Preface 99 Guest Editor Yoshiaki HASHIMOTO Institute of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Hyogo / The Museum of Nature and Human Activities Hyogo According to a major recent report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), more than 37,000 alien species have been introduced globally via various human activities. Of these, more than 3,500 are invasive alien species that pose major global threats to nature, the economy, food security and human health. Invasive alien species have played a key role in 60 percent of global plant and animal extinctions and costed the global economy more than $400 billion a year—a figure that has quadrupled every decade since 1970. With the increased movement of people and goods driven by globalization, environmental degradation and climate change, the number of invasive alien species and their impacts are projected to increase. In response to this critical issue, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) adopted an international target of reducing the introduction and establishment of invasive alien species by at least 50 percent by 2030. Furthermore, at the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment held in 2023, the members agreed to create and share a database of information on invasive alien species, strengthen research on monitoring and early detection, and establish a system to prevent the spread of invasive alien species, with private sector involvement. Ants are among the most devastating invasive alien species. Their broad diets, nesting habits and high reproductive capacity allow them to reach extremely high population densities in their introduced range, where they often outcompete native species and disrupt biodiversity. They can also present a danger to agriculture and pose serious public health risks. Indeed, the total economic damage to the agriculture and public welfare sectors caused by invasive alien ants that has been reported in 27 countries since 1930, is estimated at $51.93 billion. As a result, nineteen ant species are recorded in the Global Invasive Species Database (IUCN), five of which are listed among the “100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species”: the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala), little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) and yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes). Furthermore, the small size of ants facilitates their transport by human activities and their establishment and spread. Consequently, over 200 ant species have established populations outside their native ranges, of which approximately 20 additional species have been identified as potentially invasive or highly invasive. The management of invasive ants is a highly diverse, complex task and includes preventing entry, monitoring high-risk areas, removing new invaders and addressing existing incursions. Consequently, to improve management decisions on invasive ants, it is necessary to share the knowledge gained from past management efforts. Furthermore, the global movement of goods and people unintentionally facilitates the spread of invasive ant species. To effectively prevent their spread, we must work together and share information and resources to address this issue through collaborative efforts and comprehensive strategies. In this special issue of Global Environmental Research, experts report the latest research on controlling invasive alien ants in various countries and regions, including the United States, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. I laud these experts for providing valuable knowledge and expertise on the challenges of preventing and managing invasive alien ant threats and hope that this special issue will facilitate global efforts to establish effective management strategies for invasive alien ants. Preface
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