The Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (GRIIS) presents validated and verified national checklists of introduced (alien) and invasive alien species at the country, territory, and associated island level. Checklists are living entities, especially for biological invasions given the growing nature of the problem. GRIIS checklists are based on a published methodology and supported by the Integrated Publishing Tool that jointly enable ongoing improvements and updates to expand their taxonomic coverage and completeness. Phase 1 of the project focused on developing validated and verified checklists of countries that are Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Phase 2 aimed to achieve global coverage including non-party countries and all overseas territories of countries, e.g. those of the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom. All kingdoms of organisms occurring in all environments and systems are covered. Checklists are reviewed and verified by networks of country or species experts. Verified checklists/ species records, as well as those under review, are presented on the online GRIIS website (www.griis.org) in addition to being published through the GBIF Integrated Publishing Tool.
Abstract Morphological characters were compared between smolts (standard length 110–220 mm) of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., anadromous brown trout Salmo trutta L. and their hybrids captured in River Driva, western Norway. Morphological discrimination between S. salar, S. trutta and their hybrids was correct for 93% of the individuals (correct form was determined genetically). Morphological discrimination of hybrids was incorrect with 9.1% ( n = 7) classified as S. salar and 1.3% ( n = 1) as S. trutta, suggesting that the hybrids were morphologically more similar to S. salar than S. trutta despite a bias towards S. trutta mothers (7 of 8 cases). The largest morphological differences were found in head (notably maxilla length) and caudal peduncle morphology. Hybrids between S. salar and S. trutta had the longest pectoral and pelvic fins. This indicates that precise discrimination based on morphological traits can be made between S. salar, S. trutta and their hybrids.
Chemical eradication of non-native species has become a widely used method to mitigate the potential negative impacts of altered competitive or predatory dynamics on biodiversity and natural ecosystem processes. However, the responses of non-target species can vary from rapid full recovery to delayed or absent recolonization, and little is known about the potential shifts in resource use and trophic diversity of native species following chemical treatments. We used a before-after-control-impact approach to study the effects of rotenone piscicide treatment on abundance and trophic niche of benthic invertebrates in three untreated and three treated lakes in central Norway, the latter group hosting non-native roach (Rutilus rutilus) and pike (Esox lucius) prior to rotenone treatment. Based on community composition data, the relative abundance of invertebrate predators increased while that of grazers decreased following fish removal in the treated lakes. The stable isotope data indicated minor shifts in resource use of, and trophic diversity among, benthic invertebrate communities. While the predatory dragonfly larvae (Odonata) and grazer snails (Lymnaeidae) showed increased δ13C values indicating increased reliance on littoral benthic algae, the gatherer-collector mayfly larvae (Leptophlebia) showed decreased δ13C values following fish removal in treated lakes. Grazer snails also showed a shift to a lower trophic position, while the predatory dragonflies and gatherer-collector mayflies showed no changes in δ15N values following fish removal. The community-level isotopic niches of benthic invertebrates showed no consistent changes, although the sample-size corrected and Bayesian estimates of standard ellipse areas (SEAC and SEAB) slightly increased in treated Lianvatnet and Theisendammen due to an increased range in δ15N. In conclusion, our study findings indicate some changes in species assemblages but minor shifts in the resource use and trophic diversity of benthic invertebrate communities following fish removal in rotenone treated lakes.
