La invasión de especies no autóctonas es una de las principales amenazas para la conservación de la biodiversidad y para la provisión de servicios ecosistémicos. Uno de los ecosistemas más vulnerables a escala mundial por la presencia de especies exóticas invasoras (EEI) es el bosque de manglar, ya que estas pueden desestabilizar la estructura y función de las redes tróficas y reducir su productividad, principalmente por competencia y depredación de especies nativas. En este estudio se realizó un análisis en los sistemas de información de biodiversidad y la literatura científica especializada para determinar la presencia de EEI en los bosques de manglar de las reservas de la biosfera Ría Celestún y Ría Lagartos ubicadas en la península de Yucatán, México; se identificó el nivel de riesgo de las EEI de acuerdo con el método de evaluación rápida de invasividad, y se generó información sobre las implicaciones de las EEI en los bosques de manglar. Entre las dos áreas naturales protegidas (ANP), se encontró la presencia de 16 EEI, de las cuales, 56.25% tienen valor de riesgo de invasividad “muy alto” y 43.75% riesgo de invasividad “alto”, lo que significa una alerta de peligro para los bosques de manglar de las ANP. La información generada en este estudio servirá de base para el planteamiento de estrategias de gestión para la atención de EEI y sobre la conservación de los bosques de manglar en las ANP.

Invasive alien species (IAS) affect various policy sectors, including environment, trade, and agriculture. In Europe, each of these sectors is usually regulated under different European Union legislation, but IAS is not prioritised in most sectors, and this may hinder effective tackling of biological invasions. Greater policy coherence is needed to align relevant sectors for better management of biological invasions. Engaging policymakers by sharing information on IAS impacts can help them understand the multisectoral nature of the problem and develop effective strategies. We reviewed 602 IAS in Europe, impacting nine policy sectors and 25 domains (i.e. specific policies within a broader policy sector, each addressing particular issues and activities related to that sector portfolio). Findings were presented at the NeoBiota workshop in Lisbon on the 3^rd of September 2024, attended by 54 participants, including policymakers and researchers. The workshop featured presentations and interactive sessions where participants tested the review methodology on 49 species, identifying areas for improvement, such as assessing impact scale and refining sector domains. Confusion matrices showed moderate to substantial agreement between organisers and participants in evaluating affected domains, types of impact, and confidence levels. This study shows the crucial need for interaction and synergy between research and policy, which are essential for tackling effectively IAS in Europe.

Biological invasions are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss globally, affecting the quality of ecosystem services, the economy, and public health. Research on the presence, distribution, impacts, and introduction pathways of invasive alien species is essential for understanding and tackling the invasion process. Continental, coastal, and marine aquatic ecosystems of the Yucatan Peninsula concentrate a high number of native species; however, the states that are in the region (Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo) also have the largest loss of natural capital at the national level. The presence of aquatic invasive species has contributed to this downward trend, mainly in protected areas. For this research, an analysis of the national biodiversity information system, the global biodiversity information facility, and the specialized scientific literature was carried out to determine the presence of aquatic invasive species within the protected areas of the Yucatan Peninsula and adjacent marine zone. The results indicated that there are 22 documented aquatic invasive species in 25 protected areas, which were classified into the following taxonomic groups: marine macroalgae (3 species), plants (2), inland and marine fish (11), crustaceans (2), mollusks (2), and hydrozoans (2). A total of 15 of these species had a very high invasiveness score, 6 had a high score, and 1 had a medium score. This research will be useful in strengthening regional public policy and guiding decision makers on the management of aquatic invasive species, mainly for those that are seriously affecting aquatic ecosystems, such as Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus and P. pardalis in freshwater protected areas and Pterois volitans in marine protected areas. Efficient management strategies will be a key element in the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and for sustainable regional development.

Biological invasions are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss globally, affecting the quality of ecosystem services, economy and public health. Research on the presence, distribution, impacts and introduction pathways of invasive alien species is essential for understanding and tackling the invasion process. Continental, coastal and marine aquatic ecosystems of the Yucatan Peninsula concentrate a high number of native species richness; however, the states that are in the region (Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo) also have the largest loss of natural capital at the national level. The presence of aquatic invasive species has contributed to this downward trend, mainly in protected areas. For this research, an analysis in the national biodiversity information system, the global biodiversity information facility, and the specialized scientific literature was carried out to determine the presence of aquatic invasive species within the protected areas of the Yucatan Peninsula and adjacent marine zone. The results indicate that there are 22 documented aquatic invasive species in 25 protected areas, which were classified into the following taxonomic groups: marine macroalgae (3 species), plants (2), inland and marine fish (11), crustaceans (2), mollusks (2) and hydrozoans (2). Fifteen of these species had a very high invasiveness score, six were high and one had a medium score. This research will be useful to strengthen regional public policy and guide decision makers on the management of aquatic invasive species, mainly for those that are seriously affecting aquatic ecosystems such as Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus and P. pardalis in freshwater protected areas and Pterois volitans in marine protected areas.