Moving towards more integrative approaches within the invasion sciences has been recognized as a means of improving linkages between science, policy, and practice. Yet despite the recognition that biological invasions pose complex social-ecological challenges, the invasion literature poorly covers social-ecological or distinctly integrative research. Various initiatives and investments have been made towards building research capacity and conducting more integrative research aimed at improving the management of biological invasions. Using a combination of social network and thematic analysis approaches, and the South African Working for Water (WfW) program as a case study for the management of invasive species, we identify and explore the roles of core authors in shaping collaboration networks and research outputs, based on bibliographic records. We found that research produced under the auspices of WfW is authored by a handful of core authors, conducting primarily ecologically-focused research, with social research significantly underrepresented. Core authors identified in this study play an essential role in mediating relationships between researchers, in addition to potentially controlling access to those seeking to form collaborations, maintaining network cohesion and connectivity across institutional and disciplinary boundaries. Research projects should be designed to span disciplines and institutions if they are to adequately address complex challenges.

在入侵科学领域内朝着更综合的方法发展已被认为是改善科学，政策与实践之间联系的一种手段。尽管人们认识到生物入侵带来了复杂的社会生态挑战，但入侵文献却很少涵盖社会生态研究或截然不同的综合研究。为了提高研究能力和进行旨在改善生物入侵管理的更综合研究，已经采取了各种举措和投资。结合社交网络和主题分析方法，以及南非水务计划（WfW）计划作为入侵物种管理的案例研究，我们确定并探讨了核心作者在塑造协作网络和研究成果方面的作用，根据书目记录。我们发现，在WfW的主持下进行的研究是由少数核心作者撰写的，这些研究主要进行以生态为重点的研究，而社会研究的代表性明显不足。在这项研究中确定的核心作者，除了潜在地控制寻求寻求合作者的访问，保持跨机构和学科界限的网络凝聚力和连通性之外，在调解研究人员之间的关系方面也起着至关重要的作用。如果研究项目要充分应对复杂的挑战，则应设计为跨越学科和机构。在这项研究中确定的核心作者，除了潜在地控制寻求寻求合作者的访问，保持跨机构和学科界限的网络凝聚力和连通性之外，在调解研究人员之间的关系方面也起着至关重要的作用。如果研究项目要充分应对复杂的挑战，则应设计为跨越学科和机构。在这项研究中确定的核心作者，除了潜在地控制寻求寻求合作者的访问，保持跨机构和学科界限的网络凝聚力和连通性之外，在调解研究人员之间的关系方面也起着至关重要的作用。如果研究项目要充分应对复杂的挑战，则应设计为跨越学科和机构。