<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=816520209-17012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Dear All</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=816520209-17012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>As you may notice, the WEW has a different opinion
about the definition of an alien species. We add all species that are
non-indigenous to The Netherlands and are introduced into our country through
the dissappearance of a barrier of dispersal. Barriers that were formerly
present and prevented species to disperse themselves are removed and
consequently these species could arrive in our country. This could be the
construction of canals, shipping, by air etc. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=816520209-17012006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>One of the most
important barriers between the Danube river basis and the Rhine river basis was
removed in sept. 1992 through the construction of the Main-Danube channel. This
definition also means that we do not discriminate in species that has any effect
and species that has an effect (economical, ecological or public health) or
species that are invasive or non-invasive or species that are succesfull or
unsuccesfull. We have chosen to do so for it may occur that one species in one
particular period is succesfull and later on (re-introduces or else)
succesfull and invasive. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=816520209-17012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>It is up to you were you draw the line. Most of the Dutch
species mentioned in our list have no (noticable) effect what so ever. But the
effect on the community in a certain habitat is not that easy to establish. For
instance the mysid-shrimp Limnomysis benedeni and the gammarid shrimp
Dikerogammarus villosus appear to have an effect on the indigenous fauna.
But both species probably are invasive in our river systems because they were
'empty'. In habitats with a reasonable development of indigenous fauna both
species are less abundant. Procambarus clarkii, Hemimysis anomala, Atyaephyra
and many other species are non-invasive (except for instance Orconectes limosus
and Eriocheir chinensis). The mosquitoe Aedes albopictus is only recorded in the
Netherlands in glasshouses and not in wild. But all those species will
appear in our Dutch list for they fitt the description of our definition. But it
is essential to describe in the Belgian list what your definition of an exotic
species is. In The Netherlands the term 'exotic' has many definitions, it
depends on what kind of people they are (scientists, newspapers, civilians,
bird-watchers etc.)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=816520209-17012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>best wishes</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=816520209-17012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Ton van Haaren</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> BRANQUART Etienne
[mailto:E.Branquart@mrw.wallonie.be] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, January 16, 2006
12:46 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Invasive alien species in Belgium<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:
[Invasive-species] New webpages for the Belgian Forum on Invasive
Species<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Ton, Jean-Pierre and other
colleagues,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank you very much for these additional remarks. I
have to say that I'm very impressed by the amount of information gathered by the
Werkgroep Ecologisch Waterbeheer (</FONT><A
href="http://www.wew.nu\exoten"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>www.wew.nu\exoten</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>). I updated the
information presented on </FONT><A
href="http://www.biodiversity.be/thematic-forums/invasive-alien-species/species"><FONT
face=Arial
size=2>http://www.biodiversity.be/thematic-forums/invasive-alien-species/species</FONT></A><FONT
face=Arial size=2> accordingly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The question is where to stop. As stated by Leo,
there are hundreds of adventive and naturalized plant species for Belgium but
only a few of them are known to be detrimental for environment. </FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2>We decided earlier to include in that list species that (i)
are non indigenous, (ii) were recorded in Belgium and (iii) are <!--StartFragment -->either in strong geographical expansion or are known to
produce detrimental impacts on environment sensu lato. According to those
criteria, it can be asked if we have to include in the list species as
Procambarus clarkii, Hemimysis anomala, Atyaephyra demareti, etc. Any opinion
?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Some additional questions : </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(i) what to do with </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Stenopelmus rufinasus, which is feeding exclusively on Azolla (known as
an IAS in Belgium) and can be considered as a good biocontrol agent for this
species (see <A
href="http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/aqua/apis/biocontrol/html/stenopel.html">http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/aqua/apis/biocontrol/html/stenopel.html</A>,
<A
href="http://sunsite.wits.ac.za/env/apes.htm">http://sunsite.wits.ac.za/env/apes.htm</A>,
<A
href="http://www.invasive.org/publications/xsymposium/Session9.html">http://www.invasive.org/publications/xsymposium/Session9.html</A>...)
?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(ii) what to do with bark beetles as Ips
typographus and Pityogenes chalcographus which are mainly damaging spruce trees,
which are not considered as indigenous in Belgium ?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(iii) what to do with </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Nysius huttoni, a bug from New Zealand which is known to produce huge
damage on wheat and cruciferous crops... but can also feed on numerous wild
plants in Europe ?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(iv) what to do with <FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT face=Arial size=2>Aedes albopictus, a
mosquito vector of the human West Nile Virus ?</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank for your ideas and suggestions.
Cheers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Etienne</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> ----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=ton.vanhaaren@aquasense.nl
href="mailto:ton.vanhaaren@aquasense.nl">Ton van Haaren</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=invasive-species@biodiversity.be
href="mailto:invasive-species@biodiversity.be">Invasive alien species in
Belgium</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, January 11, 2006 10:36
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Invasive-species] New
webpages for the Belgian Forum on Invasive Species</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Dear Etienne</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I have seen the invasive species list of Belgium and I do
think that the list is somewhat short. Although I do not have any idea how
many species and which species really do occur in Belgium, but there are some
errors made in that list. As a member of the Dutch version of invasive species
forum, I'm responsible for the invertebrate list of the invasive species in
The Netherland presented on <A
href="http://www.wew.nu\exoten">www.wew.nu\exoten</A>. While verifying the
Dutch list with the Belgian list there are some differences of which I mention
some below. Also the list of freshwater species of the higher plants must
be longer than this (5 species!). in The Netherland there are about 30 species
recorded.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<OL dir=ltr>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>the absence of Corbicula fluminalis strikes me. It has
been introduced in The Netherlands in 1988.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Dreissena polymorpha most likely originates from the
Ponto-Caspian area</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2>Mytilopsis leucophaeta is a species that originates
from N-America or NW-Africa. The first European record is from 1835 from the
harbour of Antwerpen. The original distribution area is the Gulf of Mexico
and adjacent Atlantic Ocean.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Astacus leptodactylus originates form Eastern
Europe</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Chelicorophium curvispinum, Dikerogammarus villosus and
D. hamobaphes originate from the Ponto-Caspian area.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Dikerogammarus haemobaphes in Belgium seems unlikely,
the nearest record in western Europe seems to be some few records in
Germany. Recent claims from this species in the Nertherlands were all female
or specimens with an artefact.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Orchestia cavimana originate from southern
Europe</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>the North-American Gammarus tigrinus is quit common in
The Netherlands since 1960. It seems likely that this species also occurs in
Belgium.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>the absence of both Hemimysis anomala and Limnomysis
benedeni seems peculiar. The last species is extremely common throughout The
Netherlands since it was introduced in 1997.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>the absence of Atyaephyra desmaresti (a meditterenean
species). This species has been collected in Belgium for the first time in
1886.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>the oligochaet Quistadrilus multisetosis also occurs in
Belgium and originates from North-America. This species had probably been
introduced (at least in The Netherland) around 1980.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>the mosquitoe Aedes albopictus also occurs in Belgium
as an invasive species from North-America or Asia. There is a record from
2003 from Antwerpen. Although I understand this species is deliberately
omitted from the list, for it's a vector of a human
disease.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>the beetle Stenopelmus rufinasus is a north-American
species that has been introduced in France at the beginning of the 20th
century. Between 1915-1922 the beetle arrived in The Netherlands and is now
extremely common on and between Azolla.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>the fish Ctenopharyngidon idellus originates (Dutch
specimens) from china</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Hypophthalmichthys molitrix originates from Russia or
China</FONT></SPAN></DIV></LI></OL>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Note that this is just a short list of Dutch species, and
that the origin or introduction year maybe different in Belgium. You may check
our list on <A
href="http://www.wew.nu\exoten">www.wew.nu\exoten</A>.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Best wishes</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Ton van Haaren</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Grontmij|AquaSense</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=464205615-10012006></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> BRANQUART
Etienne [mailto:E.Branquart@mrw.wallonie.be] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January
10, 2006 4:47 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
invasive-species@biodiversity.be<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Invasive-species] New
webpages for the Belgian Forum on Invasive Species<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear all,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>New webpages of the Belgian Forum on Invasive
Species have been developed and are accessible from the following URL
:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.biodiversity.be/thematic-forums/invasive-alien-species">http://www.biodiversity.be/thematic-forums/invasive-alien-species</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As you'll see, the list of invasive alien species
in Belgium has been updated, thanks to the contribution of numerous forum
members. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who
contributed to this task by sending information on new invasive species in
Belgium. Species factsheets will be incorporated in the new website
in a few days, including additional species profiles on fishes, parakeets,
etc. A special thank to Dieter Anseeuw, Marie Pairon and Diederik Strubbe who
prepared background information for those new profiles.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Of course, new species and information can be
added to this reference list for Belgium. Please feel free to send new
information on the list or directly to my e-mail address.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>On those pages, new information is also avaiable
on international IAS resources (working groups, research networks, etc.),
thematic news and events, etc. Additional information on legislation and other
IAS-related issues will be also developed in the future. Any comment or
suggestion is very welcome.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Very best regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Etienne Branquart</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>==========================================================================<BR> <BR>Dr.
Etienne Branquart<BR>Belgian Biodiversity Platform
(SPO)<BR> <BR>Ministere de la Region wallonne<BR>Centre de Recherche de
la Nature, des Forets et du Bois (DGRNE)<BR>Avenue Marechal Juin, 23<BR>B-5030
Gembloux- Belgium<BR> <BR>Tel : + 32 (0)81 620 420<BR>Fax
: + 32 (0)81 620 436<BR>E-mail : <A
href="mailto:E.Branquart@mrw.wallonie.be">E.Branquart@mrw.wallonie.be</A><BR>URL:
<A
href="http://www.biodiversity.be">http://www.biodiversity.be</A><BR> <BR>==========================================================================<BR> <BR>Ce
message n'engage aucunement la DGRNE et reste informel. Tout
courrier<BR>officiel doit toujours actuellement être confirmé par lettre et
revêtu de la<BR>signature d'un agent dûment
mandaté<BR>==========================================================================<BR></FONT></DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><< Please read our E-mail Disclaimer at
http://emaildisclaimer.grontmij.com >></FONT></P>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR>Invasive-species
mailing
list<BR>Invasive-species@biodiversity.be<BR>http://www.biodiversity.be/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/invasive-species<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"><< Please read our E-mail Disclaimer at http://emaildisclaimer.grontmij.com >></FONT></P>