Global Invasive Species Information Network

1. Global Invasive Species Information Network Michael Browne, Jim Graham, Annie Simpson TDWG 2009 ESA 2009

2. 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)

3. Invasive Species Mnemiopsis leidyi (comb jelly) Rat attacking New Zealand fantail Photo: David Mudge ESA 2009

4. Photo: The Nature Conservancy Photo: Tracy Davern, NIISS Invasive Species ESA 2009

5. Invasive Species Brown-tree Snake Kudzu ESA 2009

6. Photo: Randy Westbrooks, USGS, Bugwood.org Photo: Steve Dewey, Utah State University Purple Loosestrife ESA 2009

7. Shared problem species Water hyacinth: Florida (USA), Kafu (Zambia), Lake Victoria (Kenya), Bhopal (India). Photos : Don Schmitz, M. Mumba, Aquarius Systems, Wisconsin, USA, Indian Inst. of Forest Management

8. 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. More data sharing = better estimates

9. “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

10. Shared expertise, knowledge, solutions

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Wide variety of data formats

15. 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

16. (Invasive Species) Information Sharingin 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

17. Rules for (Invasive Species) Information Sharing • 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

18. 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 Distributed network

19. GISIN will facilitate the exchange of the following data types: Additional Data Models: Additional Data Models: ImpactStatus ManagementStatus DispersalStatus Relationships? • Species Resources: • Taxon • Language • Type: Profile, Image, etc. • Occurrences: • Date • Location • Taxon • Species Status (BioStatus): • Taxon • Location • Date • Harmful • Origin

20. 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 ESA 2009

21. 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 ESA 2009

22. GISIN System ESA 2009

23. GISIN Components Web portal (initial) Registry Data Cache (since last week) PHP Toolkit (3rd beta release) File Upload Web Site (prototyped) All at: www.gisin.org ESA 2009

24. 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

25. Workshop Topics What problems will providers have? Mapping GISIN to IPT Which providers are the highest priority? Which user manuals are needed? ESA 2009

26. 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 ESA 2009

27. 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? ESA 2009

28. GISIN to IPT For cache? For providers? ESA 2009

29. Prioritizing Providers • Strategy? • Amount of data? • IT sophistication? • Diversity of data? • Quality of data? • Interest? ESA 2009

30. User Manuals • Content? • Mapping data fields to GISIN concepts? • File upload? • Setting up web services? • Data collection? • Data management? • Distribution? • Online? • Paper? ESA 2009

31. 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