The global and seemingly unstoppable spread of invasive alien plants emerges as one of the main topics of current science. This is due to the multiple repercussions of invasive plants on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, plus huge consequences on human existence. In freshwaters, lots of invaders are extremely competitive by virtue of their idiosyncratic reproductive and adaptive strategies. As “inland islands”, freshwaters seem particularly prone to changes when invaded, such as reorganisation of food webs and biotic interactions. Together, these events are self-reinforcing, implying hardly reversible hysteric phenomena. The intention of this paper is to point out: invasion pathways, driving factors, invasion mechanisms, and noticeable effects mediated by plant invaders in freshwaters through an extensive knowledge review. The growing evidence suggests the dawn of a new epochal phase: a globally alien-dominated “bio-historical horizon”, tentatively called “Exocene”, where invaders play predominant roles that drive freshwaters functioning and successional unexpected stages. In the context of invasion science, Exocene reinforces the need for an ecosystem-based perspective to properly understand the implications of plant invaders in freshwaters. Seven challenging issues emerge to be addressed to better outline the global paths of biodiversity and functioning between biomes when faced with biological invasion.

外来入侵植物的全球性传播，似乎是不可阻挡的，成为当前科学的主要主题之一。这是由于入侵植物对生物多样性和生态系统功能的多重影响，以及对人类生存的巨大影响。在淡水中，许多入侵者凭借其特有的繁殖和适应策略而极具竞争力。作为“内陆岛屿”，淡水在受到入侵时特别容易发生变化，例如食物网的重组和生物相互作用。这些事件加在一起是自我强化的，这意味着几乎不可逆的磁滞现象。本文的目的是指出：通过广泛的知识回顾，入侵者在淡水中介导的入侵途径，驱动因素，入侵机理和显着效应。越来越多的证据表明，一个新的时代开始了：一个全球性的，由外星人主导的“生物历史视野”，暂称为“外生世”，入侵者在其中发挥着主导作用，推动淡水发挥功能，并接连发生意外的阶段。在入侵科学的背景下，始新世强调需要以生态系统为基础的观点，以正确了解淡水植物入侵者的影响。面临七个挑战性问题，以更好地概述生物多样性的全球路径以及面临生物入侵时生物群落之间的功能。在入侵科学的背景下，始新世强调需要以生态系统为基础的观点，以正确了解淡水植物入侵者的影响。面临七个挑战性问题，以更好地概述生物多样性的全球路径以及面临生物入侵时生物群落之间的功能。在入侵科学的背景下，始新世强调需要以生态系统为基础的观点，以正确了解淡水植物入侵者的影响。面临七个挑战性问题，以更好地概述生物多样性的全球路径以及面临生物入侵时生物群落之间的功能。