South, J. and Barbulescu, R. and Gidley, Ben and Lieurance, D. (2025) Parallels between biological invasions and human migration are flawed and undermine both disciplines. Response to Ahmed et al. BioScience , ISSN 1525-3244.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf073
Abstract
A recent article by Ahmed et al. (2025) attempts to draw parallels and assess distinctions between biological invasions and the 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 non-native species to human migration “may be inappropriate and cause confusion,” Ahmed et al. argue that it reveals “complex parallels that are potentially fruitful to explore.” However, they fail to make their case.
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| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Complete list of authors: South, Josie; University of Leeds, Faculty of Biological Sciences Barbulescu, Roxana; University of Leeds, Sociology and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences Macêdo, Rafael ; Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in the Forschungsverbund Berlin eV; Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology Musseau, Camille; Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in the Forschungsverbund Berlin eV; Freie Universität Berlin, Guareschi, Simone; Rey Juan Carlos University Alamenciak, Tim; Carleton University, Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science Alberti, Gabriella; University of Leeds, Leeds University Business School Allen, Sylvie; University of Leeds, School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences Bacher, Sven; University of Fribourg, Department of Biology Baker, Emma; University of Leeds, School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences Benson, Michaela; Lancaster University, Department of Sociology Bernard-Verdier, Maud; Sorbonne Université, 10Centre d'Écologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Bibi, Rashida; University of Sheffield, School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations Boatcă, Manuela; Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Soziologie Bolpagni, Rossano; University of Parma, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability Brown, Timothy M.; University of Leeds, School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences; University of Leeds, School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Byrne, Bridget; University of Manchester, Department of Sociology Canavan, Susan; Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, School of Natural Sciences Castro, Esther Neira; Queen's University Belfast, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics Conlon, Deirdre; University of Leeds, School of Geography Demoule, Jean-Paul; Université de Paris I Panthéon Dunn, Allison; University of Leeds, School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences Faist, Thomas; Bielefeld University, Faculty of Sociology Garelli, Glenda; University of Leeds, School of Geography Gervazoni, Paula; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas Gidley, Ben; Birkbeck University of London, School of Social Sciences Gippet, Jérôme M. W.; University of Fribourg, Department of Biology Harwood, Matthew; University of Leeds, School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences Heger, Tina; Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB); Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology; Technical University of Munich, School of Life Sciences Henke, Theresa; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas Hill, Sara; University of Sheffield, School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations Hobbs, Joshua; PRHS University of Leeds, IDEA, The Ethics Centre Hodson, James; University of Leeds, School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences Holmes, George; University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment, Faculty of Environment Hulme, Phil; Lincoln University, Bioprotection Aotearoa, Department of Pest-Management and Conservation Jones, Hannah; University of Warwick, Department of Sociology Khosa, Dumisani; South African National Parks, Scientific Services Kilkey, Majella; University of Sheffield, School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations Kontou, Danai; University of Leeds, School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences Lavanchy, Anne; University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Department of Social Work Lewis, Hannah; University of Sheffield, School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations Giralt, Rosa Mas; University of Leeds, School of Geography; University of Leeds, Lifelong Learning Centre Meyerson, Laura; University of Rhode Island, Department of Natural Resources Science Novoa, Ana; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas; Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences Pattison, Zarah; University of Stirling, School of Biological and Environmental Science Pipek, Pavel; Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences; Charles University, Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Probert, Anna F.; University of New England, Zoology Discipline, School of Environmental and Rural Science Pyšek, Petr; Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences; Charles University, Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Ricciardi, Anthony; McGill University, Department of Biology Roberts, Jonathan David; University of Leeds, School of Biology and School of History Ruland, Florian; Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB); Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology; Náttúrustofa Vesturlands Saul, Wolf-Christian; Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) ; Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology Shackleton, Ross; Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape Research WSL Sigona, Nando; University of Birmingham, Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology Simberloff, Daniel; University of Tennessee, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Solomos, John; University of Warwick, Department of Sociology Sun, Li; University of Leeds, Sociology and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences Waite, Louise; University of Leeds, School of Geography Wilson, Pip; University of Leeds, School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences; University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment, Faculty of Environment Yannelli, Florencia A.; Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Argentine Institute for Dryland Research, CONICET Vathi, Zana; Edge Hill University, Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences Yemane, Tesfalem; University of Liverpool, Department of Geography and Planning Vieten, Ulrike M; Queen's University Belfast, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work Vimercati, Giovanni; University of Fribourg, Department of Biology Zambelli, Elena; Maynooth University, Department of Sociology Lieurance, Deah; Penn State University, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management |
| Keyword(s) / Subject(s): | Biological invasion, migration studies |
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences |
| Research Centres and Institutes: | The Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism |
| Depositing User: | Ben Gidley |
| Date Deposited: | 14 May 2025 12:33 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Sep 2025 19:11 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/55593 |
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