Foxcroft

My interests span the field of invasion ecology, from applied, problem-orientated research to conceptual frameworks. I largely focus on risk assessment, pathways and patterns of invasion within large protected areas, specifically the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The high number of alien species, together with the size and the intact ecological processes in Kruger, provides a model system in which to answer numerous invasion related questions. I also enjoy working across all 19 of South African National Parks’ protected areas, and have gained many insights into threats and priorities from the different regions. Over time my interests have expanded to reviewing the status of alien plant invasions in protected areas globally. Based in a conservation agency, I appreciate the importance of integrating science into management and endeavour to develop these links through evidence-based management strategies.  In general my research is directed into six core areas, namely, i) patterns and drivers of plant invasions, ii) invasive species risk assessment, iii) long-term assessments of impacts on species and communities by alien plant invasions, iv) analysis of global patterns of alien plant invasions in protected areas, v) non-plant invasions in protected areas, vi) working at the science–management–policy interface.