The EICAT+ framework enables classification of positive impacts of alien taxa on native biodiversity

0563012 - BÚ 2023 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Vimercati, G. - Probert, A. F. - Volery, L. - Bernardo-Madrid, R. - Bertolino, S. - Céspedes, V. - Essl, F. - Evans, T. - Gallardo, B. - Gallien, L. - González-Moreno, P. - Grange, M. C. - Hui, C. - Jeschke, J.M. - Katsanevakis, S. - Kühn, I. - Kumschick, S. - Pergl, Jan - Pyšek, Petr - Rieseberg, L. - Robinson, T. B. - Saul, W.-C. - Sorte, C. J. B. - Vila, M. - Wilson, J. R. U. - Bacher, S.
The EICAT+ framework enables classification of positive impacts of alien taxa on native biodiversity.
PLOS Biology. Roč. 20, č. 8 (2022), č. článku e3001729. ISSN 1544-9173. E-ISSN 1545-7885
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GX19-28807X; GA TA ČR(CZ) SS02030018
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : biological invasions * positive impacts * scoring
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 9.8, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001729

Species introduced through human-related activities beyond their native range, termed alien species, have various impacts worldwide. The IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) is a global standard to assess negative impacts of alien species on native biodiversity. Alien species can also positively affect biodiversity (for instance, through food and habitat provisioning or dispersal facilitation) but there is currently no standardized and evidence-based system to classify positive impacts. We fill this gap by proposing EICAT+, which uses 5 semiquantitative scenarios to categorize the magnitude of positive impacts, and describes underlying mechanisms. EICAT+ can be applied to all alien taxa at different spatial and organizational scales. The application of EICAT+ expands our understanding of the consequences of biological invasions and can inform conservation decisions.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0337123