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Sustainable Invasive Species Management in Aquatic Ecosystems

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Water Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2024) | Viewed by 10075

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Marine Studies, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 37, 21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: sustainable aquaculture; invasive species; benthos; bivalves; benthic communities; macrofauna; biofouling
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Guest Editor
Department of Marine–Inland Waters Sciences and Technology, 35100 Bornova İzmir, Turkey
Interests: marine biology; marine bivalves; exotics

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Guest Editor
Department of Marine–Inland Waters Sciences and Technology, Ege University Faculty of Fisheries, Izmir, Turkey
Interests: ecotoxicology

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Interests: maritime transport; marine environment protection; ballast waters; biofouling; invasive species

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The introduction of alien (nonnative) species in aquatic ecosystems is currently a topic on which there is great focus. It is well known that the introduction of alien (nonnative) species has significant impacts on the native biodiversity, native ecosystem function and socioeconomic situation of certain areas. The introduction of alien (nonnative) species into a given area, such as in the  case of an aquatic ecosystem, occurs through ship ballast water, fouling—accidental release and often by humans—usually for aquaculture purposes (demands). Not all nonnative species appear as invasive alien species (IAS) in their new ecosystems. In addition, some of the alien (nonnative) species can become successful invaders with significant detrimental effects on native species. IAS can lead to the extinction of species of the native biota, destroy biodiversity and permanently alter habitats. Aquaculture and fisheries are vulnerable to the impacts of IAS, which directly place food security at risk. The impacts of many IAS are poorly and scarcely understood, and clear conclusions remain hidden because authors often do not clearly define the impact of IAS.

Due to the boosting rates and the unrecoverable effects of IAS in certain aquatic ecosystems, invasive species management (ISM) should be established. The increase and geographic redistribution of IAS will have more diverse societal and environmental impacts. Though the scale of the socioeconomic costs associated with ISM is poorly understood, it is estimated that the direct impacts of IAS and their management cost the global economy billions of USD annually. Thus, three main pillars of sustainability should be integrated in ISM: economic, environmental and social. These pillars are strongly connected and mutually reinforce each other. In order to efficiently manage the impacts of IAS, they should be clearly defined by scientists, managers and policy makers.

Therefore, the interest of this Special Issue is focused on original research, including review papers considering a clear definition of IAS impacts for scientific, managing and decision-making purposes. These works could serve in improving communication between scientists from different research disciplines as well as managers and policy makers. Accounts of exceptional accidental case study reports are also welcome.

Dr. Vedrana Nerlović
Prof. Dr. Alper Doǧan
Prof. Dr. Özlem Çakal Arslan
Prof. Dr. Gorana Jelić-Mrčelić
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • aquatic ecosystems
  • invasive species
  • ecology
  • human activities
  • aquaculture
  • macrofauna
  • maritime transport
  • bio-fouling
  • coastal and nautical tourism
  • underwater construction
  • impact
  • management
  • sustainability
  • policy makers

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 6699 KiB  
Article
Predicting the Potential Risk Area of the Invasive Plant Galinsoga parviflora in Tibet Using the MaxEnt Model
by Junwei Wang, Zhefei Zeng, Yonghao Chen and Qiong La
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4689; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114689 - 31 May 2024
Viewed by 633
Abstract
The Tibetan plateau, with complex and diverse ecosystems, is an important ecological security barrier to China. However, climate change and the spread of invasive plant species have imperiled the once pristine and diverse ecosystem of the region. To prevent the further spread and [...] Read more.
The Tibetan plateau, with complex and diverse ecosystems, is an important ecological security barrier to China. However, climate change and the spread of invasive plant species have imperiled the once pristine and diverse ecosystem of the region. To prevent the further spread and control of invasive plants, it is important to delineate the potential distribution patterns of alien invasive plants at the regional scale across Tibet and understand their responses to climate change. Galinsoga parviflora Cav., a member of the family Asteraceae, is an annual herbaceous plant distributed globally as an invasive weed and possesses characteristics that make it highly invasive, such as a strong ability to proliferate and disperse. The species is also known to have an allelopathic effect. There has been no report on the spatial distribution of G. parviflora in Tibet. Using field survey data, we investigated the risk of G. parviflora invasion and its impacts on the ecological safety of Tibet. We employed the MaxEnt model using the R language and SPSS software to optimize and select model parameters and data. We acquired various environmental variables along with current and future climate change scenarios (two carbon emission scenarios, SSP126 and SSP585, for the years 2050 and 2090) to predict the geographic distribution and potential risk areas in Tibet that G. parviflora can invade. The MaxEnt model accurately predicted the distribution of G. parviflora in Tibet with an average AUC of 0.985. The most suitable environmental conditions in which G. parviflora performed the best in Tibet included a mean annual temperature of 6.2–10.0 °C and an elevation range of 2672–3744 m above sea level. Our results indicate that low precipitation during the coldest quarter of the year (mean temperature −2–3 °C) was the most important variable predicting G. parviflora distribution. The results also showed that the species was hardly found when precipitation in the coldest quarter exceeded 155 mm. The current potential invasion risk areas for G. parviflora included the river valleys of central, southeastern, and eastern Tibet. With future climate change scenarios (i.e., SSP126, SSP585), the suitable habitats for G. parviflora distribution will likely shift to northwest regions from the southeast. Particularly under the highest carbon emission scenario (i.e., SSP585), the potential risk area expands more rapidly, and the center of distribution shifts to northwest regions. These findings provide useful information about the current and future changes in G. parviflora distribution in Tibet, which is crucial for the comprehensive and proactive management and control of G. parviflora under future climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Invasive Species Management in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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21 pages, 6914 KiB  
Article
Increased Riparian Vegetation Density and Its Effect on Flow Conditions
by Tímea Kiss and István Fehérváry
Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12615; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612615 - 21 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1412
Abstract
The physical and biological structure of riparian vegetation fundamentally influences floodplain roughness, and thus the flood velocity and flood levels of a river. The study aims to provide detailed spatial data on the vegetation density of a floodplain, and to model the effect [...] Read more.
The physical and biological structure of riparian vegetation fundamentally influences floodplain roughness, and thus the flood velocity and flood levels of a river. The study aims to provide detailed spatial data on the vegetation density of a floodplain, and to model the effect of the actual vegetation and various scenarios on flow conditions. LiDAR data were applied to evaluate the density and roughness of the submerged understory vegetation over the densely vegetated floodplain of Lower Tisza, Hungary. Then, HEC–RAS 2D modelling was applied to analyse the effect of the actual vegetation on flow conditions. Further scenarios were also created to predict the effect of (i) invasive plant control, (ii) no maintenance, and (iii) riparian vegetation restoration (meadows). According to the results, since the 19th Century, the increased vegetation density is responsible for a 17-cm flood level increase, and if the vegetation grows even denser, a further 7 cm could be expected. As the vegetation density increases, the overbank flow velocity decreases, and the crevasses and flood conveyance zones gradually lose their function. Simultaneously, the flow velocity increases in the channel (from 1 m/s to 1.4 m/s), resulting in an incision. Applying LiDAR-based 2D flow modelling makes it possible to plan sustainable riparian vegetation maintenance (e.g., forestry, invasive species clearance) from both ecology and flood control perspectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Invasive Species Management in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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18 pages, 2758 KiB  
Article
Exotic Polychaetes of a Sewage Pollution Influenced Lagoon (Çardak Lagoon, Turkish Straits)
by Ertan Dağlı, Abdullah Suat Ateş, Seçil Acar, Yeşim Büyükateş, Alper Doğan and Ahmet Kerem Bakır
Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8946; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118946 - 1 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1250
Abstract
This paper includes three exotic polychaeta species, Hydroides dianthus (Verrill, 1873), Polydora cornuta Bosc, 1802, and Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata (Okuda, 1937), found during benthic samplings in Çardak Lagoon (Turkish Straits). The sampling was collected from the sandy and silty bottoms known to be polluted [...] Read more.
This paper includes three exotic polychaeta species, Hydroides dianthus (Verrill, 1873), Polydora cornuta Bosc, 1802, and Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata (Okuda, 1937), found during benthic samplings in Çardak Lagoon (Turkish Straits). The sampling was collected from the sandy and silty bottoms known to be polluted by sewage discharges. A total of 45 specimens of exotic polychaetes (H. dianthus: 1; P. cornuta: 4; P. paucibranchiata: 40) were found. The correlation values between the annual average values of the nutrients and the polychaeta abundance showed that the highest positive relationships with the abundance were between sand content, total phosphate, and pH. P. cornuta was the most observed species with a frequency index value of 75%, while H. dianthus was represented with a single species in the study area. Albeit the previous studies, P. paucibranchiata was observed most abundantly in the sampling station having low organic matter amounts. The study showed that opportunistic polychaetes observed in Çardak Lagoon mostly preferred organically poor sediments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Invasive Species Management in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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15 pages, 1132 KiB  
Article
Alien Macroalgal Rearrangement in the Soft Substrata of the Venice Lagoon (Italy): Impacts, Threats, Time and Future Trends
by Adriano Sfriso, Marion Adelheid Wolf, Alessandro Buosi, Katia Sciuto and Andrea Augusto Sfriso
Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8256; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108256 - 18 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1398
Abstract
Non-native species are a concern for aquatic environments both for the ecosystem biodiversity and from the economical point of view. The Venice Lagoon is a Mediterranean hotspot of alien introductions and macroalgae are probably the most represented systematic category. For this reason, alien [...] Read more.
Non-native species are a concern for aquatic environments both for the ecosystem biodiversity and from the economical point of view. The Venice Lagoon is a Mediterranean hotspot of alien introductions and macroalgae are probably the most represented systematic category. For this reason, alien macroalgal distribution and variation were monitored in late spring-autumn surveys, carried out in 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2021 in the soft bottoms of the entire lagoon (87 common stations). Overall, 21 taxa were recorded; three of them (i.e., Acanthosiphonia echinata, Caulacanthus okamurae, Osmundea oederi) are well-established recent introductions for the lagoon, which has increased the total number of non-native species to 33. Ulva australis, previously reported as Ulva laetevirens, is the most abundant species and it is replacing Ulva rigida, especially in the less eutrophic areas. The invasive Gracilariopsis vermiculophylla, an engineering species colonizing the eutrophic choked areas especially in the central lagoon, is instead decreasing. Other abundant established taxa are now dominant components of the lagoon biomass, whereas many others are rare or have small sizes that make their biomass negligible. Overall, these species do not represent serious threats to the environment, but they rather increase biodiversity, with some of them having positive effects on ecosystem services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Invasive Species Management in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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Review

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29 pages, 506 KiB  
Review
Sustainable Management of High-Impact Non-Native Molluscs and Their Potential Commercial Importance in the Eastern Adriatic Sea
by Gorana Jelić Mrčelić, Vedrana Nerlović and Alper Doğan
Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11384; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411384 - 21 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1446
Abstract
Molluscs, especially bivalves, play an important role in food production and are the dominant group in mariculture worldwide. They are also an important component of the marine ecosystem, influencing the food web and nutrient cycling, as well as creating and modifying habitats. In [...] Read more.
Molluscs, especially bivalves, play an important role in food production and are the dominant group in mariculture worldwide. They are also an important component of the marine ecosystem, influencing the food web and nutrient cycling, as well as creating and modifying habitats. In the Mediterranean Sea, about 578 non-native species have been reported, including 230 taxa of non-native mollusc species. In most regional European seas, including the Mediterranean, the socioeconomic impacts of high-impact mollusc species have generally been poorly studied, and only a few well-documented cases have been reported. The present study collects scientific information on non-native molluscs in Croatian waters that are classified as high impact according to the European Alien Species Information Network EASIN: one Gastropoda—Rapana venosa—and seven Bivalvia species—Anadara kagoshimensis, Anadara transversa, Arcuatula senhousia, Brachidontes pharaonis, Magallana gigas, Pinctada radiata, and Ruditapes philippinarum. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature on high-impact non-native molluscs in the eastern Adriatic Sea through reviewing the literature on examples from other European seas, focusing on the possibility of commercialization and sustainable management of high-impact non-native molluscs. The invasion of non-native molluscs must be managed appropriately, especially if commercialisation is chosen as a management strategy. Additional management measures must be selected and objectively evaluated, taking into account the specificities, location and feasibility of the proposed measures. The study could help researchers, decision-makers, and the public to address the problems with high-impact species in the Adriatic countries, but also in other regions where the monitoring of high-impact non-native species is still inadequate. In addition to Croatia, the monitoring and management of these species is also important for other countries in the eastern Adriatic: Slovenia, Montenegro and Albania. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Invasive Species Management in Aquatic Ecosystems)
25 pages, 1091 KiB  
Review
Detection and Management of Freshwater Invasive Alien Species through Environmental DNA Analysis and Geographic Information Systems: A Review
by Mohamad Zulkarnain Mohd Dali, Roslan Umar, Norshida Ismail, Hafizan Juahir, Muhammad Syafiq Aiman Mohd Nasir, Aliyu Garba Khaleel, Nor Ainsyafikah Madiran, Zulhisyam Abdul Kari, Lee Seong Wei, Albaris B. Tahiluddin, Guillermo Téllez-Isaías and Ahmad Syazni Kamarudin
Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9497; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129497 - 13 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3229
Abstract
Freshwater invasive alien species (IAS) are non-native organisms that were intentionally or unintentionally released into local water bodies and later harmed the invaded habitat by disrupting the ecological processes. Over the last few years, environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) analyses have been used in [...] Read more.
Freshwater invasive alien species (IAS) are non-native organisms that were intentionally or unintentionally released into local water bodies and later harmed the invaded habitat by disrupting the ecological processes. Over the last few years, environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) analyses have been used in many studies to detect IAS, with positive results. However, with the help of geographic information systems (GIS), efforts to detect the presence of IAS can be made faster and more efficiently. In this paper, we review the background of IAS in Southeast Asia and management efforts undertaken involving the input of known habitat-specific geographical parameters into GIS mapping. Via this strategy, it is possible to identify and distinguish areas that fit IAS habitat features from those that do not. eDNA analysis can later be applied to confirm the presence of IAS in detected areas, enabling further studies and actions. The presence of IAS in certain areas can be used as an indicator to assess the environmental integrity of native waterways. This combined method is likely the first approach to be applied to the detection of freshwater IAS in local water bodies. Apart from saving energy and resources, embedding GIS and eDNA into the study of IAS not only benefits the ecosystem but also assists locals and authorities in managing and taking necessary enforcement actions to curb further spread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Invasive Species Management in Aquatic Ecosystems)
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