About the Invasive Species Node

Mission:
The Invasive Species Information Node (ISIN) is an information portal for invasive plants, animals, and pathogens in the U.S. and a thematic node of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). It coordinates invasive species information from other NBII nodes, several U.S. Geological Survey Science Centers, and other government and non-government partners. The ISIN is working to create an early detection and rapid response information system for the control of invasive species in the United States that will include, when fully functional:

  • Summaries of an links to regional invasive species efforts of the NBII and others
  • The Global Invasive Species Database with printable profiles for hundreds of invasive species
  • Identification tools to help distinguish invasives from their look-alikes, with links to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
  • A mapping and reporting system for scientists and other citizens to report invasive species occurrences
  • A protocol to deliver the system's early detection information to land managers and decision makers
  • Invasive species distribution maps with links to species occurrence data
  • Models predicting future spread of invasive species and habitat vulnerability
  • A search interface providing diverse information from several invasive species databases simultaneously
  • A platform to promote data collection standards and database interoperability

How we work

The Process:
Critical issues in creating an effective invasive species early detection/rapid assessment and response information system are as follows:

Partners:
With strong commitments and assistance from the U.S. Geological Survey we are establishing a "data cooperative" to accelerate sharing, standardization, completeness, and accessibility of information about the distribution and abundance of invasive species in the U.S. with a distributed Web network on the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). The ISIN has developed partnerships with government and non-government organizations both nationally and internationally and funds numerous research projects.

History:
The ISIN was developed in 2002 as a thematic node of the NBII in response to the need for a coordinating body for invasive species activities across the NBII. Read the Spring 2002 NBII Access Newsletter article about the development of the new NBII Invasive Species Information Node. A redesign of the ISIN Web site was made public in 2005.

Structure:
The National Biological Information Infrastructure is a component of the Biological Informatics Program of the Biological Resources Discipline (BRD), of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) consists of thematic and regional information nodes. The Invasive Species Information Node is one of the thematic nodes, as described on our organization chart.

Funding:
The ISIN is funded by Congress through the US Geological Survey's Biological Informatics Program. Through the NBII's diverse partnerships in the governmental, non-governmental, academic, and private sectors, we are able to leverage additional funds and products from elsewhere in the invasive species and biological informatics communities, at regional, national, and international levels.

Invasive Species Fact Sheet

Invasive Species Fact Sheet

The Invasive Species Information Node provides access through a single Web portal to a vast array of information on potentially harmful invasive species throughout the nation. This increased accessibility of data from all reliable sources allows different information types to be combined and compared, which permits improved management of invasive species and better identification of vulnerable habitats.


Read Full PDF

Node Management

Annie Simpson
Node Manager
U.S. Geological Survey
National Biological Information Infrastructure
Phone: (703) 648-4281
Fax: (703) 648-4224
Email: asimpson@usgs.gov

Pam Fuller
Technical Co-Lead
U.S. Geological Survey
Florida Integrated Science Center
Phone: (352) 264-3481
Email: pfuller@usgs.gov

Tom Stohlgren
Technical Co-Lead
U.S. Geological Survey
Fort Collins Science Center
Phone: (970) 491-1980
Email: tstohlgren@usgs.gov

Elizabeth Sellers
Content Manager
U.S. Geological Survey
National Biological Information Infrastructure
Phone: (703) 648-4385
Fax: (703) 648-4224
Email: esellers@usgs.gov

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