Contributing to a non-indigenous species database (AquaNIS)

Alien species inventories are known to have scientific, political, commercial and social relevance. Policy making or scientific research topics can be dependent on the quality of this information. Maintaining these databases up to date can be time consuming and requires periodical scientific review, however this maintenance is not always properly done. In times of COVID-19 where field work is not allowed, this is an opportunity for students to participate in a global database of aquatic non-indigenous species such as AquaNIS. The students will discover the functioning and administration of this database. They will also contribute to it by updating the data population of the ‘species’ and ‘introduction events’ sections. In particular, students will do a literature search for extracting information on the pathway or vector of introduction, and on specific biological traits. The students will deal with the uncertainty of working in some of these databases, which means contradictory information in literature, possible misidentification of indigenous species or uncertain records of introduction. Updating the database will be useful to scientists and managers needing this information, apart from implying a huge knowledge handling and learning.  

Additional costs to be covered by the student: 
No