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BopCo: an identification service for species of policy concern, including invasive alien species

dc.contributor.authorVanden Abeele, S.
dc.contributor.authorBackeljau, T.
dc.contributor.authorBreugelmans, K.
dc.contributor.authorDe Meyer, M.
dc.contributor.authorKratz, F.
dc.contributor.authorSegers, B.
dc.contributor.authorSmitz, N.
dc.contributor.authorVanderheyden, A.
dc.contributor.authorHendrickx, F.
dc.date2024
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-05T14:24:53Z
dc.date.available2025-03-05T14:24:53Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://orfeo.belnet.be/handle/internal/13874
dc.descriptionInvasive alien species (IAS) can cause a multitude of socio-economic and ecologic problems, warranting the need for their early detection, monitoring, and management. To do so, reliable species identifications are required, using morphology- and/or DNA-based approaches. BopCo is a Belgian centre of excellence that provides such identification services for various species of policy concern, including IAS. BopCo is jointly run by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and the Royal Museum for Central Africa, and has access to extensive reference collections, expert taxonomists, and a comprehensive research infrastructure. BopCo handles on-demand species identification requests and is a partner on various projects related to IAS. As such, BopCo contributes to studying the introduction pathways and dispersal dynamics of two invasive mosquito species in Belgium, Aedes albopictus and Ae. japonicus. Using various DNA identification techniques, BopCo verifies the species identity of the exotic mosquitoes collected at multiple points of entry. Furthermore, BopCo was involved in documenting the first occurrences of three exotic termite species in Belgium: Cryptotermes brevis, Reticulitermes banyulensis, and R. flavipes. Morphological identification of specimens was corroborated through DNA-barcoding validation. Reticulitermes flavipes is of particular concern as it has been invasive in France for many years and likely to establish populations in Belgium. Finally, BopCo evaluates the usefulness of publicly available DNA sequence data to identify the plant and animal species included in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern (EU Regulations 2016/1141 and 2017/1263). The results are presented as IAS Factsheets which aim to inform policy makers and provide relevant authorities with an identification tool for suspected IAS samples.
dc.languageeng
dc.titleBopCo: an identification service for species of policy concern, including invasive alien species
dc.typeConference
dc.subject.frascatiBiological sciences
dc.audienceScientific
dc.subject.freeInvertebrates
dc.source.titleNeobiota: 13th international conference on biological invasions
dc.source.page426
Orfeo.peerreviewedNo
dc.identifier.rmca6765


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