Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The Global Organism Detection and Monitoring system (GODM) of the US
National Institute of Invasive Species Science (NIISS,
http://www.niiss.org),
and the International Nonindigenous Species Database Network (NISbase,
http://www.nisbase.org)
include global information and CAB International
(
http://www.cabi.org)
launched the fi rst phase of their Invasive Species
Compendium in 2008. Regional information systems include Delivering Alien
Invasive Species Inventories for Europe (DAISIE,
http://www.europe-aliens.org)
and I3N, the invasive species thematic network of the Inter-American Biodiversity
Information Network (IABIN,
http://i3n.iabin.net/).
All of these databases provide data free to the public, but have limited access to
those contributing to the system to ensure data quality. Websites such as these are
a great benefi t to early detection and rapid assessment. h ey have the potential
to form a global network of information on all harmful invasive plants, animals,
and pathogens (especially if geographic information gaps are addressed and if they
become providers of data to the GISIN). Here we specifi cally outline the compo-
nents and potential uses of the GODM system to illustrate how databases can be
used in EDRA. All of these components may not be available in each system but
they all represent great future potential.
User ID/tracking:
•
this fi rst step involves users that may contribute data reg-
istering with the website and entering contact information that includes their
name, email address, location, and level of expertise (specifi cally regarding the
information about to be entered). This is important so that the information
entered can be tracked to its source and checked for reliability.
Verify records and 'fi rst alert
•
': only a limited number of well-trained users
and coordinators may enter data into the system. The user may wish to
exclude suspect data in analyses, mapping, and modelling by selecting data
that is confi dently identifi ed. Location data are matched with other known
reported locations and modelled distributions—this step allows for detection
of novel, urgent species establishments in new habitats, ecosystems, counties,
or states. After taxonomic identifi cations are verifi ed, novel/urgent observa-
tions of occurrences can be sent to offi cials or agencies responsible for sending
specifi c alerts.
Taking in new information:
•
new records are systematically added. Metadata
need to accompany all data. Ancillary data (e.g. soil texture, land use charac-
teristics, etc.) should be available for any data points collected in the fi eld. All
data are screened for quality (measures within acceptable ranges), stamped
with a 'certainty-level', and then served on the Internet for public consump-
tion or download.
Rapid assessment, data synergy, invasive species forecasting system:
•
this
point illustrates the real power of having multiple databases on the Internet.
Datasets from one database can be linked with datasets from other inventory
and monitoring programmes to map the current distribution and abundance
of a target species or multiple species. Simple, 'fi rst approximation maps'
