Core Insights - The research conducted by Professor Zhou Xuhui's team at Northeast Forestry University reveals the dynamic evolution of the impact of biological invasions on terrestrial ecosystems, challenging traditional understandings and providing a new perspective for addressing the global biological invasion crisis [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - The study fills a gap in understanding by distinguishing between "successful species invasion" and "ecological impact," and it quantifies key factors influencing changes in ecosystems [1] - The research team analyzed data from 775 global studies, encompassing over 2,200 effect values, focusing on the impacts of invasive plants, animals, and microorganisms on 15 key ecosystem attributes [1] Group 2: Key Dynamic Factors - The core dynamic factor identified for predicting the impact of biological invasions is the duration of species presence after invasion, which surpasses traditional factors such as local species diversity and latitude [2] - The study reveals that different parts of the ecosystem respond distinctly to invasions, with soil showing self-restorative properties, while local plant diversity continues to suffer long-term negative effects as the duration of invasive species presence increases [2] Group 3: Implications for Management - The findings have significant implications for global invasive species management, highlighting the need for long-term studies in southern regions and functional trait research on animal and microbial invasions [2] - Researchers call for international collaboration to establish a global monitoring network for the impacts of biological invasions, advocating for a shift from descriptive to predictive science in related research [2]

Core Viewpoint - The research published in Science reveals the dynamic evolution of the impacts of biological invasions on terrestrial ecosystems, identifying "residence time" as a core dynamic factor predicting these impacts [1][4]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study analyzed 775 global studies on invasive species, covering 2,223 effect sizes related to the impacts of plants, animals, and microorganisms on 15 key ecosystem properties, creating the most comprehensive "invasion ecological impact database" to date [3]. - Invasive plants consistently reduce local plant diversity and contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂, N₂O), which are identified as the most significant negative impacts [4]. - Contrary to previous studies, local plant diversity is not a strong predictor of the impact of invasive plants; instead, the residence time of invasive species is crucial—longer residence times lead to greater declines in local plant diversity [4][6]. Group 2: Implications for Ecosystem Management - Local plant species diversity is sensitive to species invasions and shows the weakest resistance, thus should be prioritized for protection [6]. - The non-biological properties of soil become more variable with ongoing species invasions and may naturally recover, indicating that immediate intervention may not be necessary [6].