Parallels between biological invasions and human migration are flawed and undermine both disciplines. Response to Ahmed et al.

South, Josie; Barbulescu, Roxana; Macêdo, Rafael L; Musseau, Camille L; Guareschi, Simone; Alamenciak, Tim; Alberti, Gabriella; Allen, Sylvie; Bacher, Sven; Baker, Emma; Benson, Michaela; Bernard-Verdier, Maud; Bibi, Rashida; Boatcă, Manuela; Bolpagni, Rossano; Brown, Timothy M; Byrne, Bridget; Canavan, Susan; Neira Castro, Esther; Conlon, Deirdre; Demoule, Jean-Paul; Dunn, Alison M; Faist, Thomas; Garelli, Glenda; Gervazoni, Paula; Gidley, Ben; Gippet, Jérôme M W; Harwood, Matthew; Heger, Tina; Henke, Theresa; Hill, Sara; Hobbs, Joshua; Hodson, James; Holmes, George; Hulme, Phillip E; Jones, Hannah; Khosa, Dumisani; Kilkey, Majella; Kontou, Danai; Lavanchy, Anne; Lewis, Hannah; Giralt, Rosa Mas; Meyerson, Laura A; Novoa, Ana; Pattison, Zarah; Pipek, Pavel; Probert, Anna F; Pyšek, Petr; Ricciardi, Anthony; Roberts, Jonathan David; Ruland, Florian; Saul, Wolf-Christian; Shackleton, Ross; Sigona, Nando; Simberloff, Daniel; Solomos, John; Sun, Li; Waite, Louise; Wilson, Pip; Yannelli, Florencia A; Vathi, Zana; Yemane, Tesfalem; Vieten, Ulrike M; Vimercati, Giovanni; Zambelli, Elena; Lieurance, Deah

doi:10.1093/biosci/biaf073

Parallels between biological invasions and human migration are flawed and undermine both disciplines. Response to Ahmed et al.

Title

Parallels between biological invasions and human migration are flawed and undermine both disciplines. Response to Ahmed et al.

Author(s)

South, Josie

Barbulescu, Roxana

Macêdo, Rafael L

Musseau, Camille L

Guareschi, Simone

Alamenciak, Tim

Alberti, Gabriella

Allen, Sylvie

Bacher, Sven

Baker, Emma

Benson, Michaela

Bernard-Verdier, Maud

Bibi, Rashida

Boatcă, Manuela

Bolpagni, Rossano

Brown, Timothy M

Byrne, Bridget

Canavan, Susan

Neira Castro, Esther

Conlon, Deirdre

Demoule, Jean-Paul

Dunn, Alison M

Faist, Thomas

Garelli, Glenda

Gervazoni, Paula

Gidley, Ben

Gippet, Jérôme M W

Harwood, Matthew

Heger, Tina

Henke, Theresa

Hill, Sara

Hobbs, Joshua

Hodson, James

Holmes, George

Hulme, Phillip E

Jones, Hannah

Khosa, Dumisani

Kilkey, Majella

Kontou, Danai

Lavanchy, Anne

Lewis, Hannah

Giralt, Rosa Mas

Meyerson, Laura A

Novoa, Ana

Pattison, Zarah

Pipek, Pavel

Probert, Anna F

Pyšek, Petr

Ricciardi, Anthony

Roberts, Jonathan David

Ruland, Florian

Saul, Wolf-Christian

Shackleton, Ross

Sigona, Nando

Simberloff, Daniel

Solomos, John

Sun, Li

Waite, Louise

Wilson, Pip

Yannelli, Florencia A

Vathi, Zana

Yemane, Tesfalem

Vieten, Ulrike M

Vimercati, Giovanni

Zambelli, Elena

Lieurance, Deah

Type of document

Journal Article

Language

Entity Type

Publication

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Place of publication

United States of America

DOI

10.1093/biosci/biaf073

UNE publication id

une:1959.11/70842

Abstract

A recent article by Ahmed and colleagues (2025) attempt to draw parallels and assess distinctions between biological invasions and human migration. This comparison conflates two globally occurring phenomena in a scientifically flawed way and risks the misappropriation of scientific concepts for ideological and political agendas. The repeated use of similarity and parallels throughout the text, including in the title, could easily lead to misconceptions among broader audiences, such as educators and policymakers, who can help shape public discourse. Despite their acknowledgement that comparing introductions of nonnative species with human migration “may be inappropriate and cause confusion,” Ahmed and colleagues argue that it reveals “complex parallels that are potentially fruitful to explore.” However, they fail to make their case.

Link

link

Citation

BioScience, p. 1-3

ISSN

1525-3244

0006-3568

Start page

End page

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