Global Invasive Species Information Network

08/08/2009

Michael Browne, Jim Graham, Annie Simpson TDWG 2009

ESA 2009 Jim Graham

Impact of Invasive Species Globally

“On a global basis…the two great destroyers of biodiversity are, first, habitat destruction and, second, invasion by exotic species.” -E.O. Wilson (in

Strangers in Paradise)

Jim Graham

Invasive Species

Mnemiopsis leidyi

(comb jelly) Rat attacking New Zealand fantail Photo: David Mudge

08/08/2009 ESA 2009 Jim Graham

Invasive Species

Photo: The Nature Conservancy 08/08/2009 ESA 2009 Photo: Tracy Davern, NIISS Jim Graham

Invasive Species

Brown-tree Snake

08/08/2009

Kudzu

ESA 2009 Jim Graham

Purple Loosestrife

08/08/2009 Photo: Randy Westbrooks, USGS, Bugwood.org

ESA 2009 Photo: Steve Dewey, Utah State University Jim Graham

Shared problem species

Water hyacinth: Florida (USA), Kafu (Zambia), Lake Victoria (Kenya), Bhopal (India

Jim Graham

Photos : Don Schmitz, M. Mumba, Aquarius Systems, Wisconsin, USA, Indian Inst. of Forest Management

Invasive Species Global Cost

Estimates Pimentel et al. (2001) estimate IAS damage at 5% of the US$31 trillion World Economy, or US$1,400,000,000,000 each year, or RMB 9,450,000,000,000 Equivalent to China’s gross domestic product for 2003.

Jim Graham

“Information exchange is crucial for effective responses to invasive species problems” (CBD) Prevention info: • Records of invasiveness • Global distributions of IAS • Introduction and dispersal information • Evidence of impacts • Biology and ecology • Taxonomic expertise and identification tools Eradication and control info: • Management strategies and techniques • Case studies, sharing lessons learned

Jim Graham

Shared expertise, knowledge, solutions

Jim Graham

Records of prior invasiveness are crucial for screening and risk analysis

Q. Does this species have an “innate” invasive capability?

“[Only] one factor has consistently high correlation with invasiveness: whether or not the species is invasive elsewhere”

(Wittenberg and Cock 2001).

We need to know which species are invasive Who says?

Data-rich resources Q. Is it likely to become invasive if introduced in a particular receiving environment? What would the likely impacts be?

Information-rich resources We need to know a lot more: Traits, tolerances and requirements, key associations Invasion case studies (spread, impacts, management) Relevant factors about the receiving environment

Jim Graham

Information for prevention

Generic: • Examples of Biosecurity strategies • Links to national and regional legislation (e.g. import health standards) • Protocols for risk assessment • Case studies of how introduction decisions are made in practice Species-specific: • Records of invasion • Information on pest status of species throughout its introduced range • Case studies on early detection and rapid response • Risk assessments from around the world Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and damage Photos: L.D. Dwinell, USDA Forest Service www.forestryimages.org

Jim Graham

Management guidelines

Mustela vison

(American mink) 1. General Considerations Timing / cost of control Potential for eradication 2. Monitoring / Tracking Tracking tunnels Field surveys Mink rafts 3. Preventative Measures Exclusion fencing Mink farm regulations (prevention of escape) 4. Physical Control Trapping European case studies Use of trained dogs 5. Biological Control Facilitation of otter recovery 6. Educational Awareness Education of the public 7. Integrative Management Restoration of environment / habitat 8. Research Population modelling 9. Humane Considerations Ethical dilemmas Legislation

Jim Graham

Wide variety of data formats

Jim Graham

IAS Database Purpose can vary:

• Visualize existing invasions • Early detection • Track treatments • Occurrences only • Advertise successes • Highlight problem areas • Different taxonomic groups • Different habitat types

Jim Graham

(Invasive Species) Information Sharing in a Nutshell • • • •

Fill information gaps Provide easy info access Integrate data from all partners

•

Facilitate incorporation of data into global networks Enhance the public’s understanding of the problem

Jim Graham

Rules for

(Invasive Species)

Sharing Information •

Interpret scientific data so that it is useful to the non-scientist

•

Maintain provider-controlled data

•

Respect intellectual property rights

•

Provide open access to information

Jim Graham

Distributed network • Framework that allows invasive species databases to be accessed by other servers • Facilitates use of data from a variety of providers • Standardize and integrate data

Jim Graham

GISIN will facilitate the exchange of the following data types:

Additional Data Models: Additional Data Models: Occurrences:

-Date - Location - Taxon

Species Status (BioStatus):

-Taxon - Location -Date - Harmful - Origin

Species Resources:

- Taxon - Language -Type: Profile, Image, etc.

ImpactStatus ManagementStatus DispersalStatus Relationships?

Jim Graham

08/08/2009

Top Desires

Cross-database search Specified to invasive species Acquire data for research & management: Multiple scales Any region Any species Share information on managing species

Jim Graham ESA 2009

08/08/2009

Situation

Each provider wants to control their data and receive credit for it Providers want users to be directed to their web sites Providers have some concern over a centralized database taking control of their data

Jim Graham ESA 2009

GISIN System

Web Browser

08/08/2009

Cache Internet Providers Database Database Database

ESA 2009 Jim Graham

08/08/2009

GISIN Components

Web portal (initial) Registry Data Cache (since last week) PHP Toolkit (3 rd beta release) File Upload Web Site (prototyped) All at: www.gisin.org

ESA 2009 Jim Graham

08/08/2009

Next Steps

Add additional providers: Which ones? Training?

User’s manuals?

Share data broadly IPT, TAPIR on GISIN GISIN on GISIN Develop/encourage applications Web portal features?

ESA 2009 Jim Graham

08/08/2009

Workshop Topics

What problems will providers have?

Mapping GISIN to IPT Which providers are the highest priority?

Which user manuals are needed?

ESA 2009 Jim Graham

What problems will providers have?

IT Issues: PHP toolkit (as opposed to ASP or JSP) Internet connection Setting up and maintaining web service Query Performance Mapping data fields to GISIN Database schema -> GISIN Concepts Real vocabulary meanings

Jim Graham 08/08/2009 ESA 2009

Data Quality

Current problems: Lat/Lon: 0, 40, 40 10 15 Scientific names: Format, spelling, common names, abbreviations Dates: Format Correct mapping to controlled vocabularies Cleaning can help and/or hide problems Real desire is high-quality data from providers, but how?

Jim Graham 08/08/2009 ESA 2009

GISIN to IPT

For cache?

For providers?

08/08/2009 ESA 2009 Jim Graham

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Prioritizing Providers

Strategy?

Amount of data?

IT sophistication?

Diversity of data?

Quality of data?

Interest?

ESA 2009 Jim Graham

User Manuals

Content?

Mapping data fields to GISIN concepts?

File upload?

Setting up web services?

Data collection?

Data management?

Distribution?

Online?

Paper?

08/08/2009 ESA 2009 Jim Graham

How can GISIN help?

Find relevant information on invasive species Check lists and distribution records Profile URLs – general info on a species Species occurrence data Facilitate the exchange of IAS data Expose IAS data to consumers e.g. biodiversity databases can leverage native/alien data and invasiveness data e.g. GRIS and GISD can regularly harvest data Improve access to data e.g. for analyses and modeling e.g predicting potential distribution

Jim Graham