TY - JOUR AU - Venette, Robert C. AU - Carey, James R. TI - Invasion biology: Rethinking our response to alien species JF - California Agriculture JO - Calif Agr Y1 - 1998/03/01 VL - 52 IS - 2 SP - 13 EP - 17 PB - University of California Agriculture and Nature Resources SN - 0008-0845 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3733/ca.v052n02p13 L3 - 10.3733/ca.v052n02p13 AB - Invasion biology is the study of the reproduction, dispersal and ecological impact of organisms that occur outside of their native range, including exotic pests and biological control agents. Alien species cost California agriculture billions of dollars annually in control measures and crop damage. Societal trends toward increased travel and import of plant and animal products suggest that exotic species will continue to enter California. Understanding the principles of the invasion process will help to predict which species will invade, where invaders will become established, and the effects of invasions on agricultural, urban and natural environments. Improved understanding of the invasion process should contribute to public policies designed to prevent or contain invasions, especially of potential pests that are not yet in the state and whose biology is poorly described.