In briefEuropean Commission, 1st meeting WGIAS

12 June 2015, Brussels

AF Martinou PhD, DICJoint Services Health Unit (Cyprus)

af.martinou@gmail.com

A little bit about me• Entomologist by training

• working on invasive pests and invasive biocontrol agents

• Impact (direct and indirect) especially in HNV systems

• ES provision, biodiversity, pesticides

• 2 organizations, 3 countries that released invasive organisms

Cyprus

Cyprus is• The 3rd largest island in the

Mediterranean

• South-eastern corner of Europe- Levantine area

• Varied topography, geology, bioclimate

• Biodiversity hot spot

• High levels of endemism TSINTIDES TC. 1998. THE ENDEMIC PLANTS OF CYPRUS.

Propomacrus cypriacus

Current threats to natural & semi-natural systems in Cyprus

• Land abandonment• Urbanization • Agricultural Intensification• Desertification• Biological invasions

My work

• Previous projects

• Current projects

• Cyprus Invasive Alien Species database

Previous work- Deleterious effects of pesticides

High Nature Value carob grove

Rats + overgrazed carob

To promote and enable the long term conservation of High Nature Value Farmlands (HNVFs) in Cyprus

Currently

• Entomologist at JSHU (Cyprus), RAF Akrotiri

• Responsible for the Integrated Vector Management Programme

• Managing a team of 40 IPCOs

• Akrotiri Peninsula 60 km2

• Important area for Biodiversity- IBA- SPA

Great area for mosquitoes

• Malaria in the past, eradicated in the late 1950s

• Intensive survey and monitoring programme in order to manage existing mosquito species

• Be in a position to detect new invasions early!!

Mosquito Area Management (MAM) programme

Akrotiri Peninsula60 Km2 Area

Survey & Monitoring mosquito scheme

Larval Survey

Dip sampling

recording

planning

Adult survey

Survey & Monitoring mosquito scheme

CO2 Trapping

Integrated Vector Management Approach

• Physical control (water management- draining)• Biological control• Chemical control• Evidence based • Restoration projects

Restoration project Fassouri Marsh

• Birdlife Cyprus

• Akrotiri Environmental Education Centre

• Our role

Gambusia intentionally released in the past

Biological control using endemic fish & Control for invasive Gambusia

Fish population dynamics

From my experience

• While management of IAS is very important and great to work on (issue 3)

• Awareness raising (1) & Development of guidelines and training material for ALL in competent authorities (6) of immense importance

Creating CYIASThe Cyprus Invasive Alien Species

databaseAF Martinou1 & A Zenetos 2

1Joint Services Health Unit (Cyprus)2Hellenic Centre of Marine Research

Antalya, 3 November 2014

The gap• IAS national experts & local networks: the

foundation for info provision to larger networks and EU policies

• Cyprus was lacking such a foundation- (Ad hoc committee EU regulation on IAS)

CYIAS aims at1. Providing an up-to-date centralized information system

on the distribution of invasive species for Cyprus

2. Establishing a national network of aquatic and terrestrial experts that will engage in the development and updating of CYIAS

3. Linking IAS issues in Cyprus with European and global databases

• 155 marine alien species • 15 freshwater species (12 freshwater fish and 3 freshwater molluscs) • and 494 terrestrial species

1. Providing up-to-date centralized information system on IAS distribution

information on pathways, origin, establishment success, first sighting/collection date where available, first citations (literature)

• List of most invasive species for the Med. region also present in Levantine area, Cyprus

• List of marine IAS of commercial importance

with information on literature, first sightings, establishment success and consulted databases

1. Providing up-to-date centralized information system on IAS

Atherinomorus forskali Brachidontes pharaonis Branchiomma bairdi

Branchiomma luctuosum

Cassiopea andromeda

Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea

Caulerpa racemosa var. lamourouxi

Caulerpa racemosa var. turbinata

Ceratonereis mirabilis Cerithium scabridum

Chama pacificaCladophora cf. patentiramea

Dendostrea folium Ergalatax junionae Erugosquilla massavensis

Most invasive illustrated

Fistularia commersonii Fulvia (Fulvia) fragilis Halophila stipulacea Hydroides dianthus Hydroides elegans

Hydroides heterocerus Lagocephalus sceleratus Lophocladia lallemandii Notomastus mossambicus

Pempheris vanicolensis Penaeus semisulcatus Percnon gibbesi Pinctada imbricata radiata

Aquilonastra burtoniAmphistegina lobifera Aplysia dactylomela Apogonichthyoides pharaonis Asparagopsis armata

• Highligthed the need for EWRR for fishermen/public

• Not yet present but needs attentionPterois miles- common lionfish

Rhopilema nomadica- nomad jellyfish

Plotosus lineatus

1. Providing up-to-date centralized information system on IAS

2. Establishing a national network of aquatic and terrestrial experts for CYIAS

• Researchers from Universities and research centres from Cyprus and Greece

• Policy makers/government officials- Dpt. of Agriculture, Dpt. of Fisheries, Dpt. of Environment

• Citizen scientists

3. Linking IAS issues in Cyprus with European and global databases

• Full list of validated data on marine species was transferred to DAISIE

• List available upon request for EASIN, CABI etc.

Thank you very much for your attention