Marie Zhuikov, Minnesota Sea Grant Communications, 218-726-7677; [email protected]
Ben Sherman, Sea Grant National Media Relations, 202-662-7095; [email protected]
AQUATIC NON-INDIGENOUS SPECIES PEER-REVIEW RESEARCH ON WEB
WASHINGTON D.C. Looking for peer-reviewed science-based information on zebra mussels and other nonindigenous species? A good first stop would be The Sea Grant Zebra Mussel and Nonindigenous Species World Wide Web site (SGNIS) which contains a comprehensive collection of research publications and education materials produced by Sea Grant programs and others.
The site includes more than 500 peer-reviewed research and outreach reports. Its offerings reflects the multi-agency response called for earlier this month (2/3/99) by President Clinton when he issued an executive order directing the U.S. Commerce, Interior and Agriculture Departments to cooperate in controlling the threat of non-native invasive species through a new interagency Invasive Species Council, co-chaired by the secretaries of the three departments.
In addition to the Sea Grant research available, the site provides access to over 100 U.S. Army Corp of Engineers reports as well as material from the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
The site can be accessed through the World Wide Web, Telnet, or directly through a modem. The web address is: http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/sgnis/.
This site is useful for industrial and municipal water users, shoreline property owners, boaters, resource management agencies, students, teachers, outreach professionals, researchers and the news media.
Among the more than 500 resources items are research reports, educational items, newsletters, proceedings of past international conferences and a slide library of 74 images that can be downloaded. The site also provides a brief introductory written and pictorial description of the exotics, for those who aren't familiar with them.
Although it has a major focus on zebra mussels, the site also contains information on other invaders including the Eurasian ruffe, the round goby, sea lamprey and the spiny waterflea.
"We hope the site will give people the information they need to help prevent or slow the spread and improve the control of invading species," said Al Miller, project coordinator from the Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. "All entries, with the exception of conference proceedings and newsletters, have been peer-reviewed to ensure they are the highest quality science, " says Miller who has coordinated the SGNIS site since it went online in November, 1996.
The searchable site allows entry via "Products" available, "Users" of the materials, "Key Words" or through a site search engine. The search engine allows browsers to search for documents by title, author(s), the organization of the author, date of publication, users, products and keywords.
The site provides linkages to related web sites including Sea Grant's National Zebra Mussel and Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse, the National Biological Service's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Geographic Information System, the Great Lakes Information Network, as well as to nonindigenous species homepages of individual Sea Grant programs.
In an effort to expand access of the SGNIS resources, Minnesota Sea Grant has just published a CD-ROM version of the web site, "SGNIS: Sea Grant's Nonindigenous Species CD." It is available for $14 (plus tax for Minnesota residents). Bulk quantities (20 or more) cost $10. Purchasers of the CD will be eligible to receive updated versions, which will be available periodically at a reduced price. To order, contact Minnesota Sea Grant by calling 218-726-6191.
Like the web site, the CD contains recent research findings, training and education materials, distribution maps, color images, video clips, newsletters, and product ordering information. User instructions are provided for IBM and Macintosh computers. It's ideal for use in libraries, classrooms, industries, agencies, and universities.
Developed as a Great Lakes Sea Grant Network effort by the Sea Grant programs in Illinois-Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin and, housed at Purdue University, the SGNIS site provides a model for the transfer of university-based research and outreach to the public.
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