Invasions and stable isotope analysis – informing ecology and management

Stable isotope analysis has increasingly been used to answer ecological questions. However, despite their potential, stable isotopes have rarely been used to assist with managing invasions. Here we discuss some of the principles behind the use of stable isotope analyses. We also review how stable isotopes can aid our understanding of the threats posed by invasive species, and the mechanisms by which some species successfully invade new environments. We then show how information from stable isotopes can be used to evaluate and refine ongoing management actions from an early stage in eradication attempts. We highlight the potential for such approaches to rapidly and simply provide detailed ecological information. We conclude that this technique can be used not only to inform our understanding of the problems caused by invasive species, but also to facilitate conservation and resource management objectives for wildlife populations.