The new issue of Management of Biological Invasions  includes two review papers and eight research articles that report management strategies for biological invasions.

A risk assessment on fish species entering the US identifies 98 high-risk species, with just three recently banned from importation, underscoring the need for prioritized management action and emphasizing the benefits of a national EDRR system for invasive species management.

A recent review synthesized data on capture strategies of bigheaded carp across various gear types in North America, revealing top-performing methods like DC electrofishing and herding fish into gill nets. These insights offer valuable information to guide the development of control, detection, and monitoring programs for this fish.

UK lab trials evaluated commercially available eDNA assays for detecting killer shrimp and signal crayfish at varied densities, emphasizing sequencing challenges and the need for species-specific assays and population density awareness in eDNA use.

Limited knowledge exists on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella) invasion beyond Lake Erie's western basin. While eDNA analysis shows promise for monitoring, further evaluation is needed to determine its effectiveness for surveillance by resource management agencies.

Using the AS-ISK, a recent study identified high-risk non-native fish species in Yunnan Province, China, with 21 out of 37 screened species classified as high risk based on Basic Risk Assessment, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention and control efforts to conserve biodiversity in the region.

Efforts to combat zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) spread in the US have led to tailored risk assessments; a study on 133 Texas water bodies shows the efficacy of simple factors like calcium concentration, pH, salinity, and surface water temperature to develop risk assessments, aiding resource managers in targeted prevention.

Quagga and zebra mussels are spreading across North America, prompting efforts to prevent new infestations. Recent research on potassium chloride (KCl) and copper (Earthtec QZ®) in high conductivity waters shows promise for eradicating mussels, especially at warmer temperatures (≥ 18°C).

Australian authorities have implemented strict programs to combat invasive marine species, particularly in high-traffic areas like the Pilbara. A recent study found native oyster species but no invasives using eDNA in port’s samples, providing a crucial baseline for future monitoring.

In Spain, native chelonians face severe threats from 25 non-native turtle and tortoise species. Using an ecology niche modelling approach, a recent study was able to identify areas of possible turtle invasion in Mediterranean and Atlantic rivers and tortoise invasion in southwestern Spain.

The U.S. Department of the Interior and partners are strengthening early detection and rapid response against invasive species with a National EDRR Framework. The READI-Net project is developing automated eDNA sampling tools to provide reliable results

Check out March issue of Management of Biological Invasions here!