Biopollution: a useful concept to address biological marine invasions in a sustainable way?

Abstract

The term biopollution has been used to refer to the adverse effects of the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS), with the intention of following the methods of detection, categorization and measurement already adopted for allelochemicals. Data on NIS are accumulating evidence of the extent and impact of species introductions, but require greater standardization of terminology and wider consensus on metrics. The need to define and measure the detrimental effects of NIS may find useful guidance from analogous ecotoxicological studies. For example, the IUCN standard "Environment Impact Classification for Alien Taxa" (EICAT) deserves to be re-examined in the light of the increasing scientific knowledge; the ALien Biotic IndEX (ALEX) index, which has also found been used in Italy, needs further generalisation. Treating the introduction of NIS similarly to other types of pollution could facilitate the preparation of intervention plans, starting with the appropriate monitoring methods: the possible beneficial effects of introduced species should not weaken the attention that must be maintained towards this threat to ecosystems.