嗜热子囊菌光孢变种β-葡萄糖苷酶的基因克隆、表达及酶学性质分析

从嗜热子囊菌光孢变种(Thermoascus aurantiacus var.levisporus)RNA中通过RT-PCR克隆出β-葡萄糖苷酶基因bgl Ⅰ的全长序列,cDNA序列为2 672 bp.Genbank登录号为EU269025,将该片段插入巴斯德毕赤酵母Pichia pastoris分泌型表达载体pPIC9K中,获得重组质粒pPIC9K/bgl,经线性化后用电穿孔法导入毕赤酵母GS115中,在醇氧化酶AOXI基因启动子作用下,获得高效表达β-葡萄糖苷酶的毕赤酵母工程菌株.经DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow阴离子层析纯化了该重组表达蛋白.SDS-PAGER测得该重组蛋白相对分子质量(M)约为120×103.经甲醇诱导,培养基中β-葡萄糖苷酶的活力可达1.2 U/mg,小规模发酵量达0.45 mg/mL.该酶的最适反应温度为60℃,最适反应pH为5.0.于70℃保温30 min仍保持80%的酶活力,具有较高的热稳定性,在pH 3.0～9.0的条件下酸碱耐受性强.图6表1参22     

大鼠血红素加氧酶-1基因在乳酸乳球菌中的克隆与表达

采用RTPCR技术从大鼠脾总RNA中分离扩增HO1基因,将该基因克隆进pGEMTeasy质粒中,转化大肠杆菌DH5α,提取质粒,分析基因,酶切后与含有乳酸乳球菌启动子NisA的pSEC质粒连接,经电击转化,将重组质粒转入乳酸乳球菌NZ9000中,转化子在含有氯霉素的脑心浸液培养基上培养.用Nisin诱导HO1表达,SDSPAGE和Westernblot分析、鉴定表达产物,并且用分光光度法测定工程菌表达的HO1活性为0.45nmolmg(protein)-1h-1.图5参18     

嗜热脂肪芽孢杆菌过氧化氢酶基因perA在大肠杆菌中的高效表达

利用PCR技术得到嗜热脂肪芽孢杆菌 (Bacillusstearothermophilus)过氧化氢酶基因 perA ,将该基因与表达载体 pKK2 2 3 3连接构建重组质粒pK perA ,转化大肠杆菌过氧化氢酶HPⅠ和HPⅡ双缺突变株UM 2 ,得到重组大肠杆菌UM 2 1.酶活测定结果表明 ,表达产物具有正常的生物学活性 .SDS PAGE电泳结果显示出明显的特异性表达条带 ,单体Mr =86× 10 3 ,与嗜热脂肪芽孢杆菌所产酶相同 .实验表明 ,重组质粒在宿主UM 2中有较好的稳定性 ,在无选择压力条件下传代 6 0次基本保持稳定 ,传代 10 0次重组质粒保留 80 %以上 .摇瓶实验确定重组菌的最佳表达条件为 :IPTG浓度 ,0 .75mmol/L ;诱导时间 3h ;培养基起始 pH 6 .5 ;诱导温度 37℃ ;装液量 5 0mL/ 2 5 0mL .在优化条件下 ,重组菌产生的过氧化氢酶占菌体总蛋白的 8% ,酶活力可达 35U/mL ,是原始菌株BacillusstearothermophilusIAM110 0 1的 11.7倍 .图 2表 1参 10     

米曲霉产氨基酰化酶条件及部分酶学性质研究

通过单因子和多因子摇瓶正交优化试验,确定了米曲霉液态发酵产氨基酰化酶的最佳发酵条件.优化发酵培养基组成(ρ/gL-1):葡萄糖40,蔗糖10,可溶性淀粉20,蛋白胨2.5,马铃薯液1000mL,pH自然.培养基装量50mL/250mL三角瓶,接种量4%.培养温度30℃,转速100r/min,发酵时间42h.每50mL培养物的总酶活由优化前的2627u提高到7338u,是优化前的2.79倍.研究了米曲霉氨基酰化酶的部分酶学性质.该酶催化反应的最适pH为7.0,最适温度为40℃,低浓度的Co2 (5×10-4mol/L)对酶活激活作用显著.图5表2参8     

β-甘露聚糖酶基因在枯草芽孢杆菌中的克隆及表达

从Bacillus subtilis JNA 3-10中克隆出β-甘露聚糖酶基因成熟肽链编码序列manA1和含信号肽的β-甘露聚糖酶基因manA2,在B.subtilis 168中克隆表达,分别筛选获得高效分泌表达β-甘露聚糖酶的重组菌株BPM1001(pMA5-manA1/B.subtilis 168)和BPM1002(pMA5-manA2/B.subtilis 168),结果表明菌株BPM1002总酶活力是菌株BPM1001的9.65倍,是原始菌株的13.1倍.在基因manA2下游引入His序列克隆出β-甘露聚糖酶基因manA3,获得枯草芽孢杆菌168重组菌株BPM1003.采用Ni-NTA柱纯化重组菌株BPM1003分泌表达的β-甘露聚糖酶,并研究其酶学性质,该酶促反应的最适pH为6.5,最适温度为65℃,在37℃条件下保存一个月酶活力依然保留有77.8%.5 L发酵罐放大实验结果表明魔芋粉对于产β-甘露聚糖酶具有明显的诱导作用,酶活力最高可达2 748.82 U/mL.图9表3参19     

耐碱性木聚糖酶产生菌的筛选及发酵条件研究

利用刚果红透明圈法,从造纸厂碱性土壤中筛选到一株木聚糖酶生产菌株X24-14,经培养特性研究及16S rDNA序列分析,初步认为该菌属于纤维菌属(Cellulosimicrobium).经发酵条件优化,该菌在麸皮60 g/L,蛋白胨10 g/L,K2HPO4 7.0 g/L, pH 8.5,接种量为5%, 37 ℃, 200 r/min的条件下发酵培养108 h,可达到最大活力,为2 204 u/mL. 该酶最适反应温度为60 ℃;具有较宽的pH作用范围,在pH 4.2～9.4范围内能保持较高的酶活力,在pH 9.4条件下,仍具有80%的酶活力; pH稳定性较好,在4 ℃、pH 11.0的条件下处理24 h仍能保持75%的酶活力.图3表1参12     

产1,3-丙二醇温控重组大肠杆菌JM109(pBV220-yqhD-dhaB)的构建

1,3-丙二醇(1,3-PD)是一种重要的化工原料,其最重要的用途是作为合成聚酯PTT的单体.由于微生物发酵法生产1,3-PD具有操作简单,不易产生有毒副产物等特点,已得到广泛关注.本研究在前期工作的基础上,分别获得了来源于肺炎克雷伯氏菌的甘油脱水酶编码基因dhaB和来源于大肠杆菌的1,3-PD氧化还原酶同工酶编码基因yqhD,利用温控表达载体pBV220串联构建了重组质粒pBV220-yqhD-dhaB,将其转化大肠杆菌得到产1,3-丙二醇温控重组大肠杆菌JM109(pBV220-yqhD-dhaB).该重组菌在LB培养基中,30℃好氧培养12 h至对数生长中期,再经42℃好氧诱导发酵4 h,测得胞内甘油脱水酶和1,3-丙二醇氧化还原酶同工酶的酶活力分别达到260 U/mg蛋白和140U/mg蛋白;在含甘油40 g/L的发酵培养基中,30℃好氧培养12 h至对数生长中期,再经42℃好氧诱导发酵4 h,测得发酵液中1,3-PD含量为8.5 g/L.这将为进一步构建基因工程菌生产1,3-PD打下坚实的基础.图6表1参18     

产琥珀酸重组大肠杆菌的构建和发酵性能

琥珀酸是一种重要的化工产品,微生物发酵法生产琥珀酸具有广阔的应用前景.野生大肠杆菌厌氧发酵产物中琥珀酸含量低,且有大量副产物.为构建高产琥珀酸的重组大肠杆菌,阻断代谢旁路,利用Xer/dif重组酶系统对Escherichia coli CICIM B0013进行代谢途径的调控研究.结果显示,敲除了包括乙酸激酶和磷酸乙酰转移酶基因(ackA-pta)、乳酸脱氢酶基因(ldhA)、丙酮酸甲酸裂解酶基因(pflB)、乙醇脱氢酶基因(adhE)等琥珀酸合成竞争途径中关键酶基因的重组大肠杆菌菌株E.coli CICIM B0013-1040,其发酵液中琥珀酸成为主要产物得到积累;进一步对其PTS系统进行修饰并适当增强PEP羧化酶基因(ppc)表达剂量,成功获得一株具备较强琥珀酸生产能力的菌株E.coli CICIM B0013-1050(pTH-ppc),该菌株厌氧转化葡萄糖36 h,琥珀酸产量达到36.2 g/L,生产强度为1.01 g L-1 h-1,葡萄糖-琥珀酸转化率为64.3%,发酵液经高效液相色谱(HPLC)检测,无乳酸、乙酸、甲酸、乙醇生成.     

一种新型抗性质粒的构建及其在核黄素生产菌中的运用

枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis RF1是课题组前期通过基因工程改造得到的一株核黄素高产菌,为了进一步提高核黄素的产量,需要对该菌株进行进一步的基因工程改造.本研究首先将编码的链丝菌素乙酰基转移酶基因sat克隆到p MA5质粒上,构建具有诺瓦丝菌素Norseothricin(NTC)抗性的重组质粒p MA5-sat,实验证实该重组质粒能够用于B.subtilis RF1的抗性筛选.随后将核黄素合成相关的关键酶葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶编码基因zwf克隆到重组质粒p MA5-sat上,获得重组质粒p MA5-sat-zwf,并成功构建重组菌B.subtilis RF1/p MA5-sat-zwf.结果显示,重组菌胞内葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶活力比原始菌提高了近50倍,说明葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶在重组菌中成功过量表达;根据发酵特性分析,重组菌B.subtilis RF1/p MA5-sat-zwf最终核黄素产量达到12.01 g/L,比原始菌B.subtilis RF1提高了30.3%.综上,本研究构建的新型抗性质粒能够成功运用于核黄素生产菌枯草芽孢杆菌的基因工程改造.     

L-山梨糖还原酶基因在大肠杆菌中的表达及融合蛋白的酶学特性

为获得L 山梨糖还原酶 (SR)整个操纵子序列 ,以 pGEM 3zf( )作为载体构建了Gluconobactersp .S6基因文库 .结合转化子在以L 山梨糖为唯一碳源培养基上的生长情况 ,利用PCR技术筛选到一个含L 山梨糖还原酶基因的阳性克隆pGEM 3zf( ) sr3/E .coli,酶切鉴定插入片断长度约 5 .0kb左右 .以 pGEM 3zf( ) sr3/E .coli质粒DNA为模板 ,扩增SR结构基因 .PCR产物经测序验证为SR基因序列后 ,与表达载体Pet32a( )相连 ,转化宿主大肠杆菌AD4 94 (DE3)对SR基因进行表达 ,并利用重金属离子亲和层析技术对SR融合蛋白进行了纯化 ,对其酶学特性进行了研究 .结果表明 :还原型辅酶II(NADPH)是SR酶蛋白的最适电子供体 ;SR酶蛋白的最适反应pH为 7.0 ,pH为6 .5时保持稳定 ,酶活力较高 ;最适反应温度是 5 0℃ ,30℃时热稳定性较好 .SDS PAGE电泳分析 ,SR融合蛋白的Mr 在6 5× 10 3 左右 ,由此推测出天然SR的Mr 在 5 3× 10 3 左右 ,与SR基因序列推测出的分子量大小一致 .图 13表 2参 6     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia

As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland where cashmere‐producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis. In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3‐fold increase in local profits for herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica).That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4‐fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)in trans‐Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China's Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard(Panthera uncia), khulan(Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic‐level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere. Globalización del Mercado de Cachemira y la Declinación de Mamíferos Mayores en Asia Central     

The lichen-rich coastal heath vegetation on the isle of Anholt, Denmark — conservation and management

The high conservational value of the lichen-rich vegetation and landscape of the marine foreland Ørkenen on the isle of Anholt is treated from a Danish as well as a European perspective. The sensitivity of the lichen-rich vegetation to physical disturbance is emphasized. The impact of invasive species such asPinus mugo as well as the effect of atmospheric deposition of nutrients on the heaths at Anholt is described. Considerations related to the development of a management plan for Ørkenen are presented.     

Behavior and ecology of Old World Luperini beetles of the genusAulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary The attraction of Old World leaf beetles in the genusAulacophora to kairomones and parakairomones which are effective lures for New WorldDiabrotica andAcalymma were investigated. Beetles captured on sticky traps baited with single and multicomponent lures were no different from the control traps for two species ofAulacophora. Yellow colored traps and squash blossoms are attractive toAulacophora beetles which detect sub-microgram quantities of cucurbitacins on silica gel. Leaf feeding behavior and flight activity data are correlated with varietal preference of threeAulacophora species. The common response byDiabrotica andAulacophora to cucurbitacins reinforces the two groups' coevolutionary association with the Cucurbitaceae. The apparent lack of a common response toCucurbita blossom volatiles suggests recent evolutionary pathways are substantially different for these two groups of beetles.     

Importance of greater interdisciplinarity and geographic scope when tackling the driving forces behind biological invasions

Invasive non-native species are important drivers of ecosystem change, yet the driving forces of biological invasions themselves are poorly understood. Such information is essential to ensure policies focus on the most relevant drivers, and that future scenarios capture the full range of potential outcomes for invasive non-native species. I carried out a bibliometric analysis of articles published from 2000 to 2020 that address either invasive non-native species or biodiversity and ecosystem services and that also mention 1 or more drivers of ecosystem change. I examined 5 indirect drivers (demographic, economic, governance, sociocultural, and technological) and 6 direct drivers (climate change, invasive non-native species, land-use or sea-use change, natural hazards, pollution, and resource extraction). Using the Web of Science core collection of citation indexes, I undertook searches of article titles and keywords and retrieved 27,462 articles addressing invasive non-native species and 110,087 articles dealing with biodiversity or ecosystem services. Most research to date on biological invasions as well as on biodiversity and ecosystem services has focused on anthropogenic direct drivers of ecosystem change rather than indirect drivers. Yet currently, less than 18% of articles addressing biological invasions examined drivers of ecosystem change, a similar level to that found over 20 years ago for biodiversity or ecosystem services. Knowledge of the drivers of biological invasions is limited, emphasizes tractable drivers over those that require an interdisciplinary approach, and is biased toward developed economies. Drivers generally deemed important for biological invasions, such as governance and resource extraction, accounted for less than 2% of research effort. The absence of a systematic understanding of the forces that drive invasive non-native species and how they interact means that attempts to mitigate or forecast biological invasions are likely to fail. To address biological invasions requires a much better orientation of national and international research on drivers in relation to both their actual importance as well as their policy relevance.