The link between species invasions and the extinction of natives is widely accepted by
scientists as well as conservationists, but available data supporting invasion as a cause of
extinctions are, in many cases, anecdotal, speculative and based upon limited observation.
We pose the question, are aliens generally responsible for widespread extinctions? Our
goal is to prompt a more critical synthesis and evaluation of the available data, and to
suggest ways to take a more scientific, evidence-based approach to understanding the …