D
A
I
S
I
E
E L I V E R I N G
L I E N
N VA S I V E
P E C I E S
N V E N T O R I E S F O R
U R O P E
DAISIE will deliver an Alien Species Gateway to act as a
Biological invasions by non-native or “alien” species are widely recognised as a significant component of human-caused global environment change. Alien species can act as vectors for new diseases, alter ecosystem processes, change biodiversity, disrupt the cultural landscape, reduce the value of land and water for human activities and cause other socio-economic consequences for humans. Alien species encompass many diverse taxa that threaten a wide range of European marine, brackish, freshwater and terrestrial environments.
DAISIE will address the need for a regional network of invasive alien species information. With direct access to national knowledge bases throughout Europe, those addressing the invasive alien species challenge will easily obtain data on which species are invasive or potentially invasive in particular habitats, and use this information in their planning efforts.
Invasive Alien Species in Europe
Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis. Photo: Mark Hulme/WWT
The general objectives of DAISIE are:
1. To create an inventory of invasive species that threaten European terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments,
2. To structure the inventory to provide the basis for prevention and control of biological invasions through the understanding of the environmental, social, economic and other factors involved, 3. To assess and summarise the ecological, economic
and health impacts of the most widespread and / or noxious invasive species in Europe,
4. To use distribution data and the experiences of the individual Member States as a framework for considering indicators for early warning.
These objectives will be delivered via an international team of leading experts in the field of biological in-vasions, latest technological developments in database design and display, and an extensive network
of European stakeholders.
DAISIE Objectives
Spanish slug,Arion vulgaris. Photo: Inger Weidema
An up-to-date inventory of all alien species known to inhabit Europe is essential to build an early detection and warning system for Europe’s environmental managers. The development of a European Alien Species Database will involve compiling and peer-reviewing initial national lists of hundreds of species of fungi, plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
• provide a qualified reference system on invasive alien species in Europe, available online for envi-ronmental managers, researchers, students and all concerned,
• update the information on invasive alien species, their biology, vectors of introduction, spread, impacts on environment and economy,
• encourage the exchange of data among different geographical regions and thereby to serve a node in the Global Information System for Invasive Species.
The nomadic jellyfish Rhopilema nomadica. Photo: Mel Cooper
The European Alien Species Database
Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha growing on a chain. Photo: Dan Minchin.
The Alien Species Expertise Registry
The European Alien Species Expertise Registry is a fundamental step towards linking and mobilising current expertise in biological invasions, to contribute knowledge and data to meet European requirements in dealing with invasive alien species. The European Alien Species Expertise Registry may be used to: • assemble and assess the current breadth and
scope of knowledge on alien species,
• identify gaps in taxonomic expertise, limited regional capacity and future research clusters,
• identify experts who can contribute to the different areas of DAISIE e.g. species accounts, inventories, analyses etc.
• facilitate clustering and information sharing among different national programmes targeting the same invasive alien species.
The European Alien Species Expertise Registry will contain details for individual experts including: contact information, thematic areas of expertise such as taxonomy, population ecology, management, impact assessment, as well as current and recent research projects, publications and reports.
For more information and to register your expertise in the Alien Species Expertise Registry visit
www.europe-aliens.org.
Grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis. Photo: Sandro Bertolino
Blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus. Photo: Bella Galil
The Invasive Alien Species Accounts
The DAISIE Invasive Alien Species Accounts will provi-de information on invasive alien species to agencies, resource managers, decision-makers, and interested individuals. The Invasive Alien Species Accounts will focus on invasive species that threaten the natural environment and will cover all taxonomic groups. Species information will include: biology, ecology, distribution, management information, references, contacts, links and images. The Invasive Alien Species Accounts will be fully referenced, searchable via keywords and include information on impacts. The Invasive Alien Species Accounts will be used to: • generate reliable species accounts for major pest
species in Europe,
• provide information upon which to base prevention and control of invasive species,
• assess the ecological, economic and health impacts of invasive alien species,
• raise awareness of biological invasions in Europe and highlight gaps in knowledge.
Giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzia-num. Photo: Petr Py ˇsek
Geranium bronze butterfly, Cacyreus marshalli. Photo: Nick Greatorex-Davies
Distribution Maps and Spatial Analysis
A key requirement for the effective management of invasive alien species is the ability to identify, map, and monitor invasions. Presentation of data of invasive alien species, known or suspected of having environ-mental or economic impacts in Europe, as GIS sup-ported distribution maps and subsequent analysis of the spatial data will be developed within DAISIE to: • identify the scale and spatial pattern of invasive
alien species in Europe,
• understand the environmental, social, economic and other factors involved in invasions,
• use distribution data as a framework for considering indicators for early warning initiatives,
• disseminate information of invasion risk rapidly to stakeholders, policy makers and the public.
DAISE Project Coordinator: Philip Hulme
NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, United Kingdom.
Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic. Contact: Petr Py ˇsek University of Bern, Switzerland. Contact: Wolfgang Nentwig
Umweltforschungscentrum Leipzig-Halle, Germany. Contact: Stefan Klotz GoConsult, Germany. Contact: Stephan Gollasch
Marine Organisms Investigations, Ireland. Contact: Dan Minchin
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Sweden. Contact: Melanie Josefsson Centre for Ecological Research & Forestry Applications, Spain. Contact: Montserrat Vilà Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, Russia. Contact: Vadim Panov Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, France. Contact: Alain Roques
National Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece. Contact: Margarita Arianoutsou Cartography Centre of Fauna & Flora, Slovenia. Contact: Katja Poboljsaj
University of Ljubljana. Slovenia. Contact: Matej David
Coastal Research & Planning Institute, Klaipeda University, Lithuania Contact: Sergej Olenin INFS, Italian Wildlife Institute, Italy. Contact: Piero Genovesi
Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel. Contact: Salit Kark National Institute of Oceanography, Israel. Contact: Bella Galil Federal Environmental Agency, Austria. Contact: Franz Essl
DAISIE’s European Partnership
DAISIE is funded within the European Commission’s 6th Framework
Programme for Research, Technological Development, & Demonstration Activities, Contract no. SSPI-CT-2003-511202.
Project lifetime: 2005–2008. ISBN:91-620-8220-5
