Objectives

The Mountain Invasion Research Network strives to monitor and evaluate plant invasions into high mountain systems at a global scale. By using broad surveys in addition to standardized protocols and experiments in different mountain systems, spanning the major climatic zones, MIREN addresses several important main objectives:

• Evaluate vulnerability of mountain systems towards plant invasions
• Analyse system-specificity of patterns and processes
• Understand changes in the mechanisms of plant invasions
• Predict consequences of climate change for plant invasions

Important questions addressed by MIREN are

> How strongly are mountains threatened by alien plants?
> Do plant invasions affect mountain ecosystem services?
> What are the main drivers of invasions into mountains?
> Are mountain invasions indicators of climate change?
> What are efficient ways to manage mountain invasions?
> What can invasion biology learn from mountain systems?