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Ecology and Evolution
South Africa
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
153
Citations
95137
World Ranking
24
National Ranking
1

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in South Africa Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in South Africa Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in South Africa Leader Award
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa

Overview

David M. Richardson is affiliated with Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Their research spans multiple areas within environmental science and agricultural and biological sciences, with a particular focus on invasion biology and ecology.

The scientist has contributed extensively to the study of invasive species, species distribution, and ecological dynamics. Their recent publication record includes notable papers such as:

  • "Scientists' warning on invasive alien species" (2020) published in Biological Reviews/Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
  • "Drivers of future alien species impacts: An expert-based assessment" (2020) published in Global Change Biology
  • "Why Are Invasive Plants Successful?" (2023) published in Annual Review of Plant Biology
  • "Four priority areas to advance invasion science in the face of rapid environmental change" (2020) published in Environmental Reviews
  • "Invasion syndromes: a systematic approach for predicting biological invasions and facilitating effective management" (2020) published in Biological Invasions

Their research topics reflect a broad engagement with environmental and biological challenges, covering areas such as:

  • Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
  • Plant and animal studies
  • Species Distribution and Climate Change
  • Biological Control of Invasive Species
  • Forest Insect Ecology and Management
  • Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
  • Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies

David M. Richardson's work is situated mainly within the fields of Environmental Science and Agricultural and Biological Sciences. Subfields they are active in include:

  • Nature and Landscape Conservation
  • Plant Science
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Insect Science

Frequent publication venues for their work include:

  • South African Journal of Botany
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
  • Biological Invasions
  • NeoBiota
  • BioScience

Coauthors who frequently collaborate with David M. Richardson include:

  • John R. Wilson
  • Petr Pyšek
  • Cang Hui
  • Philip E. Hulme
  • Franz Essl

In addition to journal articles, the scientist has contributed to scholarly books, including a publication with Cambridge University Press titled "Invading Ecological Networks" (2022).

David M. Richardson has been recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa.

Best Publications

  • Naturalization and invasion of alien plants: concepts and definitions

    David M. Richardson;Petr Pyšek;Marcel Rejmánek;Michael G. Barbour

  • A proposed unified framework for biological invasions.

    Tim M. Blackburn;Tim M. Blackburn;Petr Pyšek;Petr Pyšek;Sven Bacher;James T. Carlton

  • Novel ecosystems: theoretical and management aspects of the new ecological world order

    Richard J. Hobbs;Salvatore Arico;James Aronson;Jill S. Baron

  • What attributes make some plant species more invasive

    Marcel Rejmanek;David M. Richardson

  • Effects of Invasive Alien Plants on Fire Regimes

    Matthew L. Brooks;Carla M. D'antonio;David M. Richardson;James B. Grace

  • Alien plants in checklists and floras: towards better communication between taxonomists and ecologists

    Petr Pyšek;David M. Richardson;Marcel Rejmánek;Grady L. Webster

  • Scientists' warning on invasive alien species.

    Petr Pyšek;Petr Pyšek;Petr Pyšek;Philip E. Hulme;Dan Simberloff;Sven Bacher

  • Plant invasions--the role of mutualisms.

    David M. Richardson;Nicky Allsopp;Carla M. D'antonio;Suzanne J. Milton

  • Invasive Species, Environmental Change and Management, and Health

    Petr Pyšek;David M. Richardson

  • Plant invasions : merging the concepts of species invasiveness and community invasibility

    David M. Richardson;Petr Pyšek

  • Traits Associated with Invasiveness in Alien Plants: Where Do we Stand?

    Petr Pyšek;David M. Richardson

  • Trees and shrubs as invasive alien species – a global review

    David M. Richardson;Marcel Rejmánek

  • Riparian vegetation: Degradation, alien plant invasions, and restoration prospects

    David M. Richardson;Patricia M. Holmes;Karen J. Esler;Susan M. Galatowitsch

  • Niche‐based modelling as a tool for predicting the risk of alien plant invasions at a global scale

    Wilfried Thuiller;David M. Richardson;Petr Pyšek;Petr Pyšek;Guy F. Midgley

  • Adaptive evolution in invasive species.

    Peter J. Prentis;John R.U. Wilson;Eleanor E. Dormontt;David M. Richardson

  • A Unified Classification of Alien Species Based on the Magnitude of their Environmental Impacts

    Tim M. Blackburn;Franz Essl;Thomas Evans;Philip E. Hulme

  • Something in the way you move: dispersal pathways affect invasion success

    John R.U. Wilson;Eleanor E. Dormontt;Peter J. Prentis;Andrew J. Lowe

  • The more the better? The role of polyploidy in facilitating plant invasions

    Mariska te Beest;Mariska te Beest;Johannes J. Le Roux;David M. Richardson;Anne K. Brysting

  • Geographical and taxonomic biases in invasion ecology

    Petr Pyšek;Petr Pyšek;David M. Richardson;Jan Pergl;Vojtěch Jarošík;Vojtěch Jarošík

  • Ecology and Biogeography of Pinus

    David M. Richardson

  • The invasive potential of Australian banksias in South African fynbos: A comparison of the reproductive potential of Banksia ericifolia and Leucadendron laureolum

    M. A. Honig;R. M. Cowling;D. M. Richardson

Frequent Co-Authors

John R. U. Wilson
John R. U. Wilson South African National Biodiversity Institute
Petr Pyšek
Petr Pyšek Czech Academy of Sciences
Llewellyn C. Foxcroft
Llewellyn C. Foxcroft South African National Parks
Cang Hui
Cang Hui Stellenbosch University
Mirijam Gaertner
Mirijam Gaertner Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Economics and Environment
Johannes J. Le Roux
Johannes J. Le Roux Macquarie University
Mathieu Rouget
Mathieu Rouget Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement
Franz Essl
Franz Essl University of Vienna
Richard M. Cowling
Richard M. Cowling Nelson Mandela University
Philip E. Hulme
Philip E. Hulme Lincoln University

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