DNADIVE – New research project on invasive crayfish

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

See also the project web page at https://faune-flore.lu/dnadive/

DNADIVE aims at developing a molecular toolbox enabling eDNA detection for Invasive crayfish in streams of Luxembourg. This Public2 Partnership project has been accepted by FNR in November 2017 and will start on 1st January 2018. The project will be hosted by Fondation faune-flore and it’s principal investigator will be the French researcher Dr David Porco. Project partnership: Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History (MNHNL), Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology (LIST), Water management Agency (AGE), Ministry for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure (MDDI), University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany).

Abstract

DNADIVE aims at developing a toolbox for the molecular monitoring of invasive crayfish in the streams of Luxembourg. Three exotic species (Orconectes limosus, Pacifastacus leniusculus and Astacus leptodactylus) and a native one (Astacus astacus) will be targeted for the project.

This molecular toolbox will encompass several techniques of detection comprising (1) a simple amplification method easily performed in a laboratory with few elements, (2) a digital droplet amplification (ddPCR) which is a more elaborated lab method that can allow for a higher detection sensitivity and a possible quantification of DNA that could be related through the proxy of biomass and abundance to the size of the populations detected and (3) an isotherm amplification method (iPCR) i.e. a simple, cost effective approach which will allow for a field detection usable by non-trained agents.

The results will enable the development of a predictive species distribution model for the target species and to infer their impact on freshwater communities through the comparison with previous sampling campaigns. This set of methods has the high potential to efficiently contribute to early detection and routine monitoring of the invasive crayfish species in Luxembourg, thus allowing for a timely and efficient decision-making and appropriate management.

 Last updated on Monday, December 11, 2017.

Public conference on the management of Greater Canada goose in Flanders, Belgium

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

By Tim Adriaens & Frank Huysentruyt, Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels.

In Flanders, Canada goose are causing social, economic and ecological impacts. The population is managed using a combination of methods which requires an adaptive management approach involving multiple actors and stakeholders and monitoring of the population. The lecture will also address the Egyptian goose.

Tim Adriaens is a research associate at the Research Institute for Nature and Forest in Brussels where he co-ordinates invasive species activities throughout the institute. Current invasion biology research topics include, among others, sustainable control of invasive amphibian and feral exotic geese populations, invasive weeds, ruddy duck eradication and monitoring, aquatic invasive species, exotic insects used for biological control.

Frank Huysentruyt is also a research associate at the Research Institute for Nature and Forest and specialised in Wildlife Management and Alien Species.

Tuesday 28 November 2017, 18:30 – 20:00
Musée national d’histoire naturelle
25, rue Münster, L-2160 Luxembourg

→ Download the Invitation in PDF format

 Last updated on Monday, April 23, 2018.

Luxembourg reports Nutria to the EU within the EASIN notification system

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

On 19th September 2017, a forester captured a Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in Osweiler (commune of Rosport, eastern Luxembourg) and put it to sleep.

This detection of an IAS of Union concern (Anonymous 2016) has been notified by the Luxembourg authorities on 26 September 2017 and an Eradication Measure Set has been submitted as well on 26 September 2017, pursuant to Article 17(1) of R. 1143/2014 (Anonymous 2014).

Biberratte - Nutria - coypu - Myocastor coypus - ragondin - castor des marais - Mönchbruch - December 25th 2012 - 03

Coypu (Myocastor coypus), Moenchbruch lake, Hesse, Germany.
By Norbert Nagel (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The species was first documented in Luxembourg in 1957 at the Alzette river next to Hunsdorf (Municipality of Lorentzweiler). Currently, it is only observed sporadically in Luxembourg. Because of its occurrence in the bordering regions of France (Chiers, Moselle) and Germany (Saar), it is likely that the species will populate national watercourses within the near future (Becker-Krüll & Schaefer 2013).

Bibliography

  • Anonymous, 2014. Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. Official Journal of the European Union 4.11.2014 L 317: 35-55.
  • Anonymous, 2016. Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2016/1141 of 13 July 2016 adopting a list of invasive alien species of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union L 189: 4-5.
  • Becker-Krüll, L. & P. Schaefer, 2013. Jagdbare Wildtierarten Luxemburgs. Administration de la nature et des forêts, Luxembourg, 96 pp.

 Last updated on Thursday, September 28, 2017.

Update of the list of IAS of Union concern

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

The European Commission has published an update of the list of invasive alien species of Union concern in the Official Journal on July 13th 2017:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2017.182.01.0037.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2017:182:TOC

The webpage http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/ has been updated accordingly and includes a new brochure on all 49 species (at the moment only available in English pdf format): http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/pdf/IAS_brochure_species.pdf

The JRC report on the baseline distribution of the 37 species on the first list is available here: https://easin.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Docum entation/Baseline

Communicated on July 13th 2017 by the IAS team of DG ENV, European Commission

 Last updated on Friday, August 18, 2017.

2016 Mosquito survey catches determined

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

In 2016, the Luxembourg National Natural History Museum has started a survey on mosquito species in Luxembourg. Between July and October mosquitoes have been weekly trapped on 10 sites throughout the country, in co-operation with local and regional partner organizations and private persons.

On June 14th and 15th 2017, Mosquito specialist Dr Francis Schaffner from University of Zurich determined the 2016 catches at the Museum.

F.l.t.r.: Svenja Christian (Department of Invertebrates Zoology MNHNL) and Dr Francis Schaffner (University of Zurich) in the Lab of the Department of Ecology. Photo: Dr Christian Ries, MNHNL, 15 June 2016.

Results

182 mosquitoes were caught during 90 catches from 10 sites.

Culex pipiens / torrentium (9 out of 10 sites)
 175
Anopheles plumbeus (Kockelscheuer, Steinsel)
 3
Culiseta annulata (Remerschen)
 1
Coquillettidia richiardii (Remerschen)
 1
Aedes vexans (Kockelscheuer)
 1
Aedes cinereus (Kockelscheuer) 1

Locality, Partners (#Catches|#Specimen)

We thank the following partners who have run the traps on their sites.

  • Diekirch, Administration de la nature et des forêts (11|0)
  • Esch-sur-Sûre, Naturpark Öewersauer (PNHS) (12|9)
  • Kalborn-Moulin, natur&ëmwelt – Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur (10|6)
  • Kockelscheier, natur&ëmwelt – Haus vun der Natur (11|48)
  • Leudelange, private owner (10|27)
  • Lintgen, private owner (9|23)
  • Luxembourg / Grund, MNHNL (11|19)
  • Remerschen, Biodiversum (5|16)
  • Schrassig, private owner (6|24)
  • Steinsel, private owner (5|10)

 Last updated on Thursday, June 15, 2017.

First observation of Impatiens balfourii in Luxembourg

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

Impatiens balfourii. Luxembourg, Kirchberg. Photo: Roland Proess, 5 August 2016.

Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. was first observed in Luxembourg, in the wild, in 2016, on the edge of the Kirchberg plateau by Roland Proess. It is at present just considered to be subspontaneous, it may however have the potential of getting naturalized in Luxembourg due to climate change.

Yves Krippel & Roland Proess have written a detailed article on the subject which was published in the Bulletin of the Luxembourg Naturalist Society:

  • Krippel, Y. & R. Proess, 2017. Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. (Balsaminaceae), nouvelle espèce subspontanée au Luxembourg ?. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 119: 55-61. [PDF 2,72 MB]

Impatiens balfourii has been assessed today according to the ISEIA protocol by Yves Krippel and Christian Ries: B1, Watch List.

Two other invasive alien balsam species occur in Luxembourg: the Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera Royle), one of the most common and widespread invasive neophytes in Luxembourg, and the small balsam (Impatiens parviflora DC.), which is widespread in forest ecosystems across Luxembourg.

 Last updated on Friday, April 20, 2018.

New up to date distribution maps on neobiota.lu

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

Distribution map of Procyon lotor Linnaeus, 1758 in Luxembourg. Recorder database, MNHNL, 20.08.2018.

The distribution maps on neobiota.lu are from now on up to date. Every time a page concerning a species present in Luxembourg is viewed, the distribution data are retrieved on the fly by a query sent to the recorder database of the Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History.

These data are saved on the nebiota.lu server in GPX format and displayed using the OSM (Open Street Map) WordPress plugin.

 Last updated on Friday, February 17, 2017.

IAS coordination group for Luxembourg created by Ministerial Order

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

On 21 November 2016 the Minister for the Environment Carole Dieschbourg signed the Ministerial Order creating a coordination group for invasive alien species in Luxembourg, which was published in the Memorial on 28 November 2016.

Arrêté ministériel du 21 novembre 2016 portant création du groupe de coordination sur les espèces exotiques envahissantes au Luxembourg. Mémorial B – N° 121 du 28 novembre 2016. (PDF 29 KB)

 Last updated on Wednesday, November 30, 2016.

Publication of a leaflet on Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

In autumn 2016 the Department for the Environment of the Luxembourg Ministry of sustainable development and infrastructures edited a leaflet in German and French about Ambrosia artemisiifolia, in co-operation with the National Museum of Natural History and efor-ersa ingénieurs-conseils. It can be downloaded here in PDF format (4 MB each).

More information on the Common Ragweed in Luxembourg can be found in it’s dedicated article on this website.

flyer-cover-de   flyer-cover-fr

 Last updated on Thursday, October 20, 2016.