A Review of Impacts and Management Strategies for Invasive Alien Species in Indian Wetland Ecosystems

In wetland ecosystems, biological invasions have led to a large-scale decline in native fish diversity and ecological imbalances, though much of it is largely unaddressed. Through a systematic literature review, the study identifies the documented interactions of bioinvasions on wetlands and their resources in India, the corresponding management strategies proposed by the published research to evaluate its comprehensiveness and adequacy, and the need for further research to bring out advanced management strategies. Based on the Scopus database, 122 studies were selected for full-text review. From these, a total of 25 were chosen for the meta-analysis.

The study identifies the shortcomings of current invasion literature in India and recommends future research, such as comprehensive studies encompassing multidisciplinary collaborations to reveal the true extent of threats posed by IAS; studies to come up with novel and viable management actions; studies on the development of a holistic ecosystem-wide approach for IAS management; investigations into adequacy of regulatory regime; inquiries on advancements of legal and managerial approaches towards IAS; identification of IAS hotspots to undertake intensive and frequent studies; empirical investigations documenting and showcasing successful local actions for IAS management; and studies devising effective guidance on application of diverse viable management strategies.

This study is the first to critically examine the adequacy of documented research on the subject. Notably, the study systematically reviews and reveals the shortcomings in the management strategies proposed by the existing research.