Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AQUAINVAD-ED (AQUAtic INVAders: Early Detection, Control and Management)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2017-06-01 do 2019-05-31
• Environmental DNA barcoding and metabarcoding are effective methods for early detection and monitoring of AIS, identification of novel vectors of introduction and assessment of habitat fragmentation and dispersal of native and non-native species. Incorporating this technique into routine surveillance programs can be of great benefit.
• Species Distribution Models (SDM) can detect the most important vectors of introduction of AIS and to predict their dispersal. These methods can inform policies aiming at avoiding novel introductions.
• Accurate detection of AIS requires seasonal monitoring of ecosystems.
• Anthropogenic factors and distance to the first introduction site are amongst the most important factors determining the expansion of AIS.
• The impacts and invasion success of AIS depend not only on the biology of a single species but also on synergies between different species.
• Ecological traits can be used for control and management of AIS.
• Although there seems to be awareness among the general public on the impacts of invasive species in the three European countries surveyed (UK, Italy and Spain), more education is needed to raise awareness on ways of introduction.
• Success in reducing the introduction invasive species is possible through engagement of people of all ages, especially young audience.
The main achievements of the project were:
• Training of 8 international Early Career Researchers to PhD level.
• One international conference on AIS control and management attended by more than 100 people.
• Development and optimisation of molecular protocols for early detection of a number of marine and freshwater AIS, including some of the most common invaders in Europe.
• Development and optimisation of molecular protocols for the monitoring of ballast water and fouled floating objects to avoid the inadvertent introduction of AIS.
• Development of ecological tools to assess the impacts of AIS (including synergies between different species).
• Development of Species Distribution Models to predict AIS dispersal based on ecological and anthropogenic factors (including routes of introduction).
• Identification of critical routes of AIS introduction and dispersal.
• Information of citizen perception of invasive species in three different European countries (UK, Italy and Spain), through a questionnaire translated into the three national languages.
• Production of educational materials and dissemination events for schools, general public and media.
• Collaboration with local stakeholders (e.g. environmental managers, port authorities) on AIS control and management.