Abstract
Electronic decision-support tools are now an essential component of government strate gies to battle non-native species, with taxon-specific, paper-based risk analysis schemes often being replaced by taxon-generic tools. This study reports on the development of a decision-support tool for aquatic species, the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK), which replaces five taxon-specific toolkits for amphibians, freshwater and marine fish and invertebrates (FISK, MFISK, FI-ISK, MI-ISK, Amph-ISK). Adapted from Pheloung et al.’s. Weed Risk Assessment (WRA), the “-ISK” toolkits were also “self-automated workbooks” in Excel® VisualBasic® architecture of the ’WRA. In creating AS-ISK, we incorporated the conceptual approach (questions and guidance) of the generic risk screening module of the European Non-native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme (ENSARS) into a single “turnkey application” that was based on the Excel® VisualBasic® architecture used by the WRA and its “-ISK” derivatives. Applicable to virtually all climatic zones and all aquatic plants and animals regardless of ecosystem (marine, fresh, brackish water), AS-ISK comprises 49 basic questions on the taxon’s biogeographical and historical traits and its biological and ecological interactions. In compliance with the “minimum requirements” for use with the new EU Regulation on invasive alien species of EU concern, AS-ISK in cludes a preamble of background information on the species as well as questions on its potential socio-economic impacts and those on ecosystem services, and an additional section (six questions) for the assessor to predict how forecasted changes in climate are likely to influence the risks of introduction, establishment, dispersal and impact of a species...
Highlights
Biological invasions by non-indigenous species are considered as one of the main threats to biodiversity worldwide, affecting native species, habitats and ecosystems, socio-economic activities and human health, to such an extent that they are addressed in several International Conventions, Directives and Regulations (Genovesi et al 2013)
The development of such an early warning communication strategy (EWCS), which is an essential stage in the Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) process, is a crucial milestone to be reached if any integrated early warning system for alien species is to be effective
As highlighted by Ben Souissi et al (2014), a series of anecdotal reports of the species, in the form of videos, articles and facebook posts, circulated online in 2011 and these are considered as additional evidence of the spread of this fish through the Sicily Straits. Following these anecdotal reports—and in agreement with the paragraph 17.6a of the UNEP/Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)/COP 12 (2014) which encourages the use of social media as potential communication tools “to raise awareness of the risks associated with the introduction of invasive and potentially invasive alien species...”, ISPRA launched an informative campaign about the species, targeting the southern Sicilian fisheries
Summary
Biological invasions by non-indigenous species are considered as one of the main threats to biodiversity worldwide, affecting native species, habitats and ecosystems, socio-economic activities and human health, to such an extent that they are addressed in several International Conventions, Directives and Regulations (Genovesi et al 2013). In order to protect marine ecosystems and human health, the scientific community is currently engaged in the in-depth study of the biology of alien species and their invasion pathways These studies can be supplemented by developing an early warning communication strategy (EWCS) pursuant to promulgating the rapid detection, identification and risk assessment of introduced or undesired species, followed by the rapid alerting of the Authorities with intervention capabilities. The development of such an EWCS, which is an essential stage in the Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) process, is a crucial milestone to be reached if any integrated early warning system for alien species is to be effective. The realization of such a system has been proposed by the Italian working group for Descriptor 2 within the MSFD, in compliance with Article 10 of the Directive
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