The absence of fire combined with other disturbances is expected to promote invasive species in pine-oak barrens such as barren bromegrass, cheat grass, Japanese bromegrass, spotted knapweed, Japanese honeysuckle, and garlic-mustard.

There are many invasive plant species, insect pests, and forest diseases that have negative impacts on pine-oak barrens, many of which are expected to increase through the direct and indirect effects of climate change, particularly where forests are disturbed.