TRANSCONTINENTAL COMPARISONS OF BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS – THE SOUTH AMERICAN – EUROPEAN COOPERATION WITHIN THE ALARM PROJECT

STEFAN KLOTZ, RICARDO OJEDA, EDUARDO UGARTE,

Mar del Plata

Congreso; 2nd World Conference on Biological Invasions and Ecosystem Functioning (BIOLIEF 2011) November 21-24 2011, Mar del Plata; 2011

GRIETA; CONICET; Univ de Mar del Plata; Museo Arg Cs Naturales

The project ALARM (Assessing LArge scale Risks on biodiversity with tested Methods) was an integrated project of the European Union within the 6th research framework program (2003-2009). The main objectives aimed to develop an integrated large scale risk assessment for biodiversity as well as terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems as a part of environmental risk assessment with the focus on risks consequent on climate change, environmental chemicals, rates and extent of loss of pollinators and biological invasions. Within the last research focus partners from South America, from Argentina and Chile had a central role. The research focus was on transcontinental comparisons of the alien species flora (vascular plants) and fauna (mammals) in South America and Europe and studies on local patterns of alien species invasions as well as on processes causing the immigration of alien species. One important outcome was the characterization of the asymmetric species exchange between both continents. European species are important invaders in the non-tropical areas of South America. Species of South American origin are less invasive within Europe. The role of anthropogenic drivers was characterized in detail as an important component of a tool to forecast biological invasions. The research program included not only transcontinental macro-ecological comparisons but also tests of new research methods as well as the development of risk assessments for alien species immigration. Additionally South American experiences were included in the European risk assessment tool