Transcript 06-Bio_PPT_WilliamBillNaglex

Information technology:
a vital tool for the conservation of species
Shyama Pagad and Bill Nagle
IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group
ISSG Mission: To reduce threats to natural ecosystems and
the native species they contain by increasing awareness of
invasive alien species and of ways to prevent, control or
eradicate them.
An Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
is an alien species which
becomes established in natural
or semi-natural ecosystems or
habitat, is an agent of change,
and threatens native biological
diversity.
(IUCN definition)
Invasive species characteristics
• Known to be invasive elsewhere
• Lack natural enemies
• High reproductive rate and dispersal
• Rapid growth and maturity
• Highly adaptable (diet/habitat)
• Exploit disturbed areas more quickly
than natives
2008 IUCN Red List update:
Invasive species are:
• the 5th most severe threat to Amphibians, following habitat
loss, pollution, disease and fires.
• the 3rd most severe threat to Birds after agriculture and
logging.
• the 3rd most severe threat to Mammals after habitat loss and
utilisation (mostly for food and medicine)
• the 4th most severe threat to Reptiles after pollution,
persecution and natural disasters.
The greatest threats to freshwater fish species in Europe are
water pollution (66%), invasive species (55%) and water
extraction (55%).
Invasive species are listed as a major threat to a broad range
of marine species facing extinction.
Invasive species are the
major cause of bird extinctions
on islands
Invasive species
Habitat change
20%
Unknown
10%
Hunting
15%
55%
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“Information exchange is crucial for
effective responses to invasive
species problems” (CBD)
Prevention information:
• Records of invasiveness
• Global distribution of invasive species
• Introduction and dispersal information
• Evidence of impacts
• Biology and ecology
• Taxonomic expertise and identification tools
Eradication and control information:
• Case studies, sharing lessons learned
• Research, management strategies and
techniques
We need to share information on:
- Problem species
- Knowledge
- Expertise
- Solutions
Global sources of information
are needed:
•
Ecological characteristics
•
Prior invasiveness
•
Biodiversity impacts caused
•
Global distribution (alien and native ranges)
•
Introduction pathways
•
Pathways for spread (including human)
•
Management
•
Lessons learned
ISSG contributes to international
information exchange:
• The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD)
• A prototype Global Register of Invasive Species (GRIS)
• Thematic datasets
• Referral Service
• The list server Aliens-L
• Newsletter and publications
• Links with related global information resources
(e.g. IUCN Red List, Ramsar Sites Database)
• Global Invasive Species Information Network
(GISIN)
Global Invasive Species Database
(GISD – www.issg.org/database)
• All taxa from micro-organisms to animals and
plants
• Aims to increase public awareness about
introduced species that negatively impact
biodiversity
• Aims to facilitate effective prevention and
management activities
• Globally-sourced IAS information contributed
and/or reviewed by international experts
• CD-ROM version
GISD summary statistics:
• 665 invasive species profiles
• 528 Comprehensive and 137 Interim profiles
• Strong support from providers and users
• Repository for IAS data and information for some
Global programmes for example the French
and UK overseas Territories programmes
• Multilingual functionality (limited French language
content)
• Translation into both Traditional and Simplified
Chinese (Biodiversity Research Centre of
Academia Sinica BRCAS)
“The most detailed and accurate data on IAS at the
global scale” (Kümpel and Baillie, 2007. Report to the
CBD. Options for a global indicator on trends in IAS).
The GISD audience:
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Researchers
•
Practitioners
•
Natural resource managers
•
Extension agents
•
Environmental and biodiversity specialists
•
Quarantine and border control personnel
•
Educators and students
•
Concerned individuals
and organisations
Aliens-L: a list server
• Dedicated to IAS information and related
issues
• Focus on environmental invasive species
• Searchable archive
• Practitioners helping each other
• Unmoderated and grassroots
• 894 subscribers
• It works!
To subscribe:
[email protected]
Global Register of Invasive Species
"The best predictor of potential invasiveness is invasiveness
elsewhere" (Wittenberg et al 2000).
GRIS contains annotated records of introduction
and invasion from authoritative sources and can be
used for:
• Coarse pre-screening of proposed imports
• Input data for risk assessment procedures
• Prioritising management activities
• Providing global-scale data for monitoring/analysis
• Help with writing import health standards, setting up border
control and quarantine measures and guiding funding
decisions
• Near real-time reporting
CABI & USDA Invasive Species Compendium
- a joint initiative
1000 detailed species descriptions in Phase 1
2000 detailed descriptions in Phase 2
8000 detailed species descriptions in all
Compendia
Tens of thousands of other species in outline
descriptions
Authoritative and peer-reviewed content,
including 70 GISD profiles
Scope includes all taxa of
invasive species, species of
quarantine concern, weeds,
crop & forest pests, terrestrial
aquatic, aquaculture species
and animal diseases
DAISIE: European inventory
(completed in 2008)
10,822 introduced species
- 10% invasive
Identifying major patterns
for European alien species
(57% are terrestrial plants)
GISIN has developed exchange
standards for these data types:
Source
metadata
Taxon
Location
Date
Language
BioStatus:
Presence/absence
Native/alien
Invasiveness
Impacts
Dispersal
Management
Occurrence data
Species profile URLs
Acknowledgements:
ISSG colleagues,
The University of Auckland,
Biodiversity Research Centre,
Academia Sinica.
(Rat/fantail images: David Mudge)