Reddit mentions of Survival: Species Imperative #1

This certainly looks like it

https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Species-Imperative-Julie-Czerneda/dp/0756402611

the Species Imperative books look at humans and aliens as species that are living in the same environment, competing for resources. the scientist as reluctant hero is pretty great.

Survival by Julie E Czerneda (Species Imperative 1) has a different twist, the series is about migration patterns and such, you will also notice Julie is a biologist.

A few works by an excellent female science fiction writer, Julie E. Czerneda.

• In the Company of others
  
  
• The Species Imperative series (in order):
  Survival,
  Migration, and
  Regeneration
  
  Czerneda is a fantastic author.