Managing invasive alien species (IAS) is particularly challenging in highly connected marine ecosystems across the world.
Managing invasive alien species (IAS) is particularly challenging in highly connected marine ecosystems across the world. Marine biological invasions are accentuate by global trade and climate change, and management of marine IAS is more likely to succeed when the species are early detected and a rapid response can be provided.
This work gathered a panel of experts analyzing 11 management actions for 12 model species, distinguished by their dispersion capacity, their distribution and their taxonomy. Among the management actions, public awareness and commercial use of invasive species (e.g. lionfish) were the highest prioritized. Citizens can substantially contribute to the early detection of new invasive species (e.g. through citizen science projects).
These findings can support rapid decision-making on management options for the control of invasive species, especially at early stages of invasion. On the contrary, slow decision-making can hinder the efficient eradication and control of marine invasive species in the long term.
Picture: Examples of invasive model species with different dispersion capacity. Image credits: (a) and (d) ©M Draman; (b) ©JJ Hornung; (c) ©P Francour.
For more information:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719328554