Abstract
Given the large number of alien species that may potentially develop into invasives, there is a clear need for robust schemes that allow to screen species for such risks. The Harmonia + framework presented here brings together 30 questions that refer to distinct components of invasion. Together, they cover the stages of introduction, establishment, spread, and multiple kinds of impacts, viz. referring to the health of the environment (including wild species), cultivated plants, domesticated animals and man. In a complete assessment, input is provided by choosing among predefined ordinal answers and by supplementing these with textual clarification. Uncertainty is covered by indicating levels of confidence. By converting answers into scores, which are then condensed into summary statistics, Harmonia + allows for quantitative output on stage-specific and general risks. Test assessments on five species emerging in Belgium showed the perceived environmental risks of Procambarus clarkii to be highest (0.72), and that of Threskiornis aethiopicus to be lowest (0.13). Given the considerable parallels that exist between invasive alien species and emerging infectious diseases, we additionally created Pandora, which is a risk analysis scheme for pathogens and parasites. It consists of 13 key questions and has the same structure as Harmonia +. Since diseases play a paramount role in biological invasions, results of Pandora assessments may feed into Harmonia + through a slightly adapted, host-specific version named Pandora +. Harmonia +, Pandora and Pandora + may be used both for prioritization purposes and for underpinning detailed risk analyses, and can be consulted online through http://ias.biodiversity.be.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adriaens T, Devisscher S, Louette G (2013) Risk analysis of American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus—risk analysis report of non-native organisms in Belgium. Rapporten van het Instituut voor Natuur-en Bosonderzoek (INBO) 2013, INBO.R.2013.41. INBO, Brussels
Baiwy E, Schockert V, Branquart E (2013) Risk analysis of the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides—risk analysis report of non-native organisms in Belgium. Cellule interdépartementale sur les Espèces invasives (CiEi), DGO3, SPW/Editions, Gembloux
Baker R, Black R, Copp GH et al (2008) The UK risk assessment scheme for all non-native species. In: Rabitsch W, Essl F, Klingenstein F (eds) Biological Invasions—from Ecology to Conservation Neobiota 7. Technische Universität, Berlin, pp 46–57
Belgian Biodiversity Platform (2014a) Harmonia, an information system on alien species threatening native biodiversity in Belgium and in neighbour areas. http://ias.biodiversity.be. Accessed November 2014
Belgian Biodiversity Platform (2014b) Harmonia +, Pandora and Pandora +, online risk screening tools for potentially invasive plants, animals and their pathogens. http://ias.biodiversity.be. Accessed November 2014
Blackburn TM, Pysek P, Bacher S et al (2011) A proposed unified framework for biological invasions. Trends Ecol Evol 26:333–339
Blackburn TM, Essl F, Evans T et al (2014) A unified classification of alien species based on the magnitude of their environmental impacts. PLoS Biol 12:e1001850
Branquart E (2007) Guidelines for environmental impact assessment and list classification of non-native organisms in Belgium. Version 2.1. Belgian Biodiversity Platform, Brussels
Caffrey JM, Baars J-R, Barbour JH et al (2014) Tackling invasive alien species in Europe: the top 20 issues. Manag Biol Invasions 5:1–20
Cardoen S, Van Huffel X, Berkvens D et al (2009) Evidence-based semiquantitative methodology for prioritization of foodborne zoonoses. Foodborne Pathog Dis 6:1083–1096
Commission European (2014) Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. Off J Eur Union 57(L317):35–55
COP (2002) Alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species. Decision VI/23 of the conference of the parties to the convention on biological diversity. Document reference: UNEP/CBD/COP/6/23
Copp GH, Russell IC, Peeler EJ et al (in press) European non-native species in aquaculture risk analysis scheme—a summary of assessment protocols and decision support tools for use of alien species in aquaculture. Fisheries Manag Ecol. doi:10.1111/fme.12074
Daehler CC, Virtue JG (2010) Likelihood and consequences: reframing the Australian weed risk assessment to reflect a standard model of risk. Plant Prot Q 25:52–55
Delsinne T, Lafontaine R-M, Beudels RC et al (2013) Risk analysis of the Louisiana crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852)—risk analysis report of non-native organisms in Belgium. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels
Dufour B, Plée L, Moutou F et al (2011) A qualitative risk assessment methodology for scientific expert panels. Rev Sci Tech OiE 30:673–681
Dunn A, Perkins S (2012) Invasions and infections. Funct Ecol 26:1234–1237
Essl F, Nehring S, Klingenstein F, Milasowszky N, Nowack C, Rabitsch W (2011) Review of risk assessment systems of IAS in Europe and introducing the German–Austrian Black List Information System (GABLIS). J Nat Conserv 19:339–350
European Environment Agency (2012) The impacts of invasive alien species in Europe—European environment agency technical report no 16/2012. EEA, Copenhagen
FAO (2006) International standards for phytosanitary measures. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome
Gederaas L, Salvesen I, Viken A (2007) Norsk svarteliste 2007: økologiske risikovurderinger av fremmede arter. Artsdatabanken
Gordon DR, Mitterdorfer B, Pheloun PC et al (2010) Guidance for addressing the Australian weed risk assessment questions. Plant Prot Q 25:56–74
Gyimesi A, Lensink R (2010) Risk analysis of the Egyptian goose in the Netherlands. Bureau Waardenburg bv, Nijmegen and Delft
Havelaar AH, van Rosse F, Bucura C et al (2010) Prioritizing emerging zoonoses in The Netherlands. PLos One 5(11):e13965
Heikkilä J (2011) A review of risk prioritisation schemes of pathogens, pests and weeds: principles and practices. Agric Food Sci 20:15–28
Holt J, Black R, Abdallah R (2006) A rigorous yet simple quantitative risk assessment method for quarantine pests and non-native organisms. Ann Appl Biol 149:167–173
Hughes G (2008) Notes on the mathematical basis of the UK non-native organism risk assessment scheme. arXiv:0808.3873
Hulme PE, Pysek P, Nentwig W et al (2009) Will threat of biological invasions unite the European Union? Science 324:40–41
Keller RP, Lodge DM, Finnoff DC (2007) Risk assessment for invasive species produces net bioeconomic benefits. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:203–207
Kettunen M, Genovesi P, Gollasch S et al (2008) Technical support to EU strategy on invasive species (IAS)—assessment of the impacts of IAS in Europe and the EU (final module report for the European Commission). Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), Brussels
Kinney GF, Wiruth AD (1976) Practical risk analysis for safety management. Naval Weapons Center, California
Krause G (2008) How can infectious diseases be prioritized in public health? EMBO Rep 9:S22–S27
Kumschick S, Richardson D (2013) Species-based risk assessments for biological invasions: advances and challenges. Divers Distrib 19:1095–1105
Leung B, Roura-Pascual N, Bacher S et al (2012) TEASIng apart alien species risk assessments: a framework for best practices. Ecol Lett 15:1475–1493
Mastrandrea MD, Mach KJ, Plattner GK et al (2011) The IPCC AR5 guidance note on consistent treatment of uncertainties: a common approach across the working groups. Clim Change 108:675–691
Nentwig W, Kühnel E, Bacher S (2010) A generic impact-scoring system applied to alien mammals in Europe. Cons Biol 24:302–311
OIE (2013) Terrestrial animal health code. World Organisation for Animal Health, Paris
Pigliucci M, Boudry M (2014) Prove it! The burden of proof game in science vs. pseudoscience disputes. Philosophia 42:487–502
Pimentel D, McNair S, Janecka J et al (2001) Economic and environmental threats of alien plant, animal, and microbe invasions. Agric Ecosyst Environ 84:1–20
Randall JM, Morse LE, Benton N et al (2008) The invasive species assessment protocol: a tool for creating regional and national lists of invasive nonnative plants that negatively impact biodiversity. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 1:36–49
Ries C, Krippel Y, Pfeiffenschneider M et al (2013) Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull Soc Nat Luxemb 114:15–21
Robert H, Lafontaine R-M, Delsinne T et al (2013) Risk analysis of the sacred ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus (Latham 1790)—risk analysis report of non-native organisms in Belgium. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences for the Federal Public Service Health, Food chain safety and Environment, Brussels
Roy HE, Baverstock J, Ware RL et al (2008) Intraguild predation of the aphid pathogenic fungus Pandora neoaphidis by the invasive coccinellid Harmonia axyridis. Ecol Entomol 33:175–182
Roy HE, Peyton J, Aldridge DC et al (2014a) Horizon scanning for invasive alien species with the potential to threaten biodiversity in Great Britain. Glob Change Biol 20:3859-3871
Roy HE, Schonrogge K, Dean H et al (2014b) Invasive alien species: a framework for the identification of invasive alien species of EU concern. Report to the European commission ENV.B.2/ETU/2013/0026, p 298
Sandvik H, Saether B-E, Holmern T et al (2013) Generic ecological impact assessments of alien species in Norway: a semi-quantitative set of criteria. Biodivers Conserv 22:37–62
GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (2014) GB non-native organism risk assessments. http://www.nonnativespecies.org. Accessed November 2014
Simberloff D, Martin J-L, Genovesi P et al (2013) Impacts of biological invasions: what’s what and the way forward. Trends Ecol Evol 28:58–66
Strubbe D, Shwartz A, Chiron F (2011) Concerns regarding the scientific evidence informing impact risk assessment and management recommendations for invasive birds. Biol Conserv 144:2112–2118
Taylor L, Latham S, Woolhouse M (2001) Risk factors for human disease emergence. Philos Trans R Soc B 356:983–989
van de Koppel S, van Kessel N, Crombaghs BHJM et al (2012) Risk analysis of the asp viper (Vipera aspis) in The Netherlands. ReptielenZoo SERPO, Radboud University, Nijmegen and Delft, Natuurbalans-Limes Divergens BV
van der Weijden W, Leewis R, Bol P (2007) Biological globalisation: bio-invasions and their impacts on nature, the economy and public health. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht
Vanderhoeven S (2013) Risk analysis of Ludwigia grandiflora—risk analysis report of non-native organisms in Belgium. Cellule interdépartementale sur les Espèces invasives (CiEi), DGO3, SPW/Editions, Gembloux doi:10.13140/2.1.1849.4407
Verbrugge LNH, Leuven RSEW, van der Velde G (2010) Evaluation of international risk assessment protocols for exotic species. Radboud University, Nijmegen
Young JC, Waylen KA, Sarkki S et al (2014) Improving the science-policy dialogue to meet the challenges of biodiversity conservation: having conversations rather than talking at one-another. Biodivers Conserv 23:387–404
Acknowledgments
We wish to sincerely thank all members of the risk analysis panel, scientific panel and end-user committee for their help in realizing Harmonia +/Pandora (+). This work was funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO contract SD/CL/011).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
D’hondt, B., Vanderhoeven, S., Roelandt, S. et al. Harmonia + and Pandora +: risk screening tools for potentially invasive plants, animals and their pathogens. Biol Invasions 17, 1869–1883 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-015-0843-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-015-0843-1