Marine Biological Invasions

Philippe Goulletquer is deputy scientific director of Ifremer and a member of the institute’s Delegation for Ethics and Scientific Integrity. His expertise in the field of biological invasions has led him to join various international expert groups (ICES, US National Academy of Sciences [NAS]) and to take part in the editorial boards of specialized scientific journals (Aquatic Invasions, BioInvasions Records).

• Introduction: Are terrestrial invasive species getting all the media attention?What do we know about biological invasions? What do we mean by ‘invasive species’? How does a biological invasion take place? Why should we care about invasive alien species? What is the situation in mainland France and the French overseas territories?How are exotic marine species introduced? A historical perspective on species introductions Current introduction vectors Current routes of introductionWhat are the impacts of biological invasions? Characteristics and methods of impact assessment Case studies Importance of the ecosystem approach and analysesHow can we manage biological invasions? Voluntary introductions Unintentional or accidental introductions Prevention and regulatory measures Surveillance of entry routes Raising public awareness of biological invasions Once an invasive species is established what means can be used for its control? How can marine invasive species be successfully eradicated? Some cases of eradicationHow can research and expertise contribute? Assessing risks Improving the detection of invasive alien species Assessing the risks and impacts following an introduction What are the expectations for research in the short and medium term?Conclusion. Invasive marine species: what does the future hold?References

A readable call for attention of an important element of global change.