Ecological Consequences of Aquatic Invasive Species in African Freshwater Ecosystems

African freshwater ecosystems are profoundly influenced by the introduction and establishment of aquatic invasive species, which continue to threaten biodiversity, alter ecosystem structure, and impact key ecological processes. These invaders—including crustaceans such as crayfish, as well as non-native fish, mollusks, aquatic plants, and other taxa—can reshape population dynamics, outcompete or displace native biota, disrupt community interactions, and modify nutrient cycling and other ecosystem functions. Understanding these effects is crucial for predicting ecological outcomes and informing effective management strategies across diverse African waterways.

Recent studies have begun to elucidate the mechanisms by which aquatic invasive species alter population, community, and ecosystem-level processes—from predation and competition to physical habitat transformation and cascading food web effects. However, significant knowledge gaps remain, including the variability of impacts across habitats, the feedbacks between biotic and abiotic changes, and the long-term consequences for ecosystem resilience and function. Moreover, there is a growing need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecological, socio-economic, and management perspectives, to better mitigate and manage invasions in these critical systems.

This Research Topic seeks to advance the understanding of how aquatic invasive species influence population, community, and ecosystem dynamics within African freshwater environments. We aim to bring together empirical, theoretical, and modeling studies that address these impacts at multiple ecological levels, and to foster exchange on management, restoration, and policy solutions. Manuscripts may include, but are not limited to, the following themes:

-Impacts of invasive species on population structure and demographic trends
-Changes in community composition, diversity, and trophic interactions
-Mechanisms of ecosystem alteration, including effects on nutrient cycling, productivity, or habitat -structure
-Temporal and spatial patterns of invasion and their ecological consequences
-Comparative case studies from different regions, habitats, or taxa
-Modeling and prediction of invasion dynamics and ecosystem responses
-Integrative approaches linking ecological data with management, restoration, or policy efforts

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Freshwater ecosystems, Community dynamics, Invasive species

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.