Report prepared for the Experts Meeting Towards the Implementation of a Global Invasive Species
Information Network (GISIN), 6-8 April, 2004. Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Page 69
8/30/2004
This project constituted the Argentine
component of the I3N initiative. A more
detailed understanding of the seriousness
and scope of the problem of invasive
species in Argentina needs to be developed
and shared with other countries. The final
aim of the project was to promote the
rational management of biological
invasions. One year later, the first national
catalog of invasive species, researchers,
and projects was created as a result of the
initiative.
Database Development Challenges for
InBiAr
One of the first challenges experienced
during the implementation of the InBiAr
recording system was that of defining an
invasive species. As a general principle, the
project adopted the definition proposed by
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) –
Alien species which become established in
natural or semi-natural ecosystems or
habitats, are agents of change, and threaten
native biological diversity. The development
team later chose to exclude impact as a
criterion due to the lack of studies providing
objective evaluations of the occurrence of
impacts from invasive species. Therefore,
the presence of a non-native species in a
natural or semi-natural area justified its
inclusion in the database.
A species was defined as exotic when its
distribution range did not include Argentina
prior to European colonization. Those
species with uncertain previous distribution
ranges whose status as natives or exotics
was doubtful (cryptogenic species) were
also included in the database. Natural
habitats were defined in keeping with the
IUCN definition as those where human-
induced disturbance is minimal or that,
having been disturbed, retain significant
native elements. Those species considered
weeds, pests, or pathogens but that had not
yet demonstrated the capacity to colonize
natural environments were excluded from
the database (i.e., those that impact only
agricultural or managed ecosystems).
Information for the database was gathered
by making requests to experts via email with
a response success rate of approximately
ten percent (10%). Preliminary lists of
species were also submitted to participants
at scientific meetings, and suggestions were
solicited and received through the database
Web site. The resulting information has
been included in the Web site of the
Universidad Nacional del Sur online at
The InBiAr Web site received 2300
visitors in one year, with 52%
originating in Argentina, and the
remaining 48% originating in nine
other countries.
The Web site is freely accessible and
provides general information on biological
invasions, information about IABIN and I3N,
a description of the criteria adopted by the
project, links to other sites, and the three
searchable catalogs. The Web site received
2300 visitors in one year, with 52%
originating in Argentina, and the remaining
48% originating in nine other countries.
The species database includes 28 fields
that can be grouped under the following six
information categories:
Category 1 – Taxonomic identification
including scientific name, kingdom, phylum
or division, series, class, order, family, and
common name;
Category 2 – Information about the species
in its original range including geographic
distribution, abundance, and environments
where it lives;
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