AquaNIS Research

AquaNIS is an online information system dedicated to aquatic Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) and cryptogenic species, which are organisms whose origins in a specific area are uncertain. The platform provides detailed data on species' native origins, biological characteristics, and documented impacts. It also records introduction events, including the first appearance of a species in a new region, the pathways of introduction, and the species' establishment status.

The database was developed as a product of the VECTORS project, funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013). The development team includes Sergej Olenin as the coordinator and Aleksas Narščius as the database manager, among other contributors. Hosted by Klaipeda University, AquaNIS integrated data from numerous pan-European and regional projects, such as the EU Concerted Action on ship-based introductions and projects like ALARM, DAISIE, and IMPASSE.

AquaNIS serves researchers and management authorities by providing scientifically validated data essential for assessments required by international agreements like the IMO Ballast Water Convention and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The system features a sophisticated search function that allows users to perform complex queries, compare results, and download data. Although it initially focused on marine, brackish, and coastal freshwaters in Europe and adjacent areas, it is expanding its scope globally and encourages data contributions from international partners.

Keywords: aquatic non-indigenous species, cryptogenic species, marine invasion database, aquatic NIS, ballast water management, marine biodiversity data, species introduction pathways, marine strategy framework, invasive species information, pan-European species data, marine ecosystem research, biological invasions, marine biology database, aquatic species traits, environmental management data