Monitoring and predicting of Zebra mussel and Quagga mussel invasions by developing European early warning system on aquatic invasive species

Serious challenges posed by massive human-mediated introductions of invasive alien species, such as Zebra Mussel and Quagga Mussel resulted in the strengthening of international cooperation in research, information exchange and management of invasive alien species, specifically in frameworks of different international group activities related to aquatic invasions in Europe and adjacent areas.
On the Pan-European level, these activities resulted in the establishment of the European Research Network on Aquatic Invasive Species in 2001, whose role in the development of the European Information Network on Invasive Species has been further recognized in the European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species. In 2005 ERNAIS initiated the establishment of the European electronic journal of applied research of invasive species in aquatic ecosystems with early warning functions Aquatic Invasions, which was financially supported by the European Commission Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development through the Integrated Project ALARM. In this ALARM Deliverable we report on the results of the implementation of this ERNAIS initiative in 2006-2007.
The concept of the ERNAIS e-journal Aquatic Invasions as an essential part of the developing European early warning system on aquatic invasive species was first presented in the Editorial paper of the first issue of Aquatic Invasions published in February 2006.
As we initially suggested, the ERNAIS e-journal Aquatic Invasions is already playing an important specific role in the development of a network of Internet-based databases on alien species, by protecting the authors’ rights on primary geo-referenced data of invasive alien species records from monitoring and biological survey efforts and biology of invasive species, thus facilitating the flow of essential information needed for decision-making processes. Currently we are working on the development of an online risk assessment toolkit with early warning functions, which may serve as interactive transmitter of primary information on invasive alien species from data providers upwards to the level of decision-making.
The first three volumes of Aquatic Invasions included numerous contributions on dreissens’ studies in European inland waters, including definition of borders between their native and invasive ranges, new records, data on their endosimbionts, etc.
As a separate important function, Aquatic Invasions is also serving information system of the European Commission Sixth Framework Programme Strategic Targeted Research Project DAISIE, through the publication of the national checklists of aquatic alien species. Furthermore, the timely publication of verified checklists and new findings may help to keep the DAISIE information system up-to-date. The above mentioned checklists also contain the information about dreissens, allowing tracing their introduction to the new countries.
Thus, one of the key benefits of e-journal Aquatic Invasions is the timely and readily available publication of essential primary scientific information, also needed for decision-making. A manuscript publication, including a comprehensive review process, takes on average less than one month, thereby reducing the publication time lag typical of many regular international journals. In this way Aquatic Invasions can facilitate the regional and Pan-European early warning systems on alien species, previously lacking. The provision of a freely accessible, early warning system for alien species is an essential tool for decision-making on potential early eradication efforts, and also for relevant decision support systems. In addition, Aquatic Invasions provides a publication platform for other important information on the management of invasive species including publication of technical reports on new technologies in management of invasive species and proceedings of relevant international meetings. Finally, fast but comprehensive reviewing process of submitted manuscripts is serving as effective quality insurance mechanism for information on invasive alien species freely available for interested stakeholders via Aquatic Invasions information system.
Be relative dreissens special importance of the service consists in an opportunity of tracking of their expansion with the help geo-referenced data. Such data are necessary for monitoring and prediction of the dreissens’ expansion. It is especially important for Quagga Mussel that actively settled on channels of the large European rivers