Overall introduction

The article deals with the invasive alien species as one of the key causes of biodiversity changes worldwide. The impacts of aquatic invasive alien species are immense, insidious and usually irreversible. Some invaders are re-forming the structures, dynamics or functions of aquatic communities or are imposing significant economic costs. The global rate of new aquatic invasions increased in recent years, driving efforts to evaluate their vectors and pathways. This book which the authors introduce presents an account of the impact of the three principal maritime canals as invasion corridors for aquatic species; the Kiel Canal, the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal.