Abstract
A total of 1590 species of arthropods alien to Europe have already established on the continent, including 226 more or less cosmopolitan species of uncertain origin (cryptogenic). These alien species are dispersed across 33 taxonomic orders, including crustaceans, chilopods, diplopods, pauropods, Symphyla, mites, arachnids, and insects. However, insects largely dominate, accounting for more than 87% of the species, far in excess of mites (6.4%). Three of the insect orders, namely Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera, overall account for nearly 65 % of the total. The alien fauna seems to be highly diverse with a total of 257 families involved, of which 30 have no native representatives. However, just 11 families contribute more than 30 species, mainly aphids, scales and hymenopteran chalcids. For a number of families, the arrival of alien species has significantly modified the composition of the fauna in Europe. Examples are given. The number of new records of aliens per year has increased exponentially since the 16th century, but a significant acceleration was observed since the second half of the 20th century, with an average of 19.6 alien species newly reported per year in Europe between 2000 and 2008. This acceleration appears to be mainly related to the arrival of phytophagous species, probably with the plant trade, whereas the contribution of detritivores, parasitoids and predators has decreased. Some taxa have not shown any acceleration in the rate of arrivals. Asia has supplied the largest number of alien arthropods occurring in Europe (26.7 %), followed by North America (21.9%) but large differences in the region of origin are apparent between taxa. Once established, most alien species have not spread throughout Europe, at least yet, with 43.6 % of the species only present in one or two countries, and less than 1% present in more than 40 countries. Large differences also exist between European countries in the total number of alien arthropods recorded per country. Italy (700 species) and France (690 species), followed by Great Britain (533 species), host many more species than other countries. The number of alien species per country is significantly correlated with socioeconomic and demographic variables.
Highlights
Expanding world-wide trade, globalisation of economies and climate change are all factors that contribute to an accelerated international movement and establishment of alien organisms, allowing them to overcome geographic barriers (Hulme et al 2008, Hulme 2009, Walther et al 2009, Roques 2010)
Most of the works concerning alien terrestrial invertebrates have dealt with case studies of pests having a high economic or sanitary impact, such as gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar (L.)) in North America (Liebhold et al 1992), Asian long-horned beetles (Anoplophora spp.; Haack et al 2010), or Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus (Skuse); Eritja et al 2005)
Continental inventories of alien arthropod species, or even of alien insects, are still lacking in most regions, such studies are needed to assess which taxonomic or bio-ecological groups of alien species are better invaders or more harmful to the economy or environment, and which ecosystems or habitats are at greater risk (Mondor et al, 2007)
Summary
Expanding world-wide trade, globalisation of economies and climate change are all factors that contribute to an accelerated international movement and establishment of alien organisms, allowing them to overcome geographic barriers (Hulme et al 2008, Hulme 2009, Walther et al 2009, Roques 2010). Ireland was considered as a single biogeographic entity (i.e., Republic of Ireland plus Northern Ireland) Because of their possible importance as a first step for the invasion of continental Europe, the islands of the Altantic Ocean (Madeira, the Canary Islands, The Azores Archipelgao), were included in the analysis but they may correspond to a source of aliens of Macaronesian origin colonizing the European continent. This substantial work allowed us to figure out the relative importance of the different taxa of alien arthropods in a standardized fashion to other groups as well as to compare their respective habitats (Pyšek et al 2009), and environmental and economic impacts (Vilá et al 2009). The present chapter presents the most important patterns exhibited by the terrestrial arthropods alien to Europe
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