Here we provide the dataset underpinning the map entitled "A grid-based map for the Biogeogr... more Here we provide the dataset underpinning the map entitled "A grid-based map for the Biogeographical Regions of Europe (GB-EBR)" (https://zenodo.org/record/3760925#.XqBbAsgzZPY). The dataset contains 251138 rows and 5 columns as follow: ID (10 km × 10 km cell), CellCode (10 km × 10 km cell), biogeographical_region (the Biogeographical Region unambiguously associated to each 10 km × 10 km cell), X (Long of the centroid), Y (Lat of the centroid). NOTE: For future implementation we insert also the 'outside data coverage'
Invading Nature - Springer Series In Invasion Ecology
A major portion of biodiversity in the world depends on inland waters; about 8,500 of the 20,000 ... more A major portion of biodiversity in the world depends on inland waters; about 8,500 of the 20,000 species of fish live in this medium, and many species of reptiles, amphibians, birds, semiaquatic mammals, along with invertebrates and plants, depend on freshwater ecosystems. Of the 117 threatened species in Europe, 28 live in freshwater ecosystems (IUCN 2006). The biological integrity of inland waters is also crucial for people: it provides water and food to a large majority of world populations (rice alone is the main part of the diet of over 50% of the globe’s inhabitants).
To support the 'Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators' (SEBI 2010) process, ... more To support the 'Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators' (SEBI 2010) process, the European Environment Agency (EEA) commissioned a study to revisit and further develop the indicator 'Invasive alien species in Europe'. The aim of the current project is to critically review and improve this indicator, and propose an updated methodology. Further, options for methodologies of new indicators, which monitor IAS over time across Europe, will be discussed. Particular attention is given to closely linking the indicator(s) to recent biodiversity policy goals and developments.
Europe has a particularly long history of land protection measures, and is the region of the worl... more Europe has a particularly long history of land protection measures, and is the region of the world with the largest number of protected areas, which has grown rapidly over the last decades. This was to a large extent due to the Natura 2000 programme of the European Union which focused on extending the existing network of legally protected areas with other habitats of conservation value. As a result, Europe has over 120,000 nationally designated protected sites (the most in the world) and 21 % of the continent area (1,228,576 km2) currently enjoys some form of legal protection. Despite these impressive statistics, the effectiveness of the existing network in protecting biodiversity is constrained by habitat fragmentation and other factors. Despite the generally high awareness of the importance of biodiversity protection in Europe, invasive alien species are not perceived as the most pressing problem by the public. This is in contrast with the fact that many of them have serious impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in protected areas. Among these, Ailanthus altissima, Fallopia taxa, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Impatiens glandulifera and Robinia pseudoacacia are considered as top invaders by managers of protected areas. Surprisingly, continent-wide rigorous data on the distribution and abundance of invasive alien species are lacking and there is an urgent need for collating checklists of alien species using standardised criteria to record their status. With the exception of very few regions such information is missing, or incomplete, based on varying criteria and scattered in grey literature and unpublished reports. To put the management on a more scientific basis the collection and curation of better data is an urgent priority; this could be done by using existing instruments of the EU as a convenient platform. As found by means of a web survey reported here, managers of protected areas in Europe are well aware of the seriousness of the problem and threats imposed by invasive plant species but are constrained in their efforts by the lack of resources, both staff and financial, and that of rigorous scientific information translated into practical guidelines.
ABSTRACT Invasive alien species are one of the major agents of human-accelerated global change: t... more ABSTRACT Invasive alien species are one of the major agents of human-accelerated global change: they threaten biodiversity, alter ecosystem structure, functions and services, inflict large economic costs and cause serious problems to human health. The effects on human health are indeed a major problem and also cause substantial costs but, surprisingly, very few studies have analyzed this topic. The paper describes and analyses the hazards to human health associated with species introductions, and discusses major correlates and possible responses. Four categories were identified: invasive species (1) causing diseases or infections; (2) exposing humans to wounds from bites/stings, biotoxins, allergens or toxicants; (3) faciliting diseases, injuries or death; and (4) inflicting other negative effects on human livelihood. Invasive species affect human health via several ways, i.e. as alien pathogens and invaders that bring/facilitate parasites or produce toxins. Others cause denutrition/malnutrition or exert displaced or deferred impacts. Their negative impacts are expected to intensify in the near future due to the increased opportunities of invasions associated with climate change, the augmented pathways of introductions and the synergic effects of climate change. It is imperative to improve our understanding of the pathways of arrival of invasive species affecting human health, their biological patterns and the mechanisms of impact, because all this information is essential to develop more effective and stringent policies for preventing and mitigating the negative effects that these species cause.
Here we provide the dataset underpinning the map entitled "A grid-based map for the Biogeogr... more Here we provide the dataset underpinning the map entitled "A grid-based map for the Biogeographical Regions of Europe (GB-EBR)" (https://zenodo.org/record/3760925#.XqBbAsgzZPY). The dataset contains 251138 rows and 5 columns as follow: ID (10 km × 10 km cell), CellCode (10 km × 10 km cell), biogeographical_region (the Biogeographical Region unambiguously associated to each 10 km × 10 km cell), X (Long of the centroid), Y (Lat of the centroid). NOTE: For future implementation we insert also the 'outside data coverage'
Invading Nature - Springer Series In Invasion Ecology
A major portion of biodiversity in the world depends on inland waters; about 8,500 of the 20,000 ... more A major portion of biodiversity in the world depends on inland waters; about 8,500 of the 20,000 species of fish live in this medium, and many species of reptiles, amphibians, birds, semiaquatic mammals, along with invertebrates and plants, depend on freshwater ecosystems. Of the 117 threatened species in Europe, 28 live in freshwater ecosystems (IUCN 2006). The biological integrity of inland waters is also crucial for people: it provides water and food to a large majority of world populations (rice alone is the main part of the diet of over 50% of the globe’s inhabitants).
To support the 'Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators' (SEBI 2010) process, ... more To support the 'Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators' (SEBI 2010) process, the European Environment Agency (EEA) commissioned a study to revisit and further develop the indicator 'Invasive alien species in Europe'. The aim of the current project is to critically review and improve this indicator, and propose an updated methodology. Further, options for methodologies of new indicators, which monitor IAS over time across Europe, will be discussed. Particular attention is given to closely linking the indicator(s) to recent biodiversity policy goals and developments.
Europe has a particularly long history of land protection measures, and is the region of the worl... more Europe has a particularly long history of land protection measures, and is the region of the world with the largest number of protected areas, which has grown rapidly over the last decades. This was to a large extent due to the Natura 2000 programme of the European Union which focused on extending the existing network of legally protected areas with other habitats of conservation value. As a result, Europe has over 120,000 nationally designated protected sites (the most in the world) and 21 % of the continent area (1,228,576 km2) currently enjoys some form of legal protection. Despite these impressive statistics, the effectiveness of the existing network in protecting biodiversity is constrained by habitat fragmentation and other factors. Despite the generally high awareness of the importance of biodiversity protection in Europe, invasive alien species are not perceived as the most pressing problem by the public. This is in contrast with the fact that many of them have serious impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in protected areas. Among these, Ailanthus altissima, Fallopia taxa, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Impatiens glandulifera and Robinia pseudoacacia are considered as top invaders by managers of protected areas. Surprisingly, continent-wide rigorous data on the distribution and abundance of invasive alien species are lacking and there is an urgent need for collating checklists of alien species using standardised criteria to record their status. With the exception of very few regions such information is missing, or incomplete, based on varying criteria and scattered in grey literature and unpublished reports. To put the management on a more scientific basis the collection and curation of better data is an urgent priority; this could be done by using existing instruments of the EU as a convenient platform. As found by means of a web survey reported here, managers of protected areas in Europe are well aware of the seriousness of the problem and threats imposed by invasive plant species but are constrained in their efforts by the lack of resources, both staff and financial, and that of rigorous scientific information translated into practical guidelines.
ABSTRACT Invasive alien species are one of the major agents of human-accelerated global change: t... more ABSTRACT Invasive alien species are one of the major agents of human-accelerated global change: they threaten biodiversity, alter ecosystem structure, functions and services, inflict large economic costs and cause serious problems to human health. The effects on human health are indeed a major problem and also cause substantial costs but, surprisingly, very few studies have analyzed this topic. The paper describes and analyses the hazards to human health associated with species introductions, and discusses major correlates and possible responses. Four categories were identified: invasive species (1) causing diseases or infections; (2) exposing humans to wounds from bites/stings, biotoxins, allergens or toxicants; (3) faciliting diseases, injuries or death; and (4) inflicting other negative effects on human livelihood. Invasive species affect human health via several ways, i.e. as alien pathogens and invaders that bring/facilitate parasites or produce toxins. Others cause denutrition/malnutrition or exert displaced or deferred impacts. Their negative impacts are expected to intensify in the near future due to the increased opportunities of invasions associated with climate change, the augmented pathways of introductions and the synergic effects of climate change. It is imperative to improve our understanding of the pathways of arrival of invasive species affecting human health, their biological patterns and the mechanisms of impact, because all this information is essential to develop more effective and stringent policies for preventing and mitigating the negative effects that these species cause.
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Papers by Piero Genovesi