A review of the introduced herpetofauna of Mexico and Central America, with comments on the effects of invasive species and biosecurity methodology.

Biological invasions are synonymous with international trade. The direct effects of trade have largely been quantified using relationships between imports and the number of alien species in a region or patterns in the global spread of species linked to shipping and air traffic networks. But trade also has an indirect role on biological invasions by transforming the environments and societies of exporting and importing nations. Here, both the direct and indirect roles of trade on biological invasions, as well as their interaction, are examined for the first time. Future trends in international trade, including e-commerce, new trade routes, and major infrastructure developments, will lead to the pressure on national borders soon outstripping the resources available for intervention. The current legislative and scientific tools targeting biological invasions are insufficient to deal with this growing threat and require a new mindset that focuses on curbing the pandemic risk posed by alien species.

Assessing the potential for the introduction and spread of alien species with marine litter

How to communicate on pests and invasive alien plants? Conclusions of the EPPO/CoE/IUCN‐ ISSG/DGAV/UC/ESAC Workshop

Freshwaters are among the most vulnerable ecosystems regarding biological invasions. Reservoirs built after the last half century in Sao Paulo State have been continuously subjected to the introduction and establishment of alien species, both exotic and allochtonous. Here we present a short historical and the present status of some recent, still going on, biological invasion processes, for both, invertebrate and vertebrates, with emphasis on Tiete River basin. Among reservoir communities, the zooplankton has the lowest number of established exotic species, with 4 species: the cladocerans Ceriodaphnia dubia and Daphnia lumnholtzi, the cyclopoid copepod Mesocyclops ogunnus and the rotifer Kellikotia bostoniensis. Among the macroinvertebrate communities there is a fast ongoing invasion by three exotic species of mollusks, the Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, the African-Asian gastropod, Melanoides tuberculata, and the golden mussel, Limnoperna fortunei, this latter a cause of greatest concern. However by far the community most affected by introduction of alien species is the ichthyofauna. In reservoirs of Tiete, Paranapanema and Rio Grande rivers, the main tributaries of the Upper Parana basin, the relative proportion of alien species vary approximately between 10 and 25% of the total number of species. Most introductions were derived from anthropic activities, either from direct local introduction, the so called peixamento or by accidental escape from nearby fish farming installations. Some species have profound effects on the structure of the fish community, as recently happened in Lobo (Broa) reservoir after the introduction of the Cichla kelberi. The African Sarotherodon niloticus and Tilapia rendalli and the allochtonous Plagioscion squamosissimus became the dominant species in many Sao Paulo state reservoirs. The complex interaction between biological invasions, water pollution and eutrophication, is the possible cause for many native species extinction going on in Sao Paulo State rivers and cascade of reservoirs. At short time and local scale, management actions are urgently required to eradicate or minimize the impact of exotic species in the reservoirs, especially in the small ones, and at longer time and larger scales, education and law enforcement are essential tools for both prevention of new introductions and management to the already existing problems.

Effects of roads on plant communities are not well known in cold-climate mountain ecosystems, where road building and development are expected to increase in future decades. Knowledge of the sensitivity of mountain plant communities to disturbance by roads is however important for future conservation purposes. We investigate the effects of roads on species richness and composition, including the plant strategies that are most affected, along three elevational gradients in a subarctic mountain ecosystem. We also examine whether mountain roads promote the introduction and invasion of alien plant species from the lowlands to the alpine zone. Observations of plant community composition were made together with abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors in 60 T-shaped transects. Alpine plant communities reacted differently to road disturbances than their lowland counterparts. On high elevations, the roadside species composition was more similar to that of the local natural communities. Less competitive and ruderal species were present at high compared with lower elevation roadsides. While the effects of roads thus seem to be mitigated in the alpine environment for plant species in general, mountain plant communities are more invasible than lowland communities. More precisely, relatively more alien species present in the roadside were found to invade into the surrounding natural community at high compared to low elevations. We conclude that effects of roads and introduction of alien species in lowlands cannot simply be extrapolated to the alpine and subarctic environment.

Lessepsian migration. The influx of Red Sea biota into the Mediterranean by way of the Suez Canal: By Francis D. Por. Pp. 228. Springer, Berlin. 1978. DM 64 ($32.00)

Invading European Seas: Assessing pathways of introduction of marine aliens

The Habitats Directive of the European Union requires Member States to regulate the introduction of alien species into their territory, avoiding any adverse impact on natural habitats or native fauna and flora. Italy has implemented this obligation by adopting a general prohibition on the introduction of non-native species into the environment. The Ministry of the Environment (MASE) may, however, authorize the introduction of alien species if there is no prejudice to habitats and native species. As part of the work carried out by the Research and Evaluation Unit established to analyze the conditions for applying this ban on fish species, ISPRA was asked to conduct further studies on 1) the regulatory framework in other European countries regarding the introduction of alien fish, 2) the regional distribution and year of first introduction of key alien species of fishing interest, 3) the presence of naturalized populations of these species and 4) the impacts of these species on native species and ecosystems. The evaluations focused on Coregonus lavaretus, Salvelinus umbla, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and Salmo trutta. A comparative analysis of how other European countries implemented the Habitats Directive revealed a universal ban on the release of alien species into the wild. Furthermore, 84% of the countries have adopted derogation systems for non-native species introductions. The assessment of the dates of the first introductions in Italy showed that most alien fish species were introduced in the second half of the nineteenth century, leading to the establishment of naturalized populations of all fish species of fishing interest in many basins across the country. Fifty-one native species protected by regulations are susceptible to significant impacts from Oncorhynchus mykiss and Salmo trutta. Over 60% of these native species are in an unfavourable conservation status, as documented in the latest report submitted by Italy to the European Commission.

Invasive alien species and planetary and global health policy

Data of classification, origin, pathway and environmental impacts of invasive alien micro-organisms, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, fish, birds, mammals, weeds, trees, and marine organisms in terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems of China, were analyzed, based on literature retrieval, field survey and consultation. Some 283 invasive alien species were recorded in China, including 19 invasive alien micro-organisms, 18 aquatic plants, 170 terrestrial plants, 25 aquatic invertebrates, 33 terrestrial invertebrates, 3 amphibians and reptiles, 10 fish, and 5 mammals. Of the invasive alien species, 55.1% originated from North and South America, 21.7% from Europe, 9.9% from Asia, 8.1% from Africa and 0.6% from Oceania. Many institutions and individuals in China lack adequate knowledge of ecological and environmental consequences caused by invasive alien species, with some ignorance of the dangerous invasion in the introduction of alien species. For instance, 50.0% of invasive alien plants were intentionally introduced as pasture, feedingstuff, ornamental plants, textile plants, medicinal plants, vegetables, or lawn plants, 25% of alien invasive animals were intentionally introduced for cultivation, ornament, or biological control, In addition, more efforts are being made in the introduction of alien species, and little attention is paid on the management of introduced alien species, which may cause their escape into natural environment and potential threats to the environment. There were also gaps in quarantine system in China. All microorganisms were unintentionally introduced, through timber, seedling, flowerpot, or soil; 76.3% of alien invasive animals invaded through commodity or transportation facility because of the failure of quarantine. Therefore, quarantine measures should be strictly implemented; and meanwhile the intentional introduction of alien species should be strictly managed and a system of risk assessment should be implemented.

Biological invasions are one of the main drivers of modern human-induced species losses. Research on the distribution of alien species and their pathways of introduction is essential for understanding and tackling the invasion process. A comprehensive overview on invasive alien plant (IAP) species in Romania is lacking. With this paper, we aim to contribute to filling this gap and to provide a visualization of national patterns regarding plant species invasions, geographical origins and pathways of introductions. Based on plant species occurrence records in the published literature and herbaria we compiled a national database of 102 invasive and potentially invasive alien plant species. We georeferenced 42776 IAP species occurrences and performed an analysis of their spatial patterns. The spatial analyses revealed a biased sampling, with clear hotspots of increased sampling efforts around urban areas. We used chord diagrams to visualize the pathway of introduction and geographical origins of the IAP species, which revealed that species in Romania originate mainly in North and Central America, while the dominant pathway of plant introduction was horticulture. Our results provide an important baseline in drafting management and action plans, as invasive alien plant species represent a priority for the European Union through the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a good starting point for various analyses as the database is further developed and regularly updated.

Spread of alien species (AS) is a serious threat to marine habitats and analysis of principal descriptors of their occurrence is pivotal to set reliable conservation strategies.In order to assess the susceptibility of marine habitats to biological invasions, a dataset was gathered of the occurrence of 3899 species from 29 phyla, taken from 93 marine sites located along the Italian coast in the period 2000–2012.In total, 61 AS belonging to 11 phyla have been recorded. Invertebrates were the most represented (63%). Alien species were found in all the habitats examined (EUNIS, level 2), although they showed highest abundance in benthic habitats. Most of the AS were associated with a single EUNIS habitat, while some of them were present in more than one habitat. Trans‐habitat occurrence suggests the potential invasiveness of AS.According to statistical analysis, AS recorded could have been more numerous, since some of the marine habitats seemed to be still unsaturated. The model that best describes the spread of AS takes account of both native species richness (Rn) and EUNIS habitat type as explanatory variables. The number of observed AS was directly related to Rn and it was highest in rocky circalittoral and infralittoral habitats.The results of this macro‐ecological study focus on the importance of performing large‐scale studies, since adopting ecosystem approaches to marine invasion management seems especially fruitful.The results, moreover, highlight the importance of AS monitoring of different habitats, from those subjected to anthropogenic pressure, historically considered to be hubs of introduction of AS, to the most biologically rich and diverse marine habitats. Indeed, it is necessary to set monitoring strategies to detect the introduction, the distribution and persistence of AS over time. These recommendations are especially significant in the light of the strategic plans currently under formulation in Mediterranean countries with regard to AS monitoring.Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The national invention of the forests of the Republic of Srpska established over 100 species, with the entire volume of wood mass being dominated by deciduous trees (beech 45%, oak 8%, other deciduous trees 7%, tribal deciduous trees 3%). Beech has the largest share in state forests in the supplies (43%), followed by fir about 20%, and spruce by 16%. Of the harmful endomofauna of fir, one third are gradeogenic species, which can cause great economic and environmental damage. Harmful endomofauna of beech number 32 species, of which economically significant primary species are prone to mass occurrences and trophical relations related to the leaf (15.75% of species). Harmful endomofauna of oak species represent 40 most common species. Outbreaking primary species make up one quarter, feed predominantly on leaves and cause defoliation (50%). Harmful for seeds or acorns are 15% of pests, which can have a detrimental effect on the reproduction and regeneration of oak forests. The most common pests in spruce forests are species that occur frequently and can only occasionally cause minor damage (56.25%). The most economically important are bark beetles and wood borers, which tend to outbreak (12.5%) and cause dammage on a hudge area. Outbreaking species are also pest of seed and cones, which participate in the spruce pest complex with 14.58%. Pests in nurseries are important for reproduction in forestry and for providing nursery stock for the establishment of green infrastructure. Of the 54 harmful species, almost a quarter are non-native species (24.07%). Often, non-native pests are transferred from nurseries to public green spaces, green corridors, and entrepreneurs are ofteen serving as a pathway for introduction of non-native harmful species into forest ecosystems. Therefore, ornamental plants are rightly considered the most important pathways for introduction of invasive alien species in mannaged and protective forests. Non-native and invasive species that are introduced in the Republic of Srpska e.g. emerging pests are folowing: Aproceros leucopoda, Cameraria ohridella, Corythucha arcuata, Corythucha ciliata, Cydalima perspectalis, Eopineus strobi, Gillettella cooleyi, Leptoglossus occidentalis, Metcalfa pruinosa, Obolodiplosis robiniae, Phyllonorycter platani, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, Stictocephala bisonia etc. Most of these species are pests in nurseries and ongreen infrastructure. Some native insect species appear as emerging pests due to their increase of population , as an answer to changing weather conditions. One example is the ash wasp Tomostethus nigritus (F.) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), which in the last ten years appear in local outbreaks in tree lines or other green areas at the territory of Southeastern Europe from the Balkan Peninsula to the Nordic countries. Increased populations of Zeuzera pyrina (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) were also applied in nurseries and on elements of green infrastructure. Due to the climate change, the species Ovalisia (Palmar) festiva migrated from the Mediterranean area, setting a dangerous pest in nurseries, while the linden bug Oxycarenus lavaterae is common on lindens, building large colonies but so far with no significant damage on trees. In order to prevent introduction and stop the spread of alien invasive species, there is need to ensure the maintenance of a high level of health protection status in agriculture, green infrastrucrure and forestry.

Socotra Island has significant ecological and economic importance at local, national and global scales. Invasive plant species are often considered as potential competitors of native species due to their usual greater capacity for colonization and expansion. The spread of alien plant species has long been recognized as one of the most significant environmental changes due to its ability to decrease biodiversity and alter ecosystem processes. In areas with homogeneity population of wild invasive species especially Argemone mexicana, 32 random sites were randomly detected. Ninety six Quadrates plots were laid down to study the interaction between the invasive plant and the native species especially with conservation attention of endemic plant species. The main aims is to provide base informatics data to establish comprehensive habitat surveillance programs to enable early detection and rapid response of IAS, prevent both intentional or accidental introductions of harmful invasive alien species to the Socotra Island and reduce the likelihood of alien species invasions by decreasing stresses on vulnerable at-risk ecosystems and species. This study was conducted to identify the different types of invasive species present, the rate and pattern of invasion, its intensity, association of invaders and their habitat preference in the Socotra ecosystem. Vegetation sampled in 96 quadrats, each 10 m _ 10 m; through a combination of random and systematic sampling recorded 42 plant species of 36 genera belonging to 24 families with around 10% was recorded as invasive species. Diversity indices like richness, evenness, Simpson and Shannon-Wiener have been analyzed.

The introduction and spread of invasive alien species is a serious threat to ecosystem structures, functions and services worldwide. At enormous cost and effort, attempts are being made to stop and reduce the ongoing appearance of alien species in ecosystems to protect the regional and native biodiversity. Still, management of invasive alien species in particular is often not successful. One reason is a lack of robust toolkits for the management of these species. Guidance on measures which are efficient and effective and which have no negative impact on the environment and human health is urgently needed for decision-making. As a result of an expert workshop, we present a set of three evaluation criteria: effectiveness, ecological impact, and impact on human health. These criteria allow an evaluation of management measures for the prevention, eradication, control and utilisation/disposal of invasive alien species for nature conservation purposes. We applied this evaluation system for 168 invasive and potentially invasive alien species of five taxonomic groups (fungi, non-vascular plants, vascular plants, invertebrates and vertebrates) involving 3619 different management measures. The evaluation of management measures and resulting recommendations for their application are a necessary basis for appropriate, ecologically necessary and professionally sound management. This new approach provides an essential framework for future decisions on management measures, for example in accordance with the provisions of the new Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.