The importance of taxonomy in responses to invasive alien species

Abstract

Invasive alien species (IAS) cause major economic losses and threaten biodiversity worldwide. Taxonomic information is essential to initiating defence against IAS, including early detection and identification of new IAS outbreaks. We demonstrate how current IAS strategies (i.e. prevention of new invasions, early detection and rapid response to new invaders and management of established invaders) require strong taxonomic infrastructure. Examples are given from terrestrial molluscs (Gastropoda) and insects such as the Gypsy Moth, Lymantria dispar Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), disease vector flies of the families Culicidae and Calliphoridae (Diptera:), Sirex noctilio (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) woodwasps and Dendroctonus bark beetles and the cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), that demonstrate the role of taxonomy in IAS response. Further, we show through the example of the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), how international co-operation is essential to identify initial outbreaks of IAS. Such international co-operation is especially important because few countries can fund comprehensive pest identification organizations alone.