Reviewing the role of urbanisation in facilitating the introduction and establishment of Invasive Animal Species

While urbanisation is often associated to a loss of biodiversity, non-native invasive animal species are strikingly successful in urban landscapes. As biological invasions are recognised to have detrimental environmental, social and economic impacts, extensive understanding of the interactions between invasive species and the abiotic and biotic environment is necessary for effective prevention and management strategies. However, the mechanisms underlying the success of invasive animals in urban environments are still poorly understood. This literature review aims at summarising and explaining the mechanisms enhancing biological invasive potential in urban environments, by both isolating and interlinking the abiotic and biotic drivers involved. Ultimately, providing a first conceptual review of the role of urbanisation in the introduction, establishment, and potential further spread of invasive animal species through anthropogenic landscapes. Moreover, we provide a review of the current state of literature, and identify important knowledge gaps, such as the scarcity of studies investigating socio-economic spatial patterns in the presence and abundance of invasive species, or literature investigating the role of urban landscapes in adaptive evolution of invasive animal species.