The Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity recognises that addressing non-native species is one of six principal actions needed to bend the curve in freshwater biodiversity loss. This is because introduction rates of non-native species continue to accelerate globally and, where these species develop invasive populations, they can have severe impacts on freshwater biodiversity. The most effective management measure to protect freshwater biodiversity is to prevent introductions of non-native species. Should a non-native species be introduced, however, then its early detection and the implementation of rapid reaction measures can avoid it establishing and dispersing. If these measures are unsuccessful and the species becomes invasive then control and containment measures can minimise its further spread and impact. Minimizing further spread and impact includes control methods to reduce invader abundance and containment methods such as screening of invaded sites and strict biosecurity to avoid the invader dispersing to neighbouring basins. These management actions have benefitted from developments in invasion risk assessment that can prioritise species according to their invasion risk and, for species already invasive, ensure that management actions are commensurate with assessed risk. The successful management of freshwater non-native species still requires the overcoming of some implementation challenges, including non-native species often being a symptom of degraded habitats rather than the main driver of ecological change, and eradication methods often being non-species specific. Given the multiple anthropogenic stressors in freshwaters, non-native species management must work with other restoration strategies if it is to deliver the Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity.
Introduced alien species bring potential adverse impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. International shipping is an important vector for such unintentional introductions in aquatic environments. Therefore, in addition to climate change and eutrophication, increasing international shipping may enhance the spread of alien species into areas which have not previously been considered prone to alien invasions. One example of such development might be the recent invasion of the moss animal Pectinatella magnifica into Finnish inland waters, which are generally considered to be hostile to alien species. We took advantage of observations made by the general public and recorded by environmental authorities to describe the invasion history of the species in Finland. The records of P. magnifica were almost exclusively from the Vuoksi watercourse, where the species was most likely introduced by international shipping ca 10-15 years ago. The species occurred mainly in the vicinity of ports of international shipping, but was also abundant in an area with only domestic cargo transport. Only one confirmed observation in Lake Kirkkojärvi was from outside the Vuoksi watercourse. Most colonies were found attached to landing stages or submerged, relatively rigid water plants, and the species seemed to avoid less rigid water plants, such as water lilies. Once established, the species may spread by vectors such as recreational boating or water birds and fish. The species poses some risks to the ecosystem, including a risk to farmed and wild salmonid fish by serving as a potential host for the myxozoan endoparasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, the causative agent for proliferative kidney disease (PKD), known to be detrimental for salmonid fish.
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