A systems perspective: How social-ecological networks can improve our understanding and management of biological invasions

Reversing biodiversity loss and the sustainability crisis requires approaches that explicitly consider human-nature interdependencies. Social-ecological networks (SENs), which incorporate social and ecological actors and entities as well as their interactions, are such an approach. SENs have been applied to a range of complex issues, such as sustainable resource use, management of ecosystem (dis-)services, and collective action. However, the application of SENs to the field of invasion science has remained limited so far, despite their clear potential for studying introduction pathways of non-native species, invasion success, direct and indirect impacts, and improving their management. Specifically, we (1) review past applications of SENs to biological invasions, (2) provide guidance on how to construct and analyze such networks, and (3) outline future opportunities of using SENs in invasion science. Our article aims to inform and inspire the applications of SENs to improve our ability to meet the diverse challenges facing invasion science.