Assessing invasive alien species in European catchments: Distribution and impacts

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138677
• Publication Date: 2020-05-08T06:35:52Z
• Authors: Chiara Magliozzi; Konstantinos Tsiamis; Olga Vigiak; Ivan Deriu; Eugenio Gervasini; Ana Cristina Cardoso
• Keywords: Water Framework Directive; Freshwater ecosystem; Alien species

Invasive alien species (IAS) induce changes to community structure and functions which lead a decline of endemic major irreversible the local physical habitat. The distribution impacts multiple freshwater IAS are not well known, they have been investigated simultaneously at catchment European scales. This study provides an assessment cumulative impact over catchments. occurrences were retrieved from Alien Species Information Network geospatial dataset updated with most recent records literature. Cumulative Impact Index (CIMPAL) was derived by aggregating their occupied area level following three steps: i) scored both magnitude on ecosystems strength evidence in literature, ii) scores mapped area, iii) summed across catchment. CIMPAL river ecological classes Water Framework Directive examined increasing/decreasing patterns identified statuses. Results showed strong spatial variation documented Europe. Catchments >40 (range 0–55) clustered Western countries (e.g. Belgium France) characterised plant, invertebrate vertebrate that had large colonisation (catchment level) scale (across catchments). statistically significant increasing values high bad eight only (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Poland). comprehensive within environments could be used improve understanding pressures scale.