300356 VO Biological Invasions (2009W)

Man-made biological invasions are an increasing phenomenon around the world. Based on national and international case studies the relevance and problems of this global homogenization are dealt with. The lecture provides an overview on general aspects of biological invasions (e.g. import routes and vectors, dynamics of invasions, characteristics of successful aliens, diversity-stability, enemy-release, prediction, effects) and on the situation in Austria. In the seminar, case studies on selected topics will be discussed.