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Call for papers - Anthropogenic changes and the evolution of invasive species

Guest Editors

Mafalda Gama, PhD, University of Évora, Portugal
Gunjan Karnatak, PhD, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India
Ricardo Siqueira da Silva, PhD, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Brazil

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 18 September 2025

BMC Environmental Science is calling for submissions to our Collection on ecosystem alterations caused by human action and the introduction and spread of invasive species.




New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15: Life on Land.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Mafalda Gama, PhD, University of Évora, Portugal

Mafalda Gama is a PhD researcher at MARE - Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente/ARNET and teaches Ecology/General Ecology and other subjects at the University of Évora. She completed her PhD in Biology, specializing in Ecology, at the University of Coimbra. Her research focuses on the ecology of freshwater fauna, ecological modeling, and the monitoring of native and invasive species, namely bivalves. She has published several journal articles, contributed to books, organized scientific events, and co-supervised master's dissertations. Her work emphasizes biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and the impacts of climate change.

Gunjan Karnatak, PhD, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India

Dr Karnatak is a Senior Scientist specializing in Aquaculture at the Open Water Aquaculture Production Management Division of ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, India, since 2014. With over 10 years of experience in inland open water fisheries, her expertise spans aquatic habitat assessment, enclosure culture systems (cage/pens), fish biology, and the impact assessment of climate change on inland fisheries. She has actively contributed to the development of region-specific fisheries management practices and vulnerability assessment frameworks for inland aquatic ecosystems. Her work mostly focuses on enhancing fish production in inland open waters especially wetlands and reservoirs and assessing ecological impacts of aquaculture practices.

Ricardo Siqueira da Silva, PhD, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Brazil

Ricardo Siqueira da Silva is an agronomist with a degree from the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), with a Master's and PhD in Plant Production from UFV. He completed a sandwich program at the University of New England (UNE), Australia, with support from CAPES. He is currently a Professor at the Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM) and a visiting researcher at the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany. He is involved in the graduate programs in Plant Production and Forest Science. His research focuses on plant health, phytosanitary issues, climate change, and ecological modelling, emphasizing pests, crops, and agricultural and forest systems. As the leader of the AgriMe Research Group, he studies the impacts of climate change on farming and forest systems, crop protection and integrated pest management.

About the Collection

BMC Environmental Science is calling for submissions to our Collection on anthropogenic activities that have significantly altered ecosystems, leading to the introduction and spread of invasive species.
These species, often with the capacity to rapidly adapt to new environments, pose substantial ecological and economic threats. Understanding the mechanisms driving the evolution of invasive species in response to anthropogenic changes is crucial for effective management and conservation efforts, mitigating the impacts of invasive species on native biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and human well-being.

Recent research has elucidated the role of genetic adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, and species dispersal mechanisms in facilitating the success of invasive species in novel environments. Additionally, studies have highlighted the interconnectedness of anthropogenic disturbances, climate change, and invasive species dynamics, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary approaches to address these complex challenges.

We invite submissions on:

  • Invasive species dispersal
  • Land use changes and invasive species
  • Anthropogenic impact on invasive species evolution
  • Genetic adaptation and population genetics of invasive species
  • Climate change and invasive species dynamics
  • Human-mediated disturbance and biotic interactions
  • Ecological resilience and management of invasive species


This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15: Life on Land.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

Image credit: © my own photos / Getty Images / iStock

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Anthropogenic changes and the evolution of invasive species" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.