What do you know about marine biological invasions?

Professor Sergej Olenin, 2018

BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS. UNAVOIDABLE AND USEFUL?

Discover what I have been working on during the last 2 months!

LEARN SOME BASIC CONCEPTS ABOUT MARINE BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS!

What do I need to consider to define an invasive specie?

An invasive specie can be any specie, subspecie or lower taxa that has been introduced intentionally or accidentally by a human-mediated vector, outside its natural range (past or present) and outside its natural dispersal potential.
An invasive specie is also known as an alien specie or a NIS (Non-Indigenous Species).

What about the species we cannot demonstrate as being either non-indigenous or indigenous from an area? These species are called cryptogenic species.

Halimeda incrassata

Acanthurus chirurgus

Paralithodes camtschaticus

Did you know that....?

Marine biological invasions are one of the main threats to biodiversity.
The Mediterranean Sea is the most invaded marine region in the world.
NIS are the focus of one of 11 MSFD descriptors of “Good Environmental Status” aiming to ensure that “Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystem” (EC, 2010).
A pathway is the route that a NIS (Non-Indigenous Specie) takes to enter or to spread to a recipient region.
A vector is a transfer mechanism or the physical means by which a NIS (Non-Indigenous Specie) is transported .

Currently there are more than 250 websites on NIS (Non-Indigenous Species).
Inventories of alien species are affected by uncertainty and subjectivity.

Considering invasive species can cause negative impacts, HOW CAN WE REDUCE THEIR IMPACT?

Reasearch.
Inventories of alien species.
Following a long-term database up-date and maintenance.

TEAM

Agnese Marchini

Supervisor & Editorial Board Member of AquaNIS

Pablo Lanza

IMBRSea student

Marta Ensesa

IMBRSea student

AQUANIS

What is AquaNIS?

AquaNIS is is a database or information system of aquatic non-indigenous and cryptogenic species.
The data is organised in species accounts and introduction events.
AquaNIS is a living database and is constantly updated with new records.
AquaNIS wants to ensure the long-term maintenance and reliability of the database, by continuous update and validation of the data by a scientific team.
AquaNIS is a useful tool for research and practical for management of the EU Water Framework Directive, The Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Risk Assessment measures for different pathways.

Check AquaNIS website

AQUANIS CASE STUDIES

Blue crab

Callinectes Sapidus (Rathbun, 1896)

Is one of the most invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea.
It is considered a "key specie", as is able to influence community organization, structure and diversity.
Is a commercial specie.

Brown shrimp

Penaeus aztecus (Ives, 1891)

There was high uncertainty about the introduction pathaway, as it was mistaken with another penaeid prawn.
Ballast waters is the most likely vector for the introduction in the Mediterranean Sea.
Highly commercial.
Can introduce pathogens and parasites.

CLICK ON THE SPECIES PHOTOS TO CHECK IT'S INFORMATION IN AQUANIS

ASK ME ANY QUESTION

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN COLLABORATING WITH AQUANIS?

If you are interested in marine bioinvasions and you would like to collaborate and be part of the marine scientific network of AquaNIS, contact me through my email and I will share with you my experience and I will put you in direct contact with the editorial board members.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MAIN DIFFICULTY DURING MY PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE?

I have spent out plenty of hours looking for some detailed biological aspects of alien species. I enjoyed while reading journal articles about it, but sometimes it was really hard to find detailed characteristics about the specie biology traits that need to be filled in AquaNIS database. And I spent a lot of hours, sometimes I needed a whole working day only for finding the reproductive frequency of a species, as you should always verify the scientific data.

WHAT IS TO DO A PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE REMOTLY (FROM MY HOME DESKTOP) AS A MARINE SCIENTIST?

Being part of an international marine scientific network from my home, has been a new and unexpected experience. After collaborating 7 weeks with the AquaNIS team I can say that the results and the experience has been more beneficial than I expected. I had to be disciplined and organize myself, but I learned a lot of scientific knowledge and I had the opportunity to stay in contact with skilled and prestigious marine researchers.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER DOUBT, SEND ME AN EMAIL : marta.ensesapumarola@imbrsea.eu

REFERENCES

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Cardeccia, A., Marchini, A., Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A., Galil, B., Gollasch, S., Minchin, D., ... & Ojaveer, H. (2018). Assessing biological invasions in European Seas: Biological traits of the most widespread non-indigenous species. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 201, 17-28.

Galil, B.S., Innocenti, G., Douek, J., Paz, G., Rinkevich, B., 2017. Foul play? On the rapid spread of the brown shrimp Penaeus aztecus Ives, 1891 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidae) in the Mediterranean, with new records from the Gulf of Lion and the southern Levant. Marine Biodiversity 47, 979–985.

Marchini, A., Galil, B. S., & Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A. (2015). Recommendations on standardizing lists of marine alien species: lessons from the Mediterranean Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 101(1), 267-273.

Olenin, S., Narščius, A., Minchin, D., David, M., Galil, B., Gollasch, S., ... & Zaiko, A. (2014). Making non-indigenous species information systems practical for management and useful for research: an aquatic perspective. Biological Conservation, 173, 98-107.

Streftaris N, Zenetos A (2006) Alien marine species in the Mediterranean-the 100 ‘Worst Invasives’ and their impact. Mediterranean Marine Science 7: 87–118, https://doi.org/10. 12681/mms.180

PHOTOS

Acanturus chirugus: Instituto Smisthonian de Investigaciones Tropicales

Callinectes Sapidus : Pinterest

Halimeda incrassata: Espacio submarino, 2017

Paralithodes camtschaticus: Oceana

Penaeus aztecus: Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History; photo by D. Drew, 2007.

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