological invasions” and involves in particular B. Marçais of our department.

Participating countries : SE (coordinator) AU, BE, BG, DE, FR, NO, PT, SE, TK (48 Months)

Invasive alien species pose a serious global threat to biodiversity by driving native species to extinction via competitive exclusion and by their ability to modify entire landscapes. The selected tree species are not only an integral part of their ecosystems but are also economically important and supply crucial environmental services to European society, such as biodiversity, watershed protection, stabilisation of river banks, as well as recreational and cultural values. Due to different mortality patterns, the array of host-pathogen combinations enables the study of differential effects on the host population in terms of demographics and evolution. The high ecological and economic impact caused by invasive pathogens nowadays necessitates the development of an early detection system and to increase knowledge on the importance of different pathways for their introduction and spread. Ultimately, an efficient response from society to mitigate the impact of invasive pathogens also depends on the public perception and the communication between researchers and stakeholders in society.