Abstract:Biological invasion and its effects on ecosystem and biodiversity are very important components of the global change, and have been paid great attention worldwide. The impact of invasive plant species on natural ecosystem and biodiversity is becoming more and more serious, which even leads to irreversible species extinction and ecosystem collapse. This is a review of recent studies on the relationship between fire and invasive plant species. This subject is very complicated, which is affected by the characteristics of exotic species, the time, frequency and intensity of fire, and other factors. Sometimes, fire can suppress or inhibit the growth and establishment of exotic species, and sometimes it can facilitate spreading and invasion of exotic species by reducing interference from native species. On the other hand, biological invasions alter the structure and function of ecosystems in myriad ways, and many of the alterations influence fire regimes and post-fire response. Some invasive plants can promote the fire frequency or intensity by changing fuel and fire regimes, and some species is fire suppressor. The characteristics of exotic species and the invasion mechanisms are so diverse that no common pattern could explain all cases. So prevention and management of invasive species is a hard and complicated job, which needs research and consideration on biological features of invasive species and native species, ecosystems, and other environmental factors. As one of the management method of invasive species, fire can be used to control some invasive species effectively when managed scientifically.
