Information technology: a vital tool for the conservation of species

Shyama Pagad and Bill NagleIUCN 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

Unknown

10%

Hunting15%

Habitat change20%

Invasive species

55%

01101100011100100110001101101100011100100110110001110010

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

“Information exchange is crucial for effective responses to invasive species problems” (CBD)

- Problem species

- Knowledge

- Expertise

- Solutions

We need to share information on:

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

• 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)

ISSG contributes to international information exchange:

• 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

Global Invasive Species Database(GISD – www.issg.org/database)

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).

• Researchers

• Practitioners

• Natural resource managers

• Extension agents

• Environmental and biodiversity specialists

• Quarantine and border control personnel • Educators and students

• Concerned individuals and organisations

The GISD audience:

• 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:aliens-l-join@indaba.iucn.org

Aliens-L: a list server

Global Register of Invasive Species

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

"The best predictor of potential invasiveness is invasiveness elsewhere" (Wittenberg et al 2000).

1000 detailed species descriptions in Phase 12000 detailed descriptions in Phase 28000 detailed species descriptions in all CompendiaTens of thousands of other species in outline descriptionsAuthoritative and peer-reviewed content,

including 70 GISD profiles

CABI & USDA Invasive Species Compendium- a joint initiative

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 (57% are terrestrial plants)

- 10% invasive

Identifying major patternsfor European alien species

GISIN has developed exchange standards for these data types:

Occurrence data

Species profile URLs

BioStatus: Presence/absence Native/alien InvasivenessImpacts DispersalManagement

Taxon Location DateLanguage

Source metadata

Acknowledgements: ISSG colleagues,The University of Auckland,Biodiversity Research Centre,

Academia Sinica.(Rat/fantail images: David Mudge)