The economic costs, management and regulation of biological invasions in the Nordic countries

A collective understanding of economic impacts and in particular of monetary costs of biological invasions is lacking for the Nordic region. This paper synthesizes findings from the literature on costs of invasions in the Nordic countries together with expert elicitation. The analysis of cost data has been made possible through the InvaCost database, a globally open repository of monetary costs that allows for the use of temporal, spatial, and taxonomic descriptors facilitating a better understanding of how costs are distributed. The total reported costs of invasive species across the Nordic countries were estimated at $8.35 billion (in 2017 US$ values) with damage costs significantly outweighing management costs. Norway incurred the highest costs ($3.23 billion), followed by Denmark ($2.20 billion), Sweden ($1.45 billion), Finland ($1.11 billion) and Iceland ($25.45 million). Costs from invasions in the Nordics appear to be largely underestimated. We conclude by highlighting such knowledge gaps, including gaps in policies and regulation stemming from expert judgment as well as avenues for an improved understanding of invasion costs and needs for future research

The economic costs, management and regulation of biological invasions in the Nordic countries

A collective understanding of economic impacts and in particular of monetary costs of biological invasions is lacking for the Nordic region. This paper synthesizes findings from the literature on costs of invasions in the Nordic countries together with expert elicitation. The analysis of cost data has been made possible through the InvaCost database, a globally open repository of monetary costs that allows for the use of temporal, spatial, and taxonomic descriptors facilitating a better understanding of how costs are distributed. The total reported costs of invasive species across the Nordic countries were estimated at $8.35 billion (in 2017 US$ values) with damage costs significantly outweighing management costs. Norway incurred the highest costs ($3.23 billion), followed by Denmark ($2.20 billion), Sweden ($1.45 billion), Finland ($1.11 billion) and Iceland ($25.45 million). Costs from invasions in the Nordics appear to be largely underestimated. We conclude by highlighting such knowledge gaps, including gaps in policies and regulation stemming from expert judgment as well as avenues for an improved understanding of invasion costs and needs for future research.</p

A tale of conquest and crisis: invasion history and status of the American mink (Neovison vison) in Iceland

Invasive alien species are among the major drivers of biodiversity loss, being destructive to native ecosystems, and human economy and well-being. Despite their severe negative impact, tracking the paths of biological invasions and distribution dynamics of invasive species, as well as assessing the scope and character of their interactions with resident species and ecosystems, can be difficult. An interesting case is the naturalization of the American mink in Iceland, with subsequent intensive culling and accurate registration of the number of mink killed by year and area, providing information on mink’s distributional history. Additionally, the Icelandic ecosystem is relatively simple compared to other areas within the non-native range of the American mink. The species was introduced to Iceland in 1931 for commercial fur farming. Escapees spread and multiplied in the following decades. A bounty system for culling was established early, but was unable to halt population growth and the spread of the species. Hunting statistics seem to reflect actual changes in population size and show that population density kept on increasing for three decades after the mink had colonised all suitable habitats. After 2003, the numbers show a rapid > 60% decrease, probably at least in part caused by climate change influencing the marine food web. The American mink seems to have had a negative impact on some bird and freshwater fish populations. The case of the invasive American mink in Iceland improves our understanding of biological invasions, and aids in organizing eradication programmes or control of the species.Obce gatunki inwazyjne uznane zostały za jedną z głównych przyczyn spadku bioróżnorodności w skali globu, gdyż są one destrukcyjne nie tylko dla ekosystemów rodzimych, ale również dla gospodarki i dobrobytu społeczeństwa. Pomimo ich negatywnego i wielkoskalowego oddziaływania, w wielu przypadkach śledzenie przyczyn inwazji biologicznych oraz dynamiki rozprzestrzenienia obcych gatunków inwazyjnych, jak również ocena charakteru i zakresu ich interakcji z gatunkami i ekosystemami rodzimymi, jest trudne. Ciekawym przypadkiem jest naturalizacja norki amerykańskiej na Islandii, w następstwie której prowadzono szeroko zakrojoną akcję eradykcji ze szczegółowym rejestrem liczby zwierząt zabitych w danym roku i na danym obszarze, dokumentującym historyczne rozmieszczenie gatunku na wyspie. Dodatkowo, struktura ekosystemu Islandii ma charakter uproszczony, w porównaniu z innymi obszarami zajętymi przez ten inwazyjny gatunek. Norka amerykańska została sprowadzona na Islandię w celach hodowlanych (pozyskiwanie futer), we wczesnych latach 30. ubiegłego wieku. W kolejnych dziesięcioleciach dochodziło do ucieczek i reprodukcji w środowisku naturalnym wyspy. System dopłat dla myśliwych odławiających norki, wprowadzony już w kilka lat po introdukcji, nie powstrzymał wzrostu liczebności, ani nie zmniejszył zasięgu gatunku. Statystyki łowieckie zdają się odzwierciedlać rzeczywiste zmiany w wielkości populacji oraz wskazywać, że jej zagęszczenie wzrastało jeszcze w ciągu trzech dekad od momentu skolonizowania przez norkę amerykańską wszystkich zdatnych siedlisk. Po roku 2003 nastąpił gwałtowny, ponad 60% spadek liczebności populacji gatunku, przynajmniej częściowo spowodowany zmianami klimatu, wpływającymi na morskie sieci troficzne. Norka amerykańska ma zapewne negatywny wpływ na populację niektórych ptaków i słodkowodnych ryb na Islandii. Przypadek inwazji norki amerykańskiej na Islandii dostarcza cennej wiedzy w zakresie inwazji biologicznych oraz planowania programów kontroli lub eradykacji tego gatunku

The economic costs, management and regulation of biological invasions in the Nordic countries

A collective understanding of economic impacts and in particular of monetary costs of biological invasions is lacking for the Nordic region. This paper synthesizes findings from the literature on costs of invasions in the Nordic countries together with expert elicitation. The analysis of cost data has been made possible through the InvaCost database, a globally open repository of monetary costs that allows for the use of temporal, spatial, and taxonomic descriptors facilitating a better understanding of how costs are distributed. The total reported costs of invasive species across the Nordic countries were estimated at $8.35 billion (in 2017 US$ values) with damage costs significantly outweighing management costs. Norway incurred the highest costs ($3.23 billion), followed by Denmark ($2.20 billion), Sweden ($1.45 billion), Finland ($1.11 billion) and Iceland ($25.45 million). Costs from invasions in the Nordics appear to be largely underestimated. We conclude by highlighting such knowledge gaps, including gaps in policies and regulation stemming from expert judgment as well as avenues for an improved understanding of invasion costs and needs for future research. Highlights • Total reported costs of invasive species in the Nordic countries were$8.35 billion. • Costs of invasions in the Nordics appear to be largely underestimated. • The majority of invasion costs in the Nordics are expected rather than realized. • Gaps in knowledge, policies and regulations for invasive species persist. • Effective policies require Interdisciplinary work and cross-country collaborations