Potential Invasive Alien Species Research Articles

A Study on the Import Status of Pet Freshwater Crayfish and Potential Invasive Alien Species Crayfish in Korea

A Study on the Import Status of Pet Freshwater Crayfish and Potential Invasive Alien Species Crayfish in Korea

Identification of potential invasive alien species in Spain through horizon scanning

Invasive alien species have widespread impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem services. Since the number of introductions worldwide is continuously rising, it is essential to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of new alien species through a systematic examination of future potential threats. Applying a three-step horizon scanning consensus method, we evaluated non-established alien species that could potentially arrive, establish and cause major ecological impact in Spain within the next 10 years. Overall, we identified 47 species with a very high risk (e.g. Oreochromis niloticus, Popillia japonica, Hemidactylus frenatus, Crassula helmsii or Halophila stipulacea), 61 with high risk, 93 with moderate risk, and 732 species with low risk. Many of the species categorized as very high or high risk to Spanish biodiversity are either already present in Europe and neighbouring countries or have a long invasive history elsewhere. This study provides an updated list of potential invasive alien species useful for prioritizing efforts and resources against their introduction. Compared to previous horizon scanning exercises in Spain, the current study screens potential invaders from a wider range of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine organisms, and can serve as a basis for more comprehensive risk analyses to improve management and increase the efficiency of the early warning and rapid response framework for invasive alien species. We also stress the usefulness of measuring agreement and consistency as two different properties of the reliability of expert scores, in order to more easily elaborate consensus ranked lists of potential invasive alien species.

Life-history habitat suitability modelling of a potential invasive alien species, smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), in South Korea

The aim of this study was to predict the distribution of a potential invasive alien species, smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), in South Korea using a life-history-based habitat suitability model. Environmental data (air temperature, water temperature, and fish occurrence) at present (2011–2020) were collected from 160 representative sites across the five river basins (Han, Nakdong, Guem, Seomjin, and Yeongsan). Future predictions were conducted under the representative concentration pathway 8.5 scenario in the 2050s (2046–2055) and the 2080s (2076–2085). Two spawning scenarios were implemented in the future, where smallmouth bass will not change the spawning season in the non-adaptive scenario and change the season in the adaptive scenario. The life-history habitat suitability (LHS) of smallmouth bass was evaluated using the geometric mean of the annual habitat suitability indices (HSIs) for each life stage (adult, juvenile, fry, and spawner). The LHS model was validated using the occurrence data of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), which shares most of its habitats with smallmouth bass. The average LHS of smallmouth bass in South Korea was predicted to be 0.519 at present and expected to be 0.491 and 0.541 in the 2080s under non-adaptive and adaptive scenarios, respectively. Considering that the period for spawner fish may change in the future under climate change, the adaptive scenario seems to be more reasonable. The potential presence rate of smallmouth bass in South Korea was 100% at present, except for the Han River Basin (66%) which was expected to increase to 86% in the 2080s under the adaptive scenarios. The LHS model predicted that smallmouth bass could inhabit South Korea, and its distribution may expand under global warming, requiring urgent preventive measures.

A horizon scan exercise for aquatic invasive alien species in Iberian inland waters

As the number of introduced species keeps increasing unabatedly, identifying and prioritising current and potential Invasive Alien Species (IAS) has become essential to manage them. Horizon Scanning (HS), defined as an exploration of potential threats, is considered a fundamental component of IAS management. By combining scientific knowledge on taxa with expert opinion, we identified the most relevant aquatic IAS in the Iberian Peninsula, i.e., those with the greatest geographic extent (or probability of introduction), severe ecological, economic and human health impacts, greatest difficulty and acceptability of management. We highlighted the 126 most relevant IAS already present in Iberian inland waters (i.e., Concern list) and 89 with a high probability of being introduced in the near future (i.e., Alert list), of which 24 and 10 IAS, respectively, were considered as a management priority after receiving the highest scores in the expert assessment (i.e., top-ranked IAS). In both lists, aquatic IAS belonging to the four thematic groups (plants, freshwater invertebrates, estuarine invertebrates, and vertebrates) were identified as having been introduced through various pathways from different regions of the world and classified according to their main functional feeding groups. Also, the latest update of the list of IAS of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 includes only 12 top-ranked IAS identified for the Iberian Peninsula, while the national lists incorporate the vast majority of them. This fact underlines the great importance of taxa prioritisation exercises at biogeographical scales as a step prior to risk analyses and their inclusion in national lists. This HS provides a robust assessment and a cost-effective strategy for decision-makers and stakeholders to prioritise the use of limited resources for IAS prevention and management. Although applied at a transnational level in a European biodiversity hotspot, this approach is designed for potential application at any geographical or administrative scale, including the continental one.

Diversity, conservation, potential uses, and alien species of lowland plants of Batang Toru, Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Putra HF, Mustaqim WA. 2021. Diversity, conservation, potential uses, and alien species of lowland plants of Batang Toru, Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 1580-1591. A recent field inventory of lowland Sumatran plant diversity was carried out in two close sites of forest patches in the Batang Toru area. These are Muara Upu Swamp Forest and Simulak Anjing Hill Forest. This study aimed to investigate the species composition of two isolated lowland Sumatran forest patches on the west coast of the northern part of the island. The total number of species recorded was 181 species with 131 species known from Simulak Anjing Hill Forest, 54 from Muara Upu Swamp Forest, and only three species recorded from both sites. There are three species endemic to Sumatra, seven species listed as threatened according to the IUCN Red List, one species protected by the Indonesian government, and two are important records for Sumatra. Compared to the published literature, 88 species have been reported to have one or more uses, with 63 species have been used as the source of medicines, 19 as sources of fibers, 18 as the source of vegetables, and several other uses. Sixteen alien species were recorded including four species categorized as 100 world’s worst invasive species. It can be concluded that both areas are a home for important lowland plants of Sumatra as indicated by the presence of threatened, endemic, or poorly documented species. Besides that, there is also a need for concern about the presence of potential invasive alien species.

Heterocentron subtriplinervium (Melastomataceae) – the first report of naturalisation of a potential invasive alien species in Asia from India

Heterocentron subtriplinervium (Link et Otto) A. Braun et C. D. Bouche, a potential invasive alien species is reported here for the first time for Asia from the Western Ghats of India. The plant is probably introduced deliberately into gardens for ornamental purpose from where it escaped and become naturalised in the Western Ghats. This species is a potential weed, which quickly conquers areas wherever introduced displacing the indigenous flora. A detailed description, illustration, photograph and relevant notes are provided for easy identification in the field.

Challenges and solutions in early detection, rapid response and communication about potential invasive alien species in forests

Challenges and solutions in early detection, rapid response and communication about potential invasive alien species in forests

Spread of a model invasive alien species, the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis in Britain and Ireland

Invasive alien species are widely recognized as one of the main threats to global biodiversity. Rapid flow of information on the occurrence of invasive alien species is critical to underpin effective action. Citizen science, i.e. the involvement of volunteers in science, provides an opportunity to improve the information available on invasive alien species. Here we describe the dataset created via a citizen science approach to track the spread of a well-studied invasive alien species, the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Britain and Ireland. This dataset comprises 48 510 verified and validated spatio-temporal records of the occurrence of H. axyridis in Britain and Ireland, from first arrival in 2003, to the end of 2016. A clear and rapid spread of the species within Britain and Ireland is evident. A major reuse value of the dataset is in modelling the spread of an invasive species and applying this to other potential invasive alien species in order to predict and prevent their further spread.

THÀNH PHẦN LOÀI VÀ ĐẶC ĐIỂM PHÂN BỐ SINH VẬT NGOẠI LAI XÂM HẠI TRÊN ĐỊA BÀN HUYỆN TƯ NGHĨA, TỈNH QUẢNG NGÃI

The main objective of this paper is to study the species composition and distribu-tion of invasive alien species in Tu Nghia district, Quang Ngai province. The study was car-ried out from September 2017 to March 2018 in 15 major sites. Fourteen alien species belonging to in 13 genera, 11 families, 10 orders of the 3 phyla: Magnoliophyta, Chordata, and Mollusca were identified in the studied area, among which there were 11 invasive alien species (78.57%) and 3 potential invasive alien species (21.43%). The study has also evaluated the distribution of five common invasive alien species in Tu Nghia district that greatly affect agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture.

First record of the invasive Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) from Singapore

The introduced Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853, considered amongst ‘100 of the world’s most invasive alien species’, has been well-documented in Europe and North America. Most recently, it was recorded in subtropical western Asia (northern Iran). Here, we report E. sinensis from Singapore; the first record of this species in the wild from the tropics. While the likelihood of establishment of this temperate species in the tropics is low, potentially high and sustained propagule pressure could still allow it to pose a potential threat to native ecosystems and biota, a scenario with precedence in Singapore. Efforts by regulatory agencies are urgently needed to monitor and prevent the introduction of this potential invasive alien species.

Interspecific mating of the introduced bumblebee Bombus terrestris and the native Japanese bumblebee Bombus hypocrita sapporoensis results in inviable hybrids

The bumblebee Bombus terrestris is not only an effective pollinator, but also a potential invasive alien species outside its native range. Recently, nearly 30% of queens of the Japanese native species Bombus hypocrita sapporoensis and B. hypocrita hypocrita were estimated to copulate with B. terrestris males in the field, suggesting that indigenous bumblebees could be genetically deteriorated through hybrid production with the introduced species. In this study, we evaluated hybrid production between the introduced B. terrestris and the indigenous B. hypocrita sapporoensis under laboratory conditions. The hatching rate of eggs derived from interspecific matings was 0% and 8.6% depending on the direction of the cross, which was significantly lower than that from intraspecific matings of B. terrestris (76.9%) and B. hypocrita sapporoensis (78.9%). Genetic studies using microsatellite markers revealed that both haploid and diploid individuals were present in the egg stage, whereas all hatched larvae were haploid. In addition, histological studies revealed that eggs derived from interspecific matings terminated development 2 days after oviposition. These results strongly suggested that eggs derived from interspecific matings are inviable due to post-mating isolation mechanisms. Mass release of exotic pollinators could cause serious population declines of native bumblebee species.