Welcome to the X-IAS Project
Exploring Co-Invasions in Aquatic Ecosystems
Globalization has accelerated the spread of invasive alien species (IAS), reshaping ecosystems and threatening biodiversity worldwide. While much is known about the effects of single invaders, far less is understood about what happens when multiple invasive species coexist and interact in the same environment.
X-IAS aims
X-IAS is a multidisciplinary research project that aims to unravel the complex dynamics of co-invasions in aquatic and estuarine ecosystems. Focusing on Portugal’s Minho Estuary, a hotspot of many IAS, the project will study how selected high-impact species such as the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea, the Brazilian waterweed Egeria densa, and the pumpkinseed fish Lepomis gibbosus interact, compete, or even facilitate one another’s spread.
Our mission
To advance understanding of how multiple invasive species shape ecosystems and to provide science-based tools that guide effective conservation and management strategies.