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UNDER CONSTRUCTION.... 3/23/09
Glossary Fishery biologists have a wide variety of terms for practices related to the release of aquatic organisms. Unfortunately, the terminology can become confusing because of a lack of agreement on some definitions among jurisdictions and regions. Most of the definitions below were taken from published sources and are referenced. |
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| Term | Definition |
Aquarium ( = ornamental) species* |
All species imported or transferred into confinement for ornamental indoor or outdoor use. |
| Bait organisms* |
Live specimens used (e.g., on a hook or in a trap) to allure target species |
| Indigenous ( = native) species* |
A species or lower taxon living within its natural range (past or present) including the area which it can reach and occupy using its natural dispersal systems |
| Introduction* |
The human-mediated movement of a species outside its present distribution. |
| Invasive species | U.S. National Invasive Species Management Plan definition: "A species that is nonnative to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health" (NISC 2006) |
| Convention on Biological Diversity: "invasive alien species" means an alien species whose introduction and/or spread threaten biological diversity (COBD 2009) | |
| Native range* |
Natural limits of geographical distribution of a species |
| Nonindigenous ( = alien = exotic = nonnative) species | A species or lower taxon living outside of its natural past or present distribution. |
| Release* |
Voluntary or accidental dissemination of an organism, or its gametes, outside its controlled area of confinement. |
| Stocking | North American definition: A broad term covering most types of deliberate releases of aquatic organisms. |
| European definition: Deliberate release of an aquatic organism into a location where the organism already exists. | |
| Transferred ( = transplanted) species* |
Any species intentionally or accidentally transported and released within areas of established populations, and continuing genetic flow where it occurs. |
COBD (Convention on Biological Diversity). 2009. COP 6 Decision VI/23. Alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species. http://www.cbd.int/decisions/view.shtml?id=7197 (March 2009). *ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea). 2004. ICES Code of Practice on the Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms. http://www.ices.dk/reports/general/2004/icescop2004.pdf (March 2009). NISC (National Invasive Species Council). 2006. Invasive species definition clarification and guidance white paper. http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/docs/council/isacdef.pdf (March 2009).
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