| Title | The global social-economic dimension of biological invasions by plankton: Grossly underestimated costs but a rising concern for water quality benefits? |
| Abstract | Planktonic invasive species cause adverse effects on aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, these impacts are often underestimated because of unresolved taxonomic issues and limited biogeographic knowledge. Thus, it is pivotal to start a rigorous quantification of impacts undertaken by planktonic invasive species on global economies. We used the InvaCost database, the most up-to-date database of economic cost estimates of biological invasions worldwide, to produce the first critical assessment of the economic dimension of biological invasions caused by planktonic taxa. We found that in period spanning from 1960 to 2021, the cumulative global cost of plankton invasions was US$ 5.8 billion for permanent plankton (holoplankton) of which viruses encompassed nearly 93%. Apart from viruses, we found more costs related to zooplankton (US$ 297 million) than to the other groups summed, including myco- (US$ 73 million), phyto- (43 million), and bacterioplankton (US$ 0.7 million). Strikingly, harmful and potentially toxic cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates are completely absent from the database. Furthermore, the data base showed a decrease in costs over time, which is probably an artifact as a sharp rise of novel planktonic alien species has gained international attention. Also, assessments of the costs of larval meroplanktonic stages of littoral and benthic invasive invertebrates are lacking whereas cumulative global cost of their adults stages is high up to US$ 98 billion billion and increasing. Considering the challenges and perspectives of increasing but unnoticed or neglected impacts by plankton invasions, the assessment of their ecological and economic impacts should be of high priority. |
| Source | Water research (Oxf.) 222 |
| Keywords | Alien planktonEcosystem servicesInvaCostMonetary lossNon-nativePelagic invaders |
| Journal | Water research (Oxf.) |
| Editor | Pergamon Press., New York, Regno Unito |
| Year | 2022 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118918 |
| Authors | Macêdo, Rafael L.; Franco, Ana Clara S.; Kozlowsky-Suzuki, Betina; Mammola, Stefano; Dalu, Tatenda; Rocha, Odete |
| Text | 470001 2022 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118918 Scopus 2 s2.0 85135414289 Alien plankton Ecosystem services InvaCost Monetary loss Non native Pelagic invaders The global social economic dimension of biological invasions by plankton Grossly underestimated costs but a rising concern for water quality benefits Macedo, Rafael L.; Franco, Ana Clara S.; Kozlowsky Suzuki, Betina; Mammola, Stefano; Dalu, Tatenda; Rocha, Odete University of Mpumalanga; Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro; Luonnontieteellinen Keskusmuseo; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Universidade Federal de São Carlos; Institute for Advanced Study Berlin Planktonic invasive species cause adverse effects on aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, these impacts are often underestimated because of unresolved taxonomic issues and limited biogeographic knowledge. Thus, it is pivotal to start a rigorous quantification of impacts undertaken by planktonic invasive species on global economies. We used the InvaCost database, the most up to date database of economic cost estimates of biological invasions worldwide, to produce the first critical assessment of the economic dimension of biological invasions caused by planktonic taxa. We found that in period spanning from 1960 to 2021, the cumulative global cost of plankton invasions was US$ 5.8 billion for permanent plankton holoplankton of which viruses encompassed nearly 93%. Apart from viruses, we found more costs related to zooplankton US$ 297 million than to the other groups summed, including myco US$ 73 million , phyto 43 million , and bacterioplankton US$ 0.7 million . Strikingly, harmful and potentially toxic cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates are completely absent from the database. Furthermore, the data base showed a decrease in costs over time, which is probably an artifact as a sharp rise of novel planktonic alien species has gained international attention. Also, assessments of the costs of larval meroplanktonic stages of littoral and benthic invasive invertebrates are lacking whereas cumulative global cost of their adults stages is high up to US$ 98 billion billion and increasing. Considering the challenges and perspectives of increasing but unnoticed or neglected impacts by plankton invasions, the assessment of their ecological and economic impacts should be of high priority. 222 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85135414289 origin=inward Articolo in rivista Pergamon Press. 0043 1354 Water research Oxf. Water research Oxf. Water res. Oxf. Water research. Oxf. stefano.mammola MAMMOLA STEFANO |
