Invasive Alien Plants in Urban Ecosystems

This book provides a collection of contemporary researches focused on the challenges, impacts and precautionary measures to be taken to address invasive alien plant species in urban systems. The current scenario of rapid urbanization and anthropogenic disturbances across the globe are supplemental to the expansion of invasive alien plant species. Urban ecosystems are strangely under-explored in the constantly developing understanding of alien species invasions. In this book, topics related to alien plant species occurrence in urban ecosystems, their ecosystem services and disservices, their comparative assessment to native species, challenges to the urban ecosystems under changing climatic scenarios, the impact of alien plants on different components of urban environment/ecosystems, aesthetic values, livelihoods and health of urban dwellers, management approaches and policies related to alien plants in urban systems are highlighted. The book will be helpful in understanding the invasion process in urban centres as human-affected landscapes in urban areas are expected to support a larger chunk of alien species, and are instrumental in the dissemination of invasive propagules to nearby natural landscapes. Invasive alien plant species are reported as a serious threat to native biodiversity and human health. It is predicted that climate change associated disturbances or extreme events may play supportive role in colonization and spread of invasive alien plants in urban ecosystems.
This book will be suitable for students (undergraduate and postgraduates) of urban planning and architecture, urban agriculture, urban forestry, urban ecology, and environmental sciences; teachers, researchers, climate change scientists in academic and research institutions. It will also be applicable to town planning and environmental management agencies, government agencies and policy makers.

Part I: Invasive Alien Plants and Urban Ecosystem: Emerging Concerns. -
Introduction of the Invasive Alien Plant Species in Urban Systems: Comprehending the Process. - From Exotic Alien to Invasive Plant Species: An Array of Events. - Invasive Alien Plant Species in Urban Ecosystems. - Emerging Invasive Alien Plants in Urban Settlements: Establishment and Impacts. -
Part II: Major Serious Invasive Alien Plants in Urban Areas. -
Plant Invasion in the Urban Landscape: An Ecological Synthesis. - Functional Traits Reveal the Success of Alien Plant Species Along Invasion Continuum. - Ecosystem Services and Disservices Linked to Invasive Alien Plants. - Impacts of Invasive Plant Species on Fishes, Birds, and Animals. -
Part III: Socio-ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Plant Species in Urban Ecosystems. -
Economic Impacts of Invasive Alien Plant Species on Urban Ecosystems. - Invasive Alien Weeds in the Urban Environment: A Case Study from Chandigarh. - Some Approaches of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to Invasive Alien Species with Remarks on Urban Communities. -
Part IV: Threat Assessment and Management of Invasive Alien Plants in Urban Ecosystems. -
Mapping and Threat Assessment of Invasive Alien Plants in Urban Ecosystem. - Incorporating Phenological Traits for Mapping of Invasive Plant Species in Urban Ecosystems. - Management Approaches and Policy Regulation for Invasive Alien Plants in Urban Ecosystems. - Management Approaches for the Restoration of Invaded Urban Plant Communities.