Invasion Biology

Non-native species continue to establish and spread in forest ecosystems across the United States, altering species composition, disrupting nutrient cycles, and causing measurable losses in forest biomass and carbon storage. Our research uses continental-scale inventory data, spatial analysis, and predictive modeling to quantify invasion patterns, identify mechanisms of establishment and spread, and develop tools to support early detection and management.

Key questions driving this work include: What traits predict which species become invasive? Where are invasion hotspots, and how are they shifting over time? How much ecological damage — in terms of tree mortality, biomass loss, and carbon flux — can be attributed to non-native pests at national scales? We also develop and maintain the most comprehensive invasive plant and forest pest databases for the contiguous U.S., which serve as open-access resources for researchers and managers nationwide.

A map depicting the mean invasive species per plot of land in Eastern America. The yellow signifies 0.00 to 0.50 invasive species per plot while dark red represents over 4.00 mean invasive species per plot.

Active Grants:

  • Early detection and accurate diagnosis of invasive forest pests using spectral imaging and DNA barcoding — USDA Forest Service, 2024-2027
  • Online database for synthesizing forest invasive pest survey data in the Eastern Region — USDA Forest Service, 2023-2028

Online Resources:

Representative Publications — Invasion Biology

(Listed approximately by citation count / impact; all authored or co-authored by S. Fei)

  1. Fei, S., Morin, R. S., Oswalt, C. M., & Liebhold, A. M. (2019). Biomass losses resulting from insect and disease invasions in US forests. PNAS, 116(35), 17371–17376. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1820601116
  2. Fei, S., Phillips, J., & Shouse, M. (2014). Biogeomorphic impacts of invasive species. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 45, 69–87. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091928
  3. Guo, Q., Fei, S., Potter, K.M., Liebhold, A.M., & Wen, J. (2019). Tree diversity regulates forest pest invasion. PNAS, 116(15), 7382–7386. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1821039116
  4. Nunez-Mir, G.C., Guo, Q., Rejmánek, M., Iannone, B.V., & Fei, S. (2019). Predicting invasiveness of exotic woody species using a traits-based framework. Ecology, 100(10), e02797. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2797
  5. Jo, I., Potter, K.M., Domke, G.M., & Fei, S. (2018). Dominant forest tree mycorrhizal type mediates understory plant invasions. Ecology Letters, 21(2), 217–224. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12884