8-April-2016: We are pleased to announce that our sponsor Aerolíneas Argentinas will give a 5% discount to conference participants on Aerolíneas Argentinas flights flying between 30 April and 9 May, 2016. Please visit their website and book your trip using the conference promo code. To receive the promo code email info@aehms.org with the exact subject line “MFIS flight discount”. Please be sure to select “Marine and Freshwater Invasive Species” from the list of conferences.

5-April-2016: We are pleased to announce that the scientific program is now available! Please see the Program and Presentations page available on the menu.

3-Nov-2015: After receiving a multitude of requests organizers have extended the abstract submission deadline to November 15, 2015. We trust this will accommodate the majority of our colleagues enabling them to join us in breathtaking Buenos Aires!

Background

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are a global environmental issue in both marine and freshwater ecosystems and have had significant impacts on global ecosystems and economies. A wide range of aquatic organisms are being transported daily through vectors such as international shipping, aquaculture and stocking programs, as well as live trade. For some time, the southern end of the world was thought to be immune to aquatic introductions due to its relative geographic isolation. Yet, intensification of global trade has resulted in the introduction of species such as the golden mussel, wakame kelp, and veined rapana whelk to marine and freshwater habitats of South America. As elsewhere in the world, these introductions have brought about swift ecological impacts including competition with and predation of native species, changes to nutrient cycling and food-web alterations. Other impacts include biofouling of man-made structures, depletion of economically valuable populations and deterioration of coastal habitats. Adequate management involves understanding the risks posed, how those potential effects are modulated across regions and the implementation of preventive actions to mitigate those risks.

This is the next conference on Aquatic Invasive Species organized by the AEHMS following the meeting in Oman (Feb. 2014). Like the previous one, its goals are to bring together leading researchers from across the world to share the current state of knowledge on the biology, ecology, impacts, risks, and management of AIS and their vectors. To account for important invasion processes outside marine habitats, freshwater studies have been incorporated to the present conference. Some of the largest and most unique freshwater ecosystems on Earth are located in South America. Buenos Aires, capital city of Argentina, is a ravishing metropolis standing on the shores of Río de la Plata. This important shipping hub contains unique aquatic ecosystems such as the delta of the Parana River and also constitutes a major gateway for AIS in South America (e.g. the golden mussel in the early 1990s).

Literature on marine and freshwater invasions in emergent regions of the world reflects the globalization of trade and the problems associated with it. We propose to address these issues in a state-of-the-art international conference. Researchers, students, and managers from South America and the rest of the world are cordially invited to take part of this event.

If you are interested in attending MFIS-Argentina and would like to receive updates and information, please fill out the Intent to Participate form.