TDWG I3N Database and Tools to Prevent Biological Invasions Joel Rotunda Lionfish

Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network GEF grant-funded project with 34 member countries Promote access to information useful to decision makers to improve biodiversity conservation Improve regional cooperation for biodiversity management through sharing of experience and expertise Helps members address critical issues at a regional level Five Networks –Ecosystems –Invasive Species –Pollinators –Protected Areas –Species and Specimens

The I3N and Participants 19 active countries Focal Points in each country Capacity building through grants and training for sharing data Provides informatics tools, training on tool use, and direct online access to standardized IAS data Coordinated by the US Geological Survey (USGS)/NBII.

19 governments supporting national I3N leads BioNET Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) GEKKO/Universidad del Sur (Argentina) Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) –(Denmark, Argentina, Great Britain, Malaysia, China, Morocco, Zambia, New Zealand, Germany, USA) Guyra Paraguay (Paraguay) InBio (Costa Rica) Institute of Jamaica (Jamaica) The CBD “… welcomes the ‘I3N’ … and calls on the Global Environment Facility, Parties, Governments, and relevant organizations to support and participate in these initiatives” (Decision VI/23) Collaboration/Support Instituto Horus, CRIA (Brazil) Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) –Global Invasive Species Database (New Zealand) National Biological Information Infrastructure, U.S. Geological Survey, USAID, US State Department (USA) NatureServe TNC South America Invasive Species Program

Tools for creating/exporting/displaying standardized databases –invasive species lists, characteristics, experts, projects, bibliography Information standards and guidance Bilingual search tool for national inventories –Cross-country search and display Internet hosting of national inventories and publications at no charge Content-rich bilingual web site Listserv Concepts/informatics training module –Spanish, English, Portuguese Tools and Services

Develop standard IAS data in each country –species profiles, impact, locations, control, datasets, references, projects, experts Enable countries to organize their information Offer a tool for national IAS activities that facilitates collaboration and makes information accessible to managers Facilitate IAS information exchange among countries Tools Objectives

Country Invasives Database Training workshop module Content building grants Will be developing outreach toolkit Capacity building Water Hyacinth V. Dalke

Microsoft Access 2000 or Web interface (templates for countries), being redesigned open source. Spanish, Portuguese, and English versions Detailed tri-lingual user manuals Controlled vocabulary (GISIN, GISD) Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) as taxonomic authority Dublin Core Metadata Standard XML export function for exporting data to other databases Add Marine fields and terminology Database Characteristics © Finding Species

I3N Database

Introduction Tab (Edit Mode) Cause, place and date of introduction References and description There may be several introduction records for one species

Characteristics Tab (Edit Mode)

Species Characteristics  Dispersal  Pathways  Vectors  Diet  Reproduction  Biological form  Economic use and description  Habitats invaded  Invasion in other countries Sea Lamprey M. Theklan

Impacts Tab (Edit Mode) On other species Ecological impacts Economic impacts Social/cultural impacts Impacts on health

Control Tab (Edit Mode) Mechanical control Chemical control Biological control Prevention measures Risk assessment information

Occurrence Tab (Edit Mode)

Contacts Tab (Edit Mode)

Species Tab (Block mode) Possible reports Species list for an area Profile (description) for a species XML reports that are machine readable for sharing across the Web

Species Fact Sheet

Information Input and Sharing The online database system contains three main utilities: 1- A web portal - public 2- An intranet system 3- An administration level Perna viridis Photo courtesy of Dayne Buddo

Searching Search using one or more criteria: Species: Scientific name Common name Type and cause of introduction Place of introduction Means of propagation Pathways Vectors Diet Reproduction Habit State/province (occurrences), municipality (occurrences) And other options. House Sparrow M. Patterson

Risk Analysis and Pathways Prevention Tool Supports prevention, early detection, and control Based on 28 criteria in 3 categories Uses I3N controlled vocabulary Enables governments to determine management priorities based on I3N data Results can be used in national IAS strategies, reports and policy development

I3N Coordinator –Christine Fournier I3N Tools Representatives –Silvia Ziller –Sergio I3N-US Lead Annie Simpson Purple Loosestrife J. Forman Orth