scholarly journals Economic costs of invasive alien species across Europe

NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 153-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip J. Haubrock ◽  
Anna J. Turbelin ◽  
Ross N. Cuthbert ◽  
Ana Novoa ◽  
Nigel G. Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Damage Costs ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
The Uk

Biological invasions continue to threaten the stability of ecosystems and societies that are dependent on their services. Whilst the ecological impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) have been widely reported in recent decades, there remains a paucity of information concerning their economic impacts. Europe has strong trade and transport links with the rest of the world, facilitating hundreds of IAS incursions, and largely centralised decision-making frameworks. The present study is the first comprehensive and detailed effort that quantifies the costs of IAS collectively across European countries and examines temporal trends in these data. In addition, the distributions of costs across countries, socioeconomic sectors and taxonomic groups are examined, as are socio-economic correlates of management and damage costs. Total costs of IAS in Europe summed to US$140.20 billion (or €116.61 billion) between 1960 and 2020, with the majority (60%) being damage-related and impacting multiple sectors. Costs were also geographically widespread but dominated by impacts in large western and central European countries, i.e. the UK, Spain, France, and Germany. Human population size, land area, GDP, and tourism were significant predictors of invasion costs, with management costs additionally predicted by numbers of introduced species, research effort and trade. Temporally, invasion costs have increased exponentially through time, with up to US$23.58 billion (€19.64 billion) in 2013, and US$139.56 billion (€116.24 billion) in impacts extrapolated in 2020. Importantly, although these costs are substantial, there remain knowledge gaps on several geographic and taxonomic scales, indicating that these costs are severely underestimated. We, thus, urge increased and improved cost reporting for economic impacts of IAS and coordinated international action to prevent further spread and mitigate impacts of IAS populations.

scholarly journals Modelling the damage costs of invasive alien species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danish A. Ahmed ◽  
Emma J. Hudgins ◽  
Ross N. Cuthbert ◽  
Phillip J. Haubrock ◽  
David Renault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Logistic Growth ◽  
Qualitative Properties ◽  
Dynamical Approach ◽  
Damage Costs

Abstract The rate of biological invasions is growing unprecedentedly, threatening ecological and socioeconomic systems worldwide. Quantitative understandings of invasion temporal trajectories are essential to discern current and future economic impacts of invaders, and then to inform future management strategies. Here, we examine the temporal trends of cumulative invasion costs by developing and testing a novel mathematical model with a population dynamical approach based on logistic growth. This model characterises temporal cost developments into four curve types (I - IV), each with distinct mathematical and qualitative properties, allowing for the parameterization of maximum cumulative costs, carrying capacities and growth rates. We test our model using damage cost data for eight genera (Rattus, Aedes, Canis, Oryctolagus, Sturnus, Ceratitis, Sus and Lymantria) extracted from the InvaCost database – which is the most up-to-date and comprehensive global compilation of economic cost estimates associated with invasive alien species. We find fundamental differences in the temporal dynamics of damage costs among genera, indicating they depend on invasion duration, species ecology and impacted sectors of economic activity. The fitted cost curves indicate a lack of broadscale support for saturation between invader density and impact, including for Canis, Oryctolagus and Lymantria, whereby costs continue to increase with no sign of saturation. For other taxa, predicted saturations may arise from data availability issues resulting from an underreporting of costs in many invaded regions. Overall, this population dynamical approach can produce cost trajectories for additional existing and emerging species, and can estimate the ecological parameters governing the linkage between population dynamics and cost dynamics.

scholarly journals The recorded economic costs of alien invasive species in Italy

NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 247-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip J. Haubrock ◽  
Ross N. Cuthbert ◽  
Elena Tricarico ◽  
Christophe Diagne ◽  
Franck Courchamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Alien Invasive Species ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Cost Estimates ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
The Impact

Whilst the ecological impacts of invasion by alien species have been well documented, little is known of the economic costs incurred. The impacts of invasive alien species on the economy can be wide-ranging, from management costs, to loss of crops, to infrastructure damage. However, details on these cost estimates are still lacking, particularly at national and regional scales. In this study, we use data from the first global assessment of economic costs of invasive alien species (InvaCost), where published economic cost data were systematically gathered from scientific and grey literature. We aimed to describe the economic cost of invasions in Italy, one of the most invaded countries in Europe, with an estimate of more than 3,000 alien species. The overall economic cost of invasions to Italy between 1990 and 2020 was estimated at US$ 819.76 million (EUR€ 704.78 million). This cost was highest within terrestrial habitats, with considerably fewer costs being exclusively associated with aquatic habitats and management methods, highlighting a bias within current literature. There was also a clear indication of informational gaps, with only 15 recorded species with costs. Further, we observed a tendency towards particular taxonomic groups, with insect species accounting for the majority of cost estimates in Italy. Globally, invasion rates are not slowing down and the associated economic impact is thus expected to increase. Therefore, the evaluation and reporting of economic costs need to be improved across taxa, in order to mitigate and efficiently manage the impact of invasions on economies.

scholarly journals Modelling the damage costs of invasive alien species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danish A. Ahmed ◽  
Emma J. Hudgins ◽  
Ross N. Cuthbert ◽  
Phillip J. Haubrock ◽  
David Renault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Logistic Growth ◽  
Qualitative Properties ◽  
Dynamical Approach ◽  
Damage Costs

AbstractThe rate of biological invasions is growing unprecedentedly, threatening ecological and socioeconomic systems worldwide. Quantitative understandings of invasion temporal trajectories are essential to discern current and future economic impacts of invaders, and then to inform future management strategies. Here, we examine the temporal trends of cumulative invasion costs by developing and testing a novel mathematical model with a population dynamical approach based on logistic growth. This model characterises temporal cost developments into four curve types (I–IV), each with distinct mathematical and qualitative properties, allowing for the parameterization of maximum cumulative costs, carrying capacities and growth rates. We test our model using damage cost data for eight genera (Rattus, Aedes, Canis, Oryctolagus, Sturnus, Ceratitis, Sus and Lymantria) extracted from the InvaCost database—which is the most up-to-date and comprehensive global compilation of economic cost estimates associated with invasive alien species. We find fundamental differences in the temporal dynamics of damage costs among genera, indicating they depend on invasion duration, species ecology and impacted sectors of economic activity. The fitted cost curves indicate a lack of broadscale support for saturation between invader density and impact, including for Canis, Oryctolagus and Lymantria, whereby costs continue to increase with no sign of saturation. For other taxa, predicted saturations may arise from data availability issues resulting from an underreporting of costs in many invaded regions. Overall, this population dynamical approach can produce cost trajectories for additional existing and emerging species, and can estimate the ecological parameters governing the linkage between population dynamics and cost dynamics.

scholarly journals Aliens in the Aegean – a sea under siege (ALAS)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stelios Katsanevakis ◽  
Konstantinos Tsirintanis ◽  
Maria Sini ◽  
Vasilis Gerovasileiou ◽  
Nikoletta Koukourouvli
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Cumulative Impacts ◽  
Cumulative Impact ◽  
Marine Habitats

ALAS aims to fill knowledge gaps on the impacts of marine alien species in the Aegean Sea, and support marine managers and policy makers in prioritizing mitigation actions. The project will focus on under-studied alien-native interactions, priority and vulnerable habitats (such as shallow forests of canopy algae and underwater caves), and apply a multitude of approaches. It will apply a standardized, quantitative method for mapping Cumulative IMpacts of invasive Alien species on marine ecosystems (CIMPAL), according to which cumulative impact scores are estimated on the basis of the distributions of invasive species and ecosystems, and both the reported magnitude of ecological impacts and the strength of such evidence. Towards that direction, ALAS will improve our knowledge base and compile the needed information to estimate CIMPAL by (1) conducting a series of field experiments and surveys to investigate the impacts of selected invasive alien species on marine habitats, (2) producing high-resolution habitat maps in the coastal zone, refining the results of previous research efforts through fieldwork, remote sensing and satellite imaging, (3) producing species distribution models for all invasive species, based on extensive underwater surveys for the collection of new data and integrating all existing information. ALAS will incorporate skills and analyses in novel ways and provide high-resolution results at a large scale; couple classic and novel tools and follow a trans-disciplinary approach, combining knowledge from the fields of invasion biology, conservation biology, biogeography, fisheries science, marine ecology, remote sensing, statistical modelling; conduct for the first time in the Aegean Sea a comprehensive, high-resolution analysis of cumulative impacts of invasive alien species; and report results in formats appropriate for decision-makers and society, thus transferring research-based knowledge to inform and influence policy decisions.

scholarly journals Ecological impacts of invasive alien species along temperature gradients: testing the role of environmental matching

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 706-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine C. Iacarella ◽  
Jaimie T. A. Dick ◽  
Mhairi E. Alexander ◽  
Anthony Ricciardi
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Temperature Gradients ◽  
Environmental Matching

scholarly journals An assessment of the environmental and socio-economic impacts of alien rabbits and hares

AMBIO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Allmert ◽  
Jonathan M. Jeschke ◽  
Thomas Evans
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Comparable Data ◽  
Socio Economic Impact ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Impact Data

AbstractDirectly comparable data on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of alien species informs the effective prioritisation of their management. We used two frameworks, the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) and Socio-Economic Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (SEICAT), to create a unified dataset on the severity and type of impacts caused by alien leporids (rabbits and hares). Literature was reviewed to collate impact data, which was categorised following EICAT and SEICAT guidelines. We aimed to use these data to identify: (1) alien leporid species with severe impacts, (2) their impact mechanisms, (3) the native species and local communities vulnerable to impacts and (4) knowledge gaps. Native species from a range of taxonomic groups were affected by environmental impacts which tended to be more damaging than socio-economic impacts. Indirect environmental impacts were particularly damaging and underreported. No impact data were found for several alien leporid species.

scholarly journals The economic costs of biological invasions in Central and South America: a first regional assessment

NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 401-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Heringer ◽  
Elena Angulo ◽  
Liliana Ballesteros-Mejia ◽  
César Capinha ◽  
Franck Courchamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Eichhornia Crassipes ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Damage Costs ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Region Ii

Invasive alien species are responsible for a high economic impact on many sectors worldwide. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of studies assessing these impacts in Central and South America. Investigating costs of invasions is important to motivate and guide policy responses by increasing stakeholders’ awareness and identifying action priorities. Here, we used the InvaCost database to investigate (i) the geographical pattern of biological invasion costs across the region; (ii) the monetary expenditure across taxa and impacted sectors; and (iii) the taxa responsible for more than 50% of the costs (hyper-costly taxa) per impacted sector and type of costs. The total of reliable and observed costs reported for biological invasions in Central and South America was USD 102.5 billion between 1975 and 2020, but about 90% of the total costs were reported for only three countries (Brazil, Argentina and Colombia). Costs per species were associated with geographical regions (i.e., South America, Central America and Islands) and with the area of the countries in km2. Most of the expenses were associated with damage costs (97.8%), whereas multiple sectors (77.4%), agriculture (15%) and public and social welfare (4.2%) were the most impacted sectors. Aedes spp. was the hyper-costly taxon for the terrestrial environment (costs of USD 25 billion) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was the hyper-costly taxon for the aquatic environment (USD 179.9 million). Six taxa were classified as hyper-costly for at least one impacted sector and two taxa for at least one type of cost. In conclusion, invasive alien species caused billions of dollars of economic burden in Central and South America, mainly in large countries of South America. Costs caused by invasive alien species were unevenly distributed across countries, impacted sectors, types of costs and taxa (hyper-costly taxa). These results suggest that impacted sectors should drive efforts to manage the species that are draining financial sources.

scholarly journals Ecological impacts of invasive alien species on bees

Apidologie ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 388-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane C. Stout ◽  
Carolina L. Morales
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Ecological Impacts

scholarly journals CONTAIN: Optimising the long-term management of invasive alien species using adaptive management

NeoBiota ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 119-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Lambin ◽  
David Burslem ◽  
Paul Caplat ◽  
Thomas Cornulier ◽  
Gabriella Damasceno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Management Actions

Invasive Alien Species (IAS) threaten biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services, modify landscapes and impose costs to national economies. Management efforts are underway globally to reduce these impacts, but little attention has been paid to optimising the use of the scarce available resources when IAS are impossible to eradicate, and therefore population reduction and containment of their advance are the only feasible solutions. CONTAIN, a three-year multinational project involving partners from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the UK, started in 2019. It develops and tests, via case study examples, a decision-making toolbox for managing different problematic IAS over large spatial extents. Given that vast areas are invaded, spatial prioritisation of management is necessary, often based on sparse data. In turn, these characteristics imply the need to make the best decisions possible under likely heavy uncertainty. Our decision-support toolbox will integrate the following components: (i) the relevant environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts, including their spatial distribution; (ii) the spatio-temporal dynamics of the target IAS (focusing on dispersal and population recovery); (iii) the relationship between the abundance of the IAS and its impacts; (iv) economic methods to estimate both benefits and costs to inform the spatial prioritisation of cost-effective interventions. To ensure that our approach is relevant for different contexts in Latin America, we are working with model species having contrasting modes of dispersal, which have large environmental and/or economic impacts, and for which data already exist (invasive pines, privet, wasps, and American mink). We will also model plausible scenarios for data-poor pine and grass species, which impact local people in Argentina, Brazil and Chile. We seek the most effective strategic management actions supported by empirical data on the species’ population dynamics and dispersal that underpin reinvasion, and on intervention costs in a spatial context. Our toolbox serves to identify key uncertainties driving the systems, and especially to highlight gaps where new data would most effectively reduce uncertainty on the best course of action. The problems we are tackling are complex, and we are embedding them in a process of co-operative adaptive management, so that both researchers and managers continually improve their effectiveness by confronting different models to data. Our project is also building research capacity in Latin America by sharing knowledge/information between countries and disciplines (i.e., biological, social and economic), by training early-career researchers through research visits, through our continuous collaboration with other researchers and by training and engaging stakeholders via workshops. Finally, all these activities will establish an international network of researchers, managers and decision-makers. We expect that our lessons learned will be of use in other regions of the world where complex and inherently context-specific realities shape how societies deal with IAS.

scholarly journals The economic costs of biological invasions in Brazil: a first assessment

NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 349-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Ricardo Pires Adelino ◽  
Gustavo Heringer ◽  
Christophe Diagne ◽  
Franck Courchamp ◽  
Lucas Del Bianco Faria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Economic Sectors

Biological invasions are one of the leading causes of global environmental change and their impacts can affect biodiversity, ecosystem services, human health and the economy. Yet, the understanding on the impacts of invasive alien species is still limited and mostly related to alien species outbreaks and losses in agricultural yield, followed by the understanding of the ecological impacts on natural systems. Notably, the economic impacts of biological invasions have rarely been quantified. Brazil has at least 1214 known alien species from which 460 are recognized as invasive alien species. Still, there are no comprehensive estimates of the cost of their impact and management. Here, we aimed at filling this gap by providing a comprehensive estimate of the economic cost of biological invasions in Brazil. In order to quantify these costs for species, ecosystems and human well-being we used the InvaCost database which is the first global compilation of the economic costs of biological invasions. We found that Brazil reportedly spent a minimum of USD 105.53 billions over 35 years (1984–2019), with an average spent of USD 3.02 (± 9.8) billions per year. Furthermore, USD 104.33 billion were due to damages and losses caused by invaders, whereas only USD 1.19 billion were invested in their management (prevention, control or eradication). We also found that recorded costs were unevenly distributed across ecosystems, and socio-economic sectors, and were rarely evaluated and published. We found that the economic costs with losses and damages were substantially greater than those used for prevention, control or eradication of IAS. Since our data show costs reported in Brazil for only 16 invasive alien species, our estimates are likely a conservative minimum of the actual economic costs of biological invasions in Brazil. Taken together, they indicate that invasive alien species are an important cause of economic losses and that Brazil has mostly opted for paying for the damage incurred by biological invasions rather than investing in preventing them from happening.

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