Dužinsko-maseni odnos za 9 komercijalnih vrsta riba iz sjevernog Egejskog mora

Length-weight relationships are presented for 9 commercial fish species from Psara Island (North Aegean Sea). The species studied are Boops boops, Dentex maroccanus, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Merluccius merluccius, Mullus surmuletus, Pagrus pagrus, Raja clavata, Scyliorhinus canicula and Trachurus picturatus. To our knowledge, there are no published data on the fish stocks of the study area. Estimates of LWR parameters are provided for Dentex maroccanus, Trachurus picturatus and Helicolenus dactylopterus, for which reliable LWR datasets are few in the literature, while none has been published for the Greek seas. The samples were collected from the continental shelf and the upper slope, by using non-selective fishing gear (with a research vessel and a commercial bottom trawler), during two seasonal sampling periods: November 2009 and May 2010. The growth pattern of Boops boops and Scyliorhinus canicula was found to be positive allometric, whereas an isometric growth pattern was determined for the other species in the study. We hope that the LWR obtained here will be used in future fisheries management or conservation research in the study area, for example, to convert lengths to weights, determine fish condition and assess spatial or temporal variability in fish growth.Prikazani su dužinsko-maseni odnosi za 9 komercijalnih vrsta riba s otoka Psara (sjever Egejskog mora). Istraživane vrste su bukva (Boops boops), marokanski zubatac Dentex maroccanus, bodečnjak veliki (Helicolenus dactylopterus), oslić (Merluccius merluccius), trlja kamenjarka (Mullus surmuletus), pagar (Pagrus pagrus), raža kamenica (Raja clavata), mačka bljedica (Scyliorhinus canicula) i šarun golemi (Trachurus picturatus). Prema saznanjima, nema objavljenih podataka o ribljem fondu ovog istraživanog područja. Procjena parametara dužinsko-masenog odnosa (LWR) iznesena je za zubaca Dentex maroccanus, šaruna golemog (Trachurus picturatus) i bodečnjaka velikog (Helicolenus dactylopterus), za koje u literaturi postoje malobrojni pouzdani podaci o dužinsko-masenom odnosu, dok nema nikakvih objavljenih podataka za mora oko Grčke. Uzorci su prikupljani iz epikontinentalnog pojasa i gornjeg nagiba koristeći neselektivne ribolovne alate (istraživačko plovilo i komercijalna pridnena koćarica) tijekom dva sezonska razdoblje uzorkovanja u studenom 2009. i svibnju 2010. godine. Rast bukve i mačke bljedice alometrijski je pozitivan, dok je izometrični uzorak rasta uočen kod drugih istraživanih vrsta. Smatra se da će dužinsko-maseni odnos koji je ovdje uočen biti ubuduće korišten prilikom upravljanja ribarstvom ili prilikom konverzacijskih istraživanja u istraživanom području, primjerice pretvorbom dužine u širinu, određivanja stanja ribe i procjene prostornih i vremenskih varijabilnosti u rastu riba

Advancing marine conservation in European and contiguous seas with the MarCons Action

Cumulative human impacts have led to the degradation of marine ecosystems and the decline of biodiversity in the European and contiguous seas. Effective conservation measures are urgently needed to reverse these trends. Conservation must entail societal choices, underpinned by human values and worldviews that differ between the countries bordering these seas. Social, economic and political heterogeneity adds to the challenge of balancing conservation with sustainable use of the seas. Comprehensive macro-regional coordination is needed to ensure effective conservation of marine ecosystems and biodiversity of this region. Under the European Union Horizon 2020 framework programme, the MarCons COST action aims to promote collaborative research to support marine management, conservation planning and policy development. This will be achieved by developing novel methods and tools to close knowledge gaps and advance marine conservation science. This action will provide support for the development of macro-regional and national policies through six key actions: to develop tools to analyse cumulative human impacts; to identify critical scientific and technical gaps in conservation efforts; to improve the resilience of the marine environment to global change and biological invasions; to develop frameworks for integrated conservation planning across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments; to coordinate marine conservation policy across national boundaries; and to identify effective governance approaches for marine protected area management. Achieving the objectives of these actions will facilitate the integration of marine conservation policy into macro-regional maritime spatial planning agendas for the European and contiguous seas, thereby offsetting the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in this region

Biodiversity patterns in the coastal wetlands of Kalloni solar saltworks (Lesvos island, Greece)

Τhe state of knowledge in the community ecology of solar saltworks is not satisfactory, especially regarding macrobenthic invertebrates. Ecological studies of the solar saltworks of Greece in particular are very few and fragmentary. Even though the thesis concerns primarily solar saltworks, the theoretical framework, the research questions and the methodological approach are derived from the ecological research of coastal lagoons. The latter have many characteristics in common with solar saltworks, the most important being the strong influence of the sea.The thesis focuses on the description and explanation of the patterns of organization of the communities of macrobenthic invertebrates – with emphasis in the molluscs – and, secondarily, of phytoplankton, along the sea-land environmental gradient in the low salinity ponds of Kalloni solar saltworks. Regarding the relevant ecological processes, emphasis is put in the evaluation of the predictions of confinement theory and the influence of the loads of new inorganic nutrients that enter the saltworks from the productive Kalloni Gulf. The thesis also focuses on the structural and functional characteristics of the transitional zone between the habitat of the low salinity ponds and the adjacent marine habitat. The interactions between the patterns of organization of the communities of macrobenthic invertebrates and ecological processes are also examined at a regional scale of observation, by a comparative study of Kalloni saltworks and Margherita di Savoia saltworks (Italy). The research of the thesis was conducted at a seasonal temporal scale of observation, except from the study of the abiotic environment, which was carried out at monthly intervals. A transect-based sampling design was chosen , with sampling stations spaced along the sea-land environmental gradient. One end of the transect was at N. Kalloni Gulf and the other end was at the last low salinity ponds of the saltworks. The statistical analysis of the biotic data of the thesis was carried out by employing techniques of biological diversity measurement and gradient analysis techniques.A total of 95 taxa of macrobenthic invertebrates were identified. The main taxonomic groups were Mollusca, Polychaeta and Crustacea. 34 of the molluscan species found are first-time citations for Lesvos Island and the NE Aegean Sea. Species richness of macrobenthic molluscs in Kalloni Saltworks (33 species in the ponds only) is deemed significant.It was found that the macrobenthic molluscan communities in Kalloni saltworks form a coenocline along the sea-land environmental gradient. In this coenocline, with increasing distance from the sea, marine species of the SFHN biocoenosis type were gradually replaced by typical lagoonal species of the LEE biocoenosis type. Species of the SVMC biocoenosis type were found along the entire environmental gradient. Numerically, the dominant trophic type were the herbivores. The suspension feeders and the surface deposit feeders were numerically important at the Kalloni Gulf site, but their biomass was significant only at the ponds.Generally, the patterns of species distribution and spatial variations in diversity, numerical abundance and biomass of the macrobenthic molluscs support the hypothesis that the biotic gradient in Kalloni saltworks is primarily determined by a confinement gradient. The theory of confinement predicts that the stress gradient of confinement determines a particular zonal pattern of organization of the communities of macrobenthic invertebrates in coastal lagoons. The zones of confinement that were recognized in the study area were zone II (Kalloni Gulf site), zone III (inlet channel) and IV-V (ponds). However, the zonal pattern was fuzzy and there were seasonal shifts of the zones, attributable to the seasonal variability of the abiotic environment.Citations about the existence of important ecotones in coastal lagoons are very few in the literature. It was found that an ecotone exists in the study area, which separates the marine (Kalloni Gulf) from the lagoonal (ponds) habitat patch. This ecotone is located at the inlet channel and there is a characteristic ecotonal population of the gastropod Bittium reticulatum was identified. High concentrations of inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton biomass were measured at the ecotone. Pertaining to the communities of macrobenthic molluscs, species richness was intermediate and dominance was at its maximum at the ecotone. Moreover, the very high numerical abundance of the large body sized Bittium reticulatum at the ecotone correspond to a maximum of productivity of the community of the macrobenthic molluscs. This productivity maximum can be attributed to a combination of a strong marine influence and an abundance of food resources at the ecotone. It is also inferred that zone III of confinement corresponds to an ecotone in Kalloni saltworks and is thus not homologous to zones II and IV-V, which correspond to different habitat patches.Significant differences were found regarding the abiotic environment and the taxonomic composition of the communities of macrobenthic invertebrates between Margherita di Savoia saltworks and Kalloni saltworks. At a local level of organization, the biotic gradient was determined primarily by the confinement gradient in both saltworks. However, at a regional level of organization, the results support the hypothesis that biotic processes play significant roles. The inferred biotic processes involved were the differentiation of the regional species pools and the stochasticity of the colonization-extinction processes cycle in coastal lagoons.74 phytoplankton taxa were recorded and the main classes were Dinophyceae and Bacillariophyceae. Many of the dominant species in the ponds are typical of estuaries and coastal lagoons. Blooms of species that are bioindicators of eutrophication were recorded. The variations in composition and biomass of phytoplankton were associated with the patterns of inflow of new inorganic nutrients from the productive Kalloni Gulf, as well as to the inorganic nutrients assimilation-regeneration processes cycle that takes place between the water column and bottom sediment of the ponds. The continuous inflow of new inorganic nutrients from the productive Kalloni Gulf intensifies the high productivity of Kalloni saltworks, complicating their management as an enterprise, as well as their conservation as one of the most important coastal wetlands in Greece.Η κατάσταση της γνώσης της οικολογίας των βιοκοινοτήτων των αλυκών κρίνεται γενικά μη ικανοποιητική, ιδιαίτερα σε ότι αφορά στα μακροβενθικά ασπόνδυλα. Ειδικότερα στον Ελληνικό χώρο, οι οικολογικές μελέτες των αλυκών είναι ελάχιστες και αποσπασματικές. Aν και η έρευνα που πραγματοποιήθηκε στη διδακτορική διατριβή αφορά καταρχήν στα οικοσυστήματα των αλυκών, το θεωρητικό υπόβαθρο, τα ερευνητικά ερωτήματα και η μεθοδολογική προσέγγιση αντλήθηκαν από την οικολογική έρευνα των λιμνοθαλασσών, με τις οποίες οι αλυκές παρουσιάζουν κοινά χαρακτηριστικά, με βασικότερο την έντονη επίδραση της θάλασσας.Η διδακτορική διατριβή εστιάζει στην περιγραφή και ερμηνεία των προτύπων οργάνωσης των βιοκοινοτήτων των μακροβενθικών ασπονδύλων - με έμφαση στα μαλάκια - και, δευτερευόντως, του φυτοπλαγκτού, κατά μήκος της περιβαλλοντικής διαβάθμισης θάλασσα-ξηρά στο τμήμα χαμηλής αλατότητας των αλυκών Καλλονής Λέσβου. Σε ότι αφορά στις εμπλεκόμενες οικολογικές διεργασίες, δίνεται ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στο έλεγχο των προβλέψεων της θεωρίας του περιορισμού (confinement) και στην επίδραση των φορτίων των νέων ανόργανων θρεπτικών αλάτων που εισέρχονται στις αλυκές από τον παραγωγικό Κόλπο Καλλονής. Η διδακτορική διατριβή εστιάζει επίσης στα δομικά και λειτουργικά χαρακτηριστικά της μεταβατικής ζώνης που υφίσταται μεταξύ του ενδιαιτήματος των λεκανών των αλυκών και του γειτονικού θαλάσσιου ενδιαιτήματος. Τέλος, οι αλληλεπιδράσεις μεταξύ των προτύπων οργάνωσης των βιοκοινοτήτων των μακροβενθικών ασπονδύλων και οικολογικών διεργασιών εξετάζονται και σε κλίμακα οικοπεριοχής, μέσα από τη συγκριτική μελέτη των αλυκών Καλλονής και των αλυκών Margherita di Savoia (Ιταλία).Η έρευνα της διδακτορικής διατριβής πραγματοποιήθηκε με εποχιακή χρονική κλίμακα παρατήρησης, εκτός από το αβιοτικό περιβάλλον, για την μελέτη του οποίου πραγματοποιήθηκαν μετρήσεις και δειγματοληψίες με μηνιαία συχνότητα. Οι σταθμοί δειγματοληψίας είχαν διάταξη διατομής κατά μήκος της περιβαλλοντικής διαβάθμισης θάλασσα-ξηρά. Η διατομή αυτή ξεκινούσε από το βόρειο άκρο του Κόλπου Καλλονής και κατέληγε στις τελευταίες λεκάνες χαμηλής αλατότητας των αλυκών. Η στατιστική ανάλυση των βιοτικών δεδομένων της διδακτορικής διατριβής πραγματοποιήθηκε κυρίως με εφαρμογή τεχνικών υπολογισμού της βιολογικής ποικιλότητας και τεχνικών ανάλυσης διαβάθμισης.Αναγνωρίστηκαν συνολικά 95 taxa μακροβενθικών ασπονδύλων. Οι κύριες ταξινομικές ομάδες ήταν οι Mollusca, Polychaeta και Crustacea. 34 από τα είδη μαλακίων που αναγνωρίστηκαν αποτελούν πρώτες αναφορές για τη Λέσβο και το ΒΑ. Αιγαίο. Ο πλούτος ειδών των μαλακίων στις αλυκές Καλλονής (33 είδη στις λεκάνες μόνο) κρίνεται ιδιαίτερα σημαντικός.Βρέθηκε πως οι βιοκοινότητες των μακροβενθικών μαλακίων στις αλυκές Καλλονής σχηματίζουν, ως απόκριση στην περιβαλλοντική διαβάθμιση θάλασσα-ξηρά, ένα κοινοκλινές. Στο κοινοκλινές αυτό, αυξανόμενης της απόστασης από τη θάλασσα, θαλάσσια είδη βιοκοινότητας τύπου SFHN αντικαθίστανται βαθμιαία από τυπικά λιμνοθαλάσσια είδη βιοκοινότητας τύπου LEE. Είδη του τύπου βιοκοινότητας SVΜC βρέθηκαν στο σύνολο της περιβαλλοντικής διαβάθμισης. Βρέθηκε πως αριθμητικά, ο κυρίαρχος τροφικός τύπος μαλακίων ήταν τα φυτοφάγα. Τα αιωρηματοφάγα και επιφανειακά ιζηματοφάγα είχαν σημαντικές αριθμητικές αφθονίες στον Κόλπο Καλλονής, ενώ η βιομάζα τους ήταν σημαντική μόνο στις λεκάνες.Γενικά, τα πρότυπα κατανομής των ειδών και των χωρικών μεταβολών της ποικιλότητας, της αφθονίας και της βιομάζας των μακροβενθικών μαλακίων που βρέθηκαν, υποστηρίζουν την υπόθεση πως η βιοτική διαβάθμιση στις αλυκές Καλλονής καθορίζεται πρωταρχικά από τη διαβάθμιση του περιορισμού. Η θεωρία του περιορισμού προβλέπει πως η διαβάθμιση πίεσης του περιορισμού καθορίζει ένα συγκεκριμένο ζωνικό πρότυπο οργάνωσης των βιοκοινοτήτων των μακροβενθικών ασπονδύλων στα λιμνοθαλάσσια οικοσυστήματα. Οι ζώνες περιορισμού που αναγνωρίστηκαν στην περιοχή μελέτης ήταν οι ΙΙ (Κόλπος Καλλονής), ΙΙΙ (κανάλι εισόδου του θαλασσινού νερού στις αλυκές) και IV-V (λεκάνες). Όμως, τo ζωνικό πρότυπο ήταν ασαφές και παρουσίασε εποχιακές μετατοπίσεις κατά μήκος της διατομής των σταθμών δειγματοληψίας, εξαιτίας της εποχιακής μεταβλητότητας του αβιοτικού περιβάλλοντος.Οι αναφορές για την ύπαρξη σημαντικών οικοτόνων στα λιμνοθαλάσσια συστήματα είναι σπάνιες. Βρέθηκε πως στην περιοχή μελέτης υφίσταται ένας οικοτόνος μεταξύ του θαλάσσιου (Κόλπος Καλλονής) και του λιμνοθαλάσσιου ενδιαιτήματος (λεκάνες των αλυκών), με θέση στο κανάλι και με χαρακτηριστικό οικοτονικό πληθυσμό εκείνον του θαλάσσιου γαστερόποδου Bittium reticulatum. Στον οικοτόνο μετρήθηκαν υψηλές συγκεντρώσεις ανόργανων θρεπτικών αλάτων και βιομάζας του φυτοπλαγκτού. Σε ότι αφορά στις βιοκοινότητες των μακροβενθικών μαλακίων, μετρήθηκε ενδιάμεσος πλούτος ειδών και το μέγιστο της κυριαρχίας. Επίσης, οι πολύ υψηλές αφθονίες στον οικοτόνο του Bittium reticulatum, ενός σχετικά μεγάλου σωματικού μεγέθους είδους, συνεπάγονται πως στον οικοτόνο μετρήθηκε το μέγιστο της παραγωγικότητας της βιοκοινότητας των μακροβενθικών μαλακίων. Αυτό το μέγιστο παραγωγικότητας μπορεί να αποδοθεί στο ότι ο οικοτόνος συνδυάζει την επίδραση του θαλάσσιου ενδιαιτήματος με την αφθονία πόρων τροφής του λιμνοθαλάσσιου ενδιαιτήματος. Επίσης, συνάγεται πως η ζώνη περιορισμού ΙΙΙ στις αλυκές Καλλονής αντιστοιχεί σε οικοτόνο και έτσι δεν είναι δομικά και λειτουργικά ομόλογη με τις ζώνες ΙΙ και IV-V, οι οποίες αντιστοιχούν σε περιοχές διαφορετικών ενδιαιτημάτων. Βρέθηκε σημαντική διαφοροποίηση στο αβιοτικό περιβάλλον και στην ταξινομική σύνθεση των βιοκοινοτήτων των μακροβενθικών ασπονδύλων μεταξύ των αλυκών Margherita di Savoia και των αλυκών Καλλονής. Σε τοπικό επίπεδο οργάνωσης, η βιοτική διαβάθμιση και στις δυο αλυκές βρέθηκε πως καθορίζεται πρωταρχικά από τη διαβάθμιση του περιορισμού. Όμως, υποστηρίζεται η υπόθεση πως σε επίπεδο οργάνωσης οικοπεριοχής είναι σημαντικός ο ρόλος βιοτικών διεργασιών, όπως η διαφοροποίηση των περιφερειακών αποθεμάτων ειδών και η στοχαστικότητα των διεργασιών του κύκλου αποίκισης-εξαφάνισης των ειδών των μακροβενθικών ασπονδύλων στις λιμνοθάλασσες.Στην περιοχή μελέτης καταγράφηκαν 74 taxa φυτοπλαγκτού. Οι σημαντικότερες κλάσεις ήταν οι Dinophyceae και Bacillariophyceae. Πολλά από τα κυρίαρχα είδη που βρέθηκαν στις λεκάνες των αλυκών είναι τυπικά είδη υφάλμυρων υδάτων και λιμνοθαλασσών. Καταγράφηκαν πληθυσμιακές εξάρσεις ειδών που είναι δείκτες ευτροφισμού. Οι μεταβολές της σύνθεσης και της βιομάζας του φυτοπλαγκτού συσχετίζονται με τα πρότυπα εισόδου στις αλυκές φορτίων νέων θρεπτικών αλάτων από τον Κόλπο Καλλονής, αλλά και τους κύκλους αφομοίωσης και αναγέννησης των ανόργανων θρεπτικών αλάτων του αζώτου και του φωσφόρου που λαμβάνουν χώρα μεταξύ στήλης νερού και ιζήματος στις λεκάνες των αλυκών. Η συνεχής είσοδος φορτίων νέων θρεπτικών αλάτων από τον παραγωγικό Κόλπο Καλλονής φαίνεται πως συμβάλλει στην υψηλή παραγωγικότητα των αλυκών Καλλονής και προκαλεί προβλήματα στη διαχείριση τους ως παραγωγική μονάδα, καθώς και στη διατήρηση τους ως έναν από τους σημαντικότερους υγρότοπους στον Ελληνικό χώρο

Macrobenthic molluscs from a marine - lagoonal environmental transition in Lesvos Island (Greece)

This paper describes an occurence dataset, also including numerical abundance and biomass data, pertaining to the macrobenthic molluscan assemblages from a marine - lagoonal environmental transition. The study system was the soft-substrate benthoscape of the area of the Kalloni solar saltworks (Lesvos Island, Greece). Specifically, the study area extended from the infralittoral zone of the inner Kalloni Gulf (marine habitat) to the bottoms of the first two evaporation ponds of the Kalloni solar saltworks (lagoonal habitat). Bottom sediment samples (3 replicates) were collected with a Van Veen grab sampler (0.1 m2) at four sampling sites, along a 1.5 km long line transect that spanned the marine - lagoonal environmental transition. A total of four surveys were carried out seasonally in 2004. A total of 39,345 molluscan individuals were sorted out of the sediment samples and were identified to 71 species, belonging to the Gastropoda (36), Bivalvia (34) and Scaphopoda (1) classes. Numerical abundance and wet biomass (with shells) data are included in the dataset. The dataset described in the present paper partially fills a significant gap in the scientific literature: Because ecological research of coastal lagoons has seldom explicitly considered the marine - lagoonal habitats interface, there are no openly accessible datasets pertaining to the particular structural component of the transitional waters benthoscapes of the Mediterranean Sea. Such datasets could prove valuable in the research of the structure and functioning of transitional waters benthoscapes. The present dataset is available as a supplementary file (Suppl. material 1) and can also be accessed at http://ipt.medobis.eu/resource?r=kalloni_saltworks_phd

Operationalizing risk-based cumulative effect assessments in the marine environment

Ecosystem-based management requires an assessment of the cumulative effects of human pressures and environmental change. The operationalization and integration of cumulative effects assessments (CEA) into decision-making processes often lacks a comprehensive and transparent framework. A risk-based CEA framework that divides a CEA in risk identification, risk analysis and risk evaluation, could structure such complex analyses and facilitate the establishment of direct science-policy links. Here, we examine carefully the operationalization of such a risk-based CEA framework with the help of eleven contrasting case studies located in Europe, French Polynesia, and Canada. We show that the CEA framework used at local, sub-regional, and regional scales allowed for a consistent, coherent, and transparent comparison of complex assessments. From our analysis, we pinpoint four emerging issues that, if accurately addressed, can improve the take up of CEA outcomes by management: 1) framing of the CEA context and defining risk criteria; 2) describing the roles of scientists and decision-makers; 3) reducing and structuring complexity; and 4) communicating uncertainty. Moreover, with a set of customized tools we describe and analyze for each case study the nature and location of uncertainty as well as trade-offs regarding available knowledge and data used for the CEA. Ultimately, these tools aid decision-makers to recognize potential caveats and repercussions of management decisions. One key recommendation is to differentiate CEA processes and their context in relation to governance advice,marine spatial planning or regulatory advice.We conclude that future research needs to evaluate how effective management measures are in reducing the risk of cumulative effects. Changing governance structures takes time and is often difficult, but we postulate that well-framed and structured CEA can function as a strategic tool to integrate ecosystem considerations across multiple sectorial policies.JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resource

Operationalizing risk-based cumulative effect assessments in the marine environment

International audienceEcosystem-based management requires an assessment of the cumulative effects of human pressures and environmental change. The operationalization and integration of cumulative effects assessments (CEA) into decision-making processes often lacks a comprehensive and transparent framework. A risk-based CEA framework that divides a CEA in risk identification, risk analysis and risk evaluation, could structure such complex analyses and facilitate the establishment of direct science-policy links. Here, we examine carefully the operationalization of such a risk-based CEA framework with the help of eleven contrasting case studies located in Europe, French Polynesia, and Canada. We show that the CEA framework used at local, sub-regional, and regional scales allowed for a consistent, coherent, and transparent comparison of complex assessments. From our analysis, we pinpoint four emerging issues that, if accurately addressed, can improve the take up of CEA outcomes by management: 1) framing of the CEA context and defining risk criteria; 2) describing the roles of scientists and decision-makers; 3) reducing and structuring complexity; and 4) communicating uncertainty. Moreover, with a set of customized tools we describe and analyze for each case study the nature and location of uncertainty as well as trade-offs regarding available knowledge and data used for the CEA. Ultimately, these tools aid decision-makers to recognize potential caveats and repercussions of management decisions. One key recommendation is to differentiate CEA processes and their context in relation to governance advice, marine spatial planning or regulatory advice. We conclude that future research needs to evaluate how effective management measures are in reducing the risk of cumulative effects. Changing governance structures takes time and is often difficult, but we postulate that well-framed and structured CEA can function as a strategic tool to integrate ecosystem considerations across multiple sectorial policies

Biological Invasions in Conservation Planning: A Global Systematic Review

International audienceBiological invasions threaten biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, requiring substantial conservation and management efforts. To examine how the conservation planning literature addresses biological invasions and if planning in the marine environment could benefit from experiences in the freshwater and terrestrial systems, we conducted a global systematic review. Out of 1,149 scientific articles mentioning both “conservation planning” and “alien” or any of its alternative terms, 70 articles met our selection criteria. Most of the studies were related to the terrestrial environment, while only 10% focused on the marine environment. The main conservation targets were species (mostly vertebrates) rather than habitats or ecosystems. Apart from being mentioned, alien species were considered of concern for conservation in only 46% of the cases, while mitigation measures were proposed in only 13% of the cases. The vast majority of the studies (73%) ignored alien species in conservation planning even if their negative impacts were recognized. In 20% of the studies, highly invaded areas were avoided in the planning, while in 6% of the cases such areas were prioritized for conservation. In the latter case, two opposing approaches led to the selection of invaded areas: either alien and native biodiversity were treated equally in setting conservation targets, i.e., alien species were also considered as ecological features requiring protection, or more commonly invaded sites were prioritized for the implementation of management actions to control or eradicate invasive alien species. When the “avoid” approach was followed, in most of the cases highly impacted areas were either excluded or invasive alien species were included in the estimation of a cost function to be minimized. Most of the studies that followed a “protect” or “avoid” approach dealt with terrestrial or freshwater features but in most cases the followed approach could be transferred to the marine environment. Gaps and needs for further research are discussed and we propose an 11-step framework to account for biological invasions into the systematic conservation planning design